R.I.P Kardus!

[moisty]

Just got an email from Buysnus:

The production of Kardus Premium Blend has been stopped

We are very sorry to inform you that Swedish Match has completely and unexpected stopped the production of Kardus Premium Blend. According to a press release we got from Swedish Match they have stopped the production due to low sales figures.

Here is the explanation from Swedish Match:
Kardus Premium Blend was launched during the summer 2006 and got a big attention and interest among the consumers and the press, as the first widely spread premium snus on the market. Unfortunately, we can now see that the sale is lower than we expected which can be explained of the product's price. With the big focus that has been on the price on snus since the previous autumn due of the tax increase we can see that a premium product of this nature currently is not profitability in the high taxed loose snus segment.

Since a product of this high quality is very expensive to produce can or desires we not lower the price, we choose instead to cease with the production and the sale of Kardus Premium Blend. Kardus however entirely will not disappear from the market without being left in the form of Kardus Superior Blend, the most exclusive snus we have and probable also in the entire world. Once a year, we intend to continue to launch a very limited edition off the world's most excellent snus.

:shock:

[chainsnuser]

This is sad, since I recently ordered a can of Kardus, which I did not get until now and probably will not get anymore. If the superior blend is the 45,- Dollars edition, I will probalby not try it at all, as I found Kardus to be interesting but not that interesting to pay 45,- Dollars for 100g.

R.I.P., Kardus.

[gopherbob]

I tried kardus about a month ago. I was very turned off by it. It tasted like snus and dip had a baby and bathed it in salt.

[Zero]

I can see why they'd kill the tinned Kardus - I think everyone tried it, thought it was novel, and then carried on with their regular snus. Good that they're still making the annual one - that was well worth it as a treat. The box would go nice in some sort of mini-kyl in a room with billiards, single-malt, and a nice oak fireplace 8)

[Dave***t]

I think you've hit the nail on the head there Zero - Kardus was very nice indeed, but I only ever ordered 1 can and I'll bet a lot of people did the same. Still seems like a shame though.

Maybe if the annual limited edition looks tempting next time round I'll finally have a chance to fgure out why they give you a set of tweezers in the box with the snus!

[Zero]

Ah, it's because, since there is 100g, the tub that the snus is in is quite deep - plus, I'm sure, you don't want to contaminate your good snus still in the tub with fingers, so you use the big tweezers to pick out a measure of snus which you can then bake nicely :idea:

[TheCanuck]

Gee, Zero, sorry you didn't like Kardus and won't miss it. :roll: Lucky you.
For me, it immediately became my snus of choice and I've rarely used anything since, so you might imagine I'm a bit more upset about this than you are.
It's especially a problem that there is no substitute. For pretty much all other snus types you can get a close analogue, but Kardus is Kardus.
I've got a few rolls in the freezer but I wish those turkeys at SM had given us some notice so I could have bought another 10 or 20 rolls. Now I'm screwed.
Bah, humbug.
:evil:

[TheCanuck]

Sorry Zero, that came out a little crankier than I intended. My apologies. I'm just upset.

[Zero]

No worries, man, I understand your pain. To clarify, I do think it's a shame that it's getting the sack, it was a great and unique snus - a real testament to the art of snus making. I just had my emotionally-detached scientist hat on and was rationalising their decision more than anything else. I'm sure there are a few people who totally love the stuff and use it every day, like yourself, but what I meant was that, completely objectively, you're probably in the minority and, unfortunately, not enough for swedish match to keep up production. A business-is-business argument, if you will. At least you can still look forward to an annual treat of special Kardus.

[moisty]

In a way I'm glad. Kardus is a premium snus, beautifully crafted by their top technicians and selling a lower-grade clone of it lessened it's exclusivity quite a bit. It's not as special when you can get it whenever you want.

The downside is it's gonna cost a shitload more and I'll only be able to get it once a year!!! But it will taste a whole lot nicer after waiting all that time and paying all that money for it!!