U.S. TOBACCO COOPERATIVE, INC.: Premier Manufacturing Launches Super Premium Cigarette - Manitou


U.S. Tobacco Cooperative Inc. issued the following announcement on May 22.

The consumer products division of U.S. Tobacco Cooperative Inc. (USTC), Premier Manufacturing of Chesterfield, MO, is introducing a new entry in the super-premium cigarette category with the launch of Manitou.

Manitou is a super-premium cigarette that only contains water and tobacco -that is it.  100% of the tobacco is flue-cured tobacco grown in the southeastern United States from grower/owners of USTC. 

Virtually all other American cigarette brands are made using a blend of flue-cured, burley and oriental tobaccos. To make Manitou a uniquely premium product, only the finest whole leaf flue-cured tobacco, picked from the upper stalk position of the plant is used, which offers the best flavor experience.

Manitou cigarettes contain no reconstituted sheet tobacco, stems or fillers; also, no additives and no artificial flavors.  Manitou cigarettes are 100% free from chemical additives like artificial preservatives, humectants or synthetic flavors commonly found in other brands. Manitou blends only contain water and tobacco.

“The packaging designs combine bold color combinations and finishing treatments that elevate the brand.  Each pack and carton have embossed textures and has a special sand varnish applied to the edges to let the adult consumer know they are holding something different,” said Russ Mancuso, USTC’s Senior Vice President Consumer Products. 

Available in six king size varieties, Manitou offers a wide style selection to the adult consumer: 

  • Manitou No 5 – Bright-mellow taste
  • Manitou No 6 – Bright full-bodied taste
  • Manitou No 7 – Smooth mellow taste
  • Manitou No 8 – Smooth rich mellow taste
  • Manitou No 9 – Full-bodied mellow taste
  • Manitou No 10 – Dark rich mellow taste
“We know consumers and retailers are looking for alternative products in this category; one that is truly 100% grown and made in America,” Mancuso said, noting that a full marketing campaign promoting the brand will roll out soon and include everything from point-of-sale, to print ads, to a website to educate and engage the consumer and much more. 

For more information on U.S. Tobacco Cooperative Inc., visit www.usleaf.com or on Premier Manufacturing visit www.GoPremier.com.

About U.S. Tobacco Cooperative Inc.

U.S. Tobacco Cooperative Inc. (USTC) is a grower owned marketing cooperative located in Raleigh, North Carolina.  The cooperative processes U.S. flue-cured tobacco grown by its 650 member growers in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.  Member grower tobacco is processed and sold as raw materials to cigarette manufacturers worldwide. Subsidiaries of USTC include U.S. Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers (USFC), Premier Manufacturing, Franchise Wholesale (d/b/a Wildhorse Distributing), Big South Distribution, and King Maker Marketing, Inc.  USTC, through its subsidiaries also produces consumer products for the U.S. market under brand names of Wildhorse, 1839, Shield, 1st Class, Ultra Buy and Traffic. 

Original source can be found here.

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