Questions for Joakim and Markus

[superdevil]

Joakim and Markus, I wanted to thank you once again for giving us the opportunity to converse with you. Your presence on this board is definitely a positive experience.

While we know much more now about the operations of Swedish Match, we don't know much about you two, so on behalf of Snuson I figured a short questionnaire would help us to get to know you better. So without further adieu:

1. In your avatar pic, which one of you is which?

2. How long have you been with Swedish Match, and what are your official positions with the company?

3. What brands of snus do you currently use?

4. Did you have a background in the tobacco industry before coming to Swedish Match?

5. Have you guys ever been to the US or have plans on visiting?

Well, that's all for now guys. Once again, thanks for gracing us with your presence.

[Markus and Joakim]

Hi,

1. Markus is the one with glasses.

2. We both work at CHQ in Stockholm. Markus is a sales manager and has been with the company for almost 10 years. Joakim works with business development and marketing and joined the company in 2008.

3. Markus uses General white as his main snus. All in all he is a true General man and likes to vary with General Loose and Ekstra Sterk.
Joakim varies between General white and Göteborgs Rapé. When he uses loose he likes General and Ettan. He also use quite alot of Onyx.

4. Swedish Match was the first entry into the tobacco industry for both of us.

5. Both of us visit US regurlarly for work and have also been there several times on vacation.

All the best,
M&J

[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).

[covetousjew]

i was wondering if theres a chance that there could be a grovsnus black in los form

[tom502]

Well, I copied my post and emailed it to SMNA. I think this is the main obstacle to overcome if snus is gonna take off in the US.