SMs product push.

[Grim]

my question has always been if Ettan was the oldest mass produced snus why does it take a back seat to general?



in my opinion Ettan is so much better and has a great history.


its weird because copenhagen was us tobaccos flagship product and was the best dip available even though it was expensive.


i just agree with most that general is overrate and ettan LOS is great, i still DESPISE the PORTIONS, i just think its rich history should be more prominent and take less of a back seat to general.

[lxskllr]

I agree, except about the portion part. I like Ettan portions. I've often wondered why Ettan wasn't the flagship brand. Even if it weren't better than General(it is), it has more history.

[justintempler]

I'm going to go with the answer: name recognition.

You do know SM is the owner of General Cigar Holdings? SM is a much bigger company than just snus.

And lastly if it wasn't for portions snus would never have gained the acceptance it has.

Here's a nice history of Swedish Match:
http://www.answers.com/topic/swedish-match-ab

[Grim]

Correct me if im wrong...but it was tre ankare that first had portions, not general.


im just sayin that it makerg more since to flagship the proven n ancient standby.

general isnt bad but nothin special. Ettan has a flavor no other brand attemps to copy.

i was curious , whether through aquesition or whatever, because ettan was the monopoly brand so to speak yet takes a back seat to a more recent brand.


yet i guess skoal is more popular whereas hardcore lovers of a great old fashion tobacco only use/dip copenhagen.


general = skoal
ettan = copenhagen

[lxskllr]

Correct me if im wrong...but it was tre ankare that first had portions, not general.

Yup. It came out in 197x(4?).

Edit:
1977

[rickcharles606]

i was curious , whether through aquesition or whatever, because ettan was the monopoly brand so to speak yet takes a back seat to a more recent brand.

Didn't SM buy the company that originally produced Ettan? Not sure here, but thought I read that somewhere. As for it taking a backseat to General snus...it's purely a marketing ploy. Ettan already had a brand loyal population, and if SM did in fact purchase them, they didn't need to do anything more to promote that product. They push General because that name encompasses many different products, los, reg portions, white portions, sterk, ES..and on. It's an effort to create branding...or name recognition..IMO

That's what I'd do, and I've been in advertising for many years..lol

[lxskllr]

Didn't SM buy the company that originally produced Ettan? Not sure here, but thought I read that somewhere.

In the early 20th century(1915?), all the tobacco companies were taken over by the state. I believe it was in the 60s when it reverted back to private ownership, with the state creating a monopoly with Swedish Match. There really isn't any historic Swedish company making snus.

[Soft Morning, City!]

I've always thought General was overrated. The first time I ordered the SM loose tryout box, I immediately went for the can of Ettan because of all the history and such. It was love at first taste.

The next can I opened was General. I thought it was decent, but nothing remarkable. Swedes are obviously more into the citrus flavor profile than I am.

However, I do enjoy Onyx. I can't use it all the time due to the price and the sweet flavor, but it's a nice treat from time to time.

[sagedil]

Really simple answer. Cause that is what the Swede's like to buy. For whatever reason, General has like a 70% market share in Sweden.

[PassedPawn]

One thing I never understood is why doesn't SM push Ettan here in the states, along with General at least? To my tastes, Ettan would make a much better intro snus than General given General's pepperier overtones. TBH, when I first tried Swedish snus, I was expecting a more straightforward tobbaco style flavor, such as Ettan's.

[fugitiveinkblot]

I think that its because General is just that, its the General. The flavor is nowhere near as distinctive as Ettan, its more generic. But because of that, its something that everyone can agree upon. I have a feeling that Ettan's following is more polarized. There are the lovers and the haters.

[snusjus]

Ettan loose is divine. The pure, mellow tobacco flavor is unbeatable. However, I also like the flavor of General loose because it has a nice clean flavor with a hint of lime. Both brands are 5 stars in my opinion. I could use those two brands exclusively if they were the only ones available.

[sgreger1]

Re: SMs product push.

my question has always been if Ettan was the oldest mass produced snus why does it take a back seat to general?



in my opinion Ettan is so much better and has a great history.


its weird because copenhagen was us tobaccos flagship product and was the best dip available even though it was expensive.


i just agree with most that general is overrate and ettan LOS is great, i still DESPISE the PORTIONS, i just think its rich history should be more prominent and take less of a back seat to general.

I absolutely agree, general is good, and its what I started with, but Ettan seems to be the classic taste I would associate with snus, that or goteborg rap. Same as how copenhagen was the flagship for us smokeless tobacco and even today its really the best original taste

[tom502]

This is more a suggestion/idea, because I love SM snus, and would love to see it become successful in the US. But I think the main obstacle is the need for refrigeration. So far, from what I have heard, only some specialty tobacco shops offer General in the US, and have a special fridge. If there could be some way to not require refrigeration, then the cans could be more marketed, and placed right alongside Redman and other canned moist tobacco items and regular retail stores. Maybe having the product placed in a sealed foil, and then placed in the can could do this? I would love to go to a regular store and pick up a can of General from the dip shelf. I also think it would make the store retail price lower too, as I hear some of these specialty shops charge a bit more. I am sure it can be done, though how may need to be worked on, and it might seem to be "extra" at 1st, but product placement and availability, and increased freshness would make it a win win situation in the end. Also a little "place in front upper lip" on the can might help new people curious(if they read it).

[Jason]

Really simple answer. Cause that is what the Swede's like to buy. For whatever reason, General has like a 70% market share in Sweden.

I agree that it probably really is as simple as that. Swedes buy General more than anything else; whether it's because of stronger marketing or whatever, it's naturally the brand SM is going to focus on.

And who knows....it may be because SM has always been the one to shoot for the younger generation; maybe Ettan is to Swedes what Pall Mall, More, etc. is to a lot of American smokers......."old people tobacco". :wink: