Business
22nd Century Group (Nasdaq: XXII) Launches VLN® Reduced Nicotine Content Cigarettes in Colorado with Circle K, Smoker Friendly and New Distribution Points
Two Additional Distribution Partnerships Will Target Thousands of Additional Colorado Retail StoresStrong Pilot Results Lead to Expanding VLN® Points of Sale
About this update from 22nd Century Group, Inc
[{"type":"text","content":"Two Additional Distribution Partnerships Will Target Thousands of Additional Colorado Retail StoresStrong Pilot Results Lead to Expanding VLN® Points of Sale in Chicago and the State of Illinois BUFFALO, N.Y., Sept. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 22nd Century Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: XXII), a leading agricultural biotechnology company dedicated to improving health with reduced nicotine tobacco, hemp/cannabis, and hops advanced plant technologies, today announced that in September the Company will expand Illinois sales of VLN® to additional stores plus launch in the state of Colorado with both current and new distribution partners. 22nd Century’s proprietary VLN® brand premium tobacco cigarettes smoke, smell, and taste like cigarettes but contain approximately 95% less nicotine than conventional cigarettes, a level shown to be non-addictive. As noted on the packaging, VLN® is the only cigarette in the world purposefully designed to “help you smoke less.” In order to make VLN® available to adult smokers, 22nd Century has already initiated partnerships with two of America’s leading cigarette retailers. Circle K is the largest chain of company-owned and operated (non-franchised) convenience chains in the United States and the second largest in North America overall. Smoker Friendly® is a leading pioneer in the cigarette and tobacco store category, with more than 800 independently owned and operated retail stores. Additionally, and to further expand its sales reach in Colorado and elsewhere as it continues to roll out VLN®, 22nd Century will announce two additional distribution partners as part of its launch in Colorado, adding thousands of potential points of sale statewide and new regional and national retail logos where VLN® can be purchased. In parallel with the Company’s launch in Colorado and based on the strong pilot results in Chicago, Circle K is also expanding VLN® distribution to additional stores in the State of Illinois. The steps being taken in Colorado and Illinois are in keeping with 22nd Century’s plans to have distribution and retail partnerships in place to support expanding availability of VLN® to adult smokers across the country. At this date, the Company has already completed state Attorney General registrations for VLN® in 44 U.S. States and the District of Columbia. “We are excited to expand our VLN® launch to Color...