TIM Alerts
Tobacco Industry Marketing (TIM) Alerts provide weekly newsletters to subscribers to keep up to date with tobacco industry marketing and emerging tobacco products. Below are excerpts from the five most recent TIM Alerts. To see an archive of all previous alerts, click here.
Excerpt from the Jun 27, 2025 TIM Alert
CIGARETTES
In the recent issue of the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) magazine, a business-to-business publication, KOOL announced the forthcoming launch of KOOL Black in July, a new menthol cigarette. Apparently, the product has been tested in 14 states and will now be available nationally; KOOL Black is not yet featured on KOOL’s consumer-facing website. The ad promises a lower price point for this product to entice retailers.
OTHER
22nd Century, the maker of VLN cigarettes, which have exposure modifications orders from FDA to make certain reduced exposure claims regarding nicotine, recently announced the release of a new low-nicotine product. As part of the company’s line of Pinnacle branded products, they will release a new reduced-nicotine moist snuff product, available in Straight and Wintergreen flavors. The company will also release two new branded Pinnacle VLN cigarettes - Pinnacle VLN Gold cigarettes and Pinnacle Menthol VLN. Pinnacle’s moist snuff is expected to be available to consumers in the second half of 2025 and the Pinnacle VLN cigarettes are expected to be available in late summer/early fall of 2025.
Excerpt from the Jun 19, 2025 TIM Alert
CIGARETTES
Pall Mall cigarettes have released “Select” versions of their Red, Blue, and Menthol styles, as announced via direct mail.
MODERN ORAL NICOTINE PRODUCTS
Grizzly announced on their official Instagram account that their new synthetic nicotine pouches are now available to purchase online at various retailers, like Nicokick; previously, the product was only available in retail stores in select states (North Carolina, Tennessee, and Montana).
Excerpt from the Jun 13, 2025 TIM Alert
CIGARETTES
Camel has released new cigarette pack designs for “Double Hump Day,” the middle day of the middle week of the year. The brand sent an email to customers to advertise the new packs and has an interactive page on the Camel website where the new packs are shown.
SMOKELESS TOBACCO
Grizzly has released a line of limited-edition smokeless cans in theme with their car restoration sweepstakes, advertised on Instagram and the brand website. The “American Resto” cans are stylized like classic cars, with chrome and wood paneling designs.
Excerpt from the Jun 6, 2025 TIM Alert
CIGARS
White Owl recently promoted an upcoming cigar flavor on their website. The flavor is called “Red, White, and Berry” and is described as a vibrant berry blend and has a pack that is reminiscent of rocket pops. The new flavor will be a limited-edition release.
ENDS
In the process of routine surveillance, we noticed that the Geek Bar Instagram account currently linked on the brand’s website, @geekbarvape, returns a “page not found” error. However, another account, @geekbar_official, currently linked from the brand’s official X account, continues to provide recent updates. It is uncertain whether the brand will link this new account on their website.
Excerpt from the May 30, 2025 TIM Alert
CIGARS
Dutch Masters has promoted their pre-festival party for Roots Picnic in Philadelphia on Instagram, called Planet Bloom – with musical guests, live interviews, merchandise booths, and the “Slow Burn Hour,” promising “the perfect smoke, perfect sound” vibes.
ENDS
Geek Bar launched a new line of e-cigarettes, GeekBar 2Go, on Friday, May 30. GeekBar 2Go offers a “2 Flavor Series” and an “Ice Series.” The 2 Flavor Series devices each contain two flavors (e.g., Strawberry and Kiwi) and feature a 3-level “flavor switch” that allows consumers to adjust the intensity of each flavor. The 2 Flavor Series offers six flavor options. The Ice Series offers seven flavor options and features a 3-level switch that allows users to adjust the intensity of the cooling sensation delivered. The company states that the device can deliver up to 50,000 puffs, while also describing GeekBar 2Go as “pocket-friendly” in an Instagram post.