The UK's leading miniature cigar brand Café Crème has launched a larger cigar to go head-to-head with Hamlet.
Scandinavian Tobacco Group, which launched Café Crème Grande this week, said it was "the first major piece of innovation in the small cigar segment in years".
STG UK trade marketing manager Alastair Williams insisted there was still a market for small cigars despite a steady decline in sales over the past five years many cigar smokers switched to miniatures in the wake of the introduction of the ban on smoking in public places.
"We have carried out a lot of market research and found there are still a lot of smokers out there looking for a good small cigar," he said.
"Historically, the smalls segment has been dominated by British brands but they have not innovated for decades, which has meant it has got pretty stale for retailers and consumers."
"We understood there was an opportunity for a smooth, imported brand to make an impact and give retailers a reason to believe in smalls again."
Café Crème Grande will come in a crush-proof tin similar to that used for the miniature and has an rsp of £4.24 for five cigars.
In 2005 53.4% of all cigars smoked in the UK were classed as small (a category that includes panatelas), while miniatures represented 43.2% [Nielsen]. By the end of 2010, the smalls' market share had fallen to 38.7%, with miniatures accounting for 58.1%.
Scandinavian Tobacco Group, which launched Café Crème Grande this week, said it was "the first major piece of innovation in the small cigar segment in years".
STG UK trade marketing manager Alastair Williams insisted there was still a market for small cigars despite a steady decline in sales over the past five years many cigar smokers switched to miniatures in the wake of the introduction of the ban on smoking in public places.
"We have carried out a lot of market research and found there are still a lot of smokers out there looking for a good small cigar," he said.
"Historically, the smalls segment has been dominated by British brands but they have not innovated for decades, which has meant it has got pretty stale for retailers and consumers."
"We understood there was an opportunity for a smooth, imported brand to make an impact and give retailers a reason to believe in smalls again."
Café Crème Grande will come in a crush-proof tin similar to that used for the miniature and has an rsp of £4.24 for five cigars.
In 2005 53.4% of all cigars smoked in the UK were classed as small (a category that includes panatelas), while miniatures represented 43.2% [Nielsen]. By the end of 2010, the smalls' market share had fallen to 38.7%, with miniatures accounting for 58.1%.
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