煙草在線據《溫斯頓-塞勒姆日報》報道編譯　　雷諾煙草公司耗時4年半，挑選了包括北卡州夏洛特市在內的五個實驗市場，測試消費者對其三種可溶性煙草產品的反應。

　　該公司希望將未來的市場重點放在以下產品的銷售上：球狀的駱駝球（Camel Orbs）、尺寸類似牙簽大小的駱駝支（Camel Sticks）和類似膠卷狀放在舌頭上的駱駝條（Camel Strips）。

　　雷諾煙草的目的，是希望在吸煙行為備受打擊的社會，煙草產品能夠被更多人接受。于是在2009年初開始測試消費者對可溶性煙草產品的接受度。

　　相比之下，雷諾煙草公司僅用了2年半的時間，即2006年4月至2008年10月，測試其駱駝牌鼻煙產品的全國銷售狀況。

　　雷諾發言人理查德·史密斯表示，可溶性產品還僅限于在夏洛特和丹佛等實驗城市以及需要年齡驗證的網站（www.cameldissolvables.com）上銷售。

　　“目前，還沒有計劃在這些渠道以外銷售實驗產品，”史密斯表示，“在與成年煙草消費者的對話中，我們發現，他們對這類產品有濃厚的興趣，將來，不同類型的產品可能帶來更好的選擇。”

　　“現在，盡管將繼續銷售駱駝品牌的棒狀、條狀和球狀可溶煙草產品，但我們也在不斷積累經驗。”

　　在此期間的任何挫折都是值得注意的，因為雷諾作為創新型無煙煙草產品制造商的領先者，開創了一個重要且有利可圖的市場。

　　可溶性煙草產品由精細研磨的煙葉支撐，味道新鮮而醇香。條狀產品食用時間為2至3分鐘，球狀產品為10至15分鐘，而棒狀產品為20至30分鐘。此類產品與其他口服無煙煙草產品擁有相同的健康警語。

　　該產品最初在俄亥俄州的哥倫布市、印第安納波利斯市以及奧勒岡州的波特蘭市銷售，之后，2011年3月，開始轉移至夏洛特和丹佛銷售。雖然雷諾并未制定零售價，但公司表示，可溶性煙草產品的價格應該與一聽駱駝牌鼻煙的零售價差不多，也就是定價在4至4.5美元之間。

　　據分析人士稱，，雷諾的可溶性煙草產品包裝是可防止兒童拆開的包裝，這可能不利于產品銷售。

　　“測試市場的情況并不樂觀，雷諾使用的產品包裝，沒有剪刀就根本無法打開，”無煙煙草賓夕法尼亞公司執行董事比爾·歌德謝爾表示。

R.J. Reynolds Scales Back Marketing of Dissolvable Tobacco Products

　　After spending more than 4 1/2 years in five test markets, including Charlotte, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. has struggled to gain consumer traction for its trio of dissolvable tobacco products.
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　　It has struggled to the extent that it is limiting future marketing of the products: a pellet (Camel Orbs), a twisted stick the size of a toothpick (Camel Sticks) and a film strip for the tongue (Camel Strips).
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　　The goal has been making its tobacco products more accessible within a society that's clamping down on smoking. Reynolds began testing the dissolvable products in early 2009.

　　By comparison, Reynolds needed just 2? years, from April 2006 to October 2008, to take its Camel Snus products from test markets to national distribution.

　　Reynolds spokesman Richard Smith said the products remain in limited distribution in Charlotte and Denver at point-of-sale sites and through its age-verified website for consumers, www.cameldissolvables.com.

　　"At this time there are no plans for any marketing beyond these channels," Smith said. "We've found in our conversations with adult tobacco consumers that while there's strong interest in the category, a different product form may present a better option over the long term.

　　"Though for now, Camel Sticks, Strips and Orbs will remain available while we continue to gather learnings."

　　The setback is noteworthy because Reynolds has carved out an important and profitable niche as the industry's leading manufacturer of innovative smokeless products.

　　The dissolvable products are made of finely milled tobacco and come in flavor styles of fresh and mellow. The products last from two to three minutes for the strips, 10 to 15 minutes for the orbs and 20 to 30 minutes for the sticks. They carry the same health warnings as other oral smokeless products.

　　The products were sold initially in Columbus, Ohio, Indianapolis and Portland, Ore., before being shifted to Charlotte and Denver in March 2011. Although Reynolds does not dictate retail prices, the company said the dissolvable products should sell at a comparable price to a tin of Camel Snus, which is between $4 and $4.50.

　　Reynolds has sold the dissolvable products in child-resistant packaging, which may have proven to be a detriment to sales, according to analysts.

　　"The test markets weren't good, and Reynolds made the products impossible to open without scissors," said Bill Godshall, executive director of Smoke Free Pennsylvania. Enditem