This is the first time that the Boulder-based licensee of almost 1,000 locations has expanded their private label product line outside of their licensee network. Smoker Friendly is beginning its roll-out of their popular brand electronic cigarette product line, with retail price points as low as $ 6.99, to convenience stores, large retailers, grocery stores and select distributors. Terry Gallagher Jr., President of Smoker Friendly International said "We thought the timing was right to expand our brand through other retail chains and distributors. We know there?s a pent-up demand for an established company to take a leadership position in this relatively new category; we?ve heard this from our distributor and retailer industry friends time and again. There are way too many start-ups and opportunistic marketing companies selling Foreign made electronic cigarettes and it?s gotten very confusing for category buyers?. Terry added, "Smoker Friendly is a well established 23 year old tobacco company, with vast experience and expertise in the tobacco industry, so distributors and retailers know we?re here for the long haul, which is critically important when representing electronic cigarettes, a fast-growing new tobacco product category."
Freedom Smokeless, a US based manufacturer of e-cigarettes and nicotine e-liquid, was selected by Smoker Friendly to manufacture their e-cig line in 2009. Mary Szarmach, Smoker Friendly's Vice President of Sales and Marketing said, "We liked the quality of their products, service and support, and were relieved to know the e-liquid is made here in America; that the e-liquid is batch tested in an FDA Registered lab and that cartridges are filled here thanks to some high tech automation. Our goal is to have the Smoker Friendly brand of electronic cigarettes become a household name."
Glenn Kassel, Freedom's President, said, "We are honored to manufacture the Smoker Friendly brand and are thrilled that it will be available in retail establishments across the country. Retailers like the fact that they are getting a competitively priced product that?s Made in America with a highly trusted brand name behind it. Tobacco buyers for chains like all of the safeguards we have taken to ensure that our product is safe. We have already received orders from distributors and retailers who were waiting for an established brand to emerge as the leader in this category. "
About Smoker Friendly International
Smoker Friendly is America's largest cigarette and tobacco store (CTS) retailer. The Smoker Friendly Authorized Dealer Program is designed for existing retail tobacco store operators who wish to market their own brand of competitively priced private-label products within an exclusive territory that is geographically protected. This program is for the tobacco retailer who would like the advantages of a buying group; wants more interaction with other cigarette and tobacco store retailers including information and idea sharing; clout with manufacturers; and the greater synergies that a nationally known private-label brand like Smoker Friendly provides. Currently there are almost 1000 stores across the United States with The SF Private-Label Tobacco Family.
About Freedom Smokeless
Founded in 2008 and headquartered in San Clemente, California, Freedom is proud to have its ?Made in the USA? line of electronic cigarettes and cartridge products sold in thousands of tobacco shops, retail outlets and convenience stores across the US.
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