煙草在線據(jù)《CSP每日新聞》報道編譯　　由于在2012年第三財季才開始在全國零售和推廣blu eCigs，電子煙銷售為羅瑞拉德公司的當季凈銷售總額貢獻了1400萬美元。

　　“公司繼續(xù)執(zhí)行它的戰(zhàn)略計劃，開始對在今年初收購的領(lǐng)先的電子卷煙品牌blu eCigs進行廣告、分銷和推銷方面的投資，”羅瑞拉德公司的主席、首席執(zhí)行官兼總裁莫里·S.凱斯勒說道，“在定價和產(chǎn)品引進方面的競爭環(huán)境在今年明顯升溫，預計第四季度還將繼續(xù)升溫。因此，我們近期的營銷計劃傾向于保護消費者的忠誠度，這是持續(xù)盈利增長的根本所在。同時，公司還將增加對blu eCigs的投資，以便進一步打開全國的零售分銷渠道。”

　　在截至9月30日的第三財季內(nèi)，羅瑞拉德的卷煙單位批發(fā)總量比2011年同期下降了2.1%。2012年第三財季的國內(nèi)卷煙單位批發(fā)總量也下降了2.1%。

　　估計批發(fā)庫存形式的變化對年前的大約1.6億單位庫存會產(chǎn)生積極影響。這比預期的庫存量少，因為批發(fā)商進入第三財季的單位庫存量比去年同期低，而且在2012年第三財季還進一步降低了庫存水平。

　　此外，2012年第三財季比2011年同期的裝運日期少了一天，對銷量產(chǎn)生了1.6%的負面影響。由于對批發(fā)庫存形式的相對變化的積極影響和2012年第三財季少一天裝運日期的負面影響進行了調(diào)整，羅瑞拉德的國內(nèi)批發(fā)出貨量比2011年第三財季下降了2.0%。

　　“由于市場份額、銷售額、利潤和平均凈定價的增長，羅瑞拉德再次強化了它在美國卷煙市場的地位，”凱斯勒稱，“值得一提的是，盡管薄荷卷煙促銷和新產(chǎn)品活動競爭激烈，但是公司在第三財季仍然擴大了其在薄荷卷煙市場的份額領(lǐng)導地位，顯示出旗艦品牌新港的顯著增長。”

　　總部位于美國北卡羅萊納州格林斯博羅的羅瑞拉德公司的子公司羅瑞拉德煙草公司是美國第三大卷煙生產(chǎn)商。羅瑞拉德成立于1760年，是美國最悠久的持續(xù)經(jīng)營的煙草公司。羅瑞拉德的旗艦優(yōu)質(zhì)卷煙品牌新港是美國最暢銷的薄荷卷煙也是銷量第二大的卷煙品牌。除新港外，羅瑞拉德產(chǎn)品線還有另外4個卷煙品牌家族，營銷的品牌名稱為健牌、真實、Maverick和Old Gold等。

Lorillard to 'Ramp up Investment Behind blu eCigs'

　　With the national retail roll-out and advertising campaign of blu eCigs just beginning in the third quarter of 2012, sales of the electronic cigarettes contributed $14 million to Lorillard Inc.'s total net sales for the quarter.

　　"The company continued to execute against its strategic plan as it began to invest in advertising, distribution and merchandising on blu eCigs, the leading e-cigarette brand acquired earlier this year," said Murray S. Kessler, chairman, CEO and president. "The competitive environment, both in terms of pricing and product introductions, has clearly heated up through the year and is expected to continue in the fourth quarter. Therefore, our marketing plans for the immediate future are geared toward protecting consumer loyalty which is fundamental for continued profitable growth. At the same time, the company will ramp up investment behind blu eCigs as it further penetrates national retail distribution."

　　During the quarter, which ended Sept. 30, total Lorillard wholesale cigarette unit volume decreased 2.1% compared to the corresponding period of 2011. Domestic wholesale cigarette unit volume also decreased 2.1% for the third quarter of 2012.

　　Changes in wholesale inventory patterns are estimated to have positively impacted year ago comparisons by approximately 160 million units. This was less than expected as wholesalers entered the third quarter with fewer units than year ago but further reduced inventory levels during the third quarter of 2012.

　　Additionally, the third quarter of 2012 contained one fewer shipping day (63) than the third quarter of 2011 (64), which had a 1.6% negative effect on volume. Adjusting for both the positive impact of the relative change in wholesale inventory patterns and the negative impact of one fewer shipping day in the third quarter of 2012, Lorillard domestic wholesale shipments were down 2.0% as compared to the third quarter of 2011.

　　"Lorillard once again strengthened its position in the U.S. cigarette market during the third quarter as it grew market share, sales, margins and average net pricing, all of which translated to strong EPS growth over last year," Kessler said. "Notably, the company expanded its share leadership position in the menthol cigarette segment during the quarter despite intense competitive menthol promotional and new product activity, demonstrating the remarkable strength of its flagship brand, Newport."

　　Greensboro, N.C.-based Lorillard Inc., through its Lorillard Tobacco Co. subsidiary, is the third-largest manufacturer of cigarettes in the United States. Founded in 1760, Lorillard is the oldest continuously operating tobacco company in the U.S. Newport, Lorillard's flagship premium cigarette brand, is the top selling menthol and second-largest selling cigarette in the U.S. In addition to Newport, the Lorillard product line has four additional cigarette brand families marketed under the Kent, True, Maverick and Old Gold brand names. Enditem