22nd Century Announces Second Partner VLN Product Deal as Part of Major Pinnacle Brand Expansion Agreement with Top-5 C-Store Chain
22nd Century Group (Nasdaq: XXII) has expanded its Pinnacle brand partnership with a top-5 convenience store chain, launching four new products including two VLN® (low nicotine) cigarette variants and two moist snuff products. The products will be distributed across more than 1,700 stores in 27 states.
The new products include Pinnacle VLN® Gold cigarettes, Pinnacle Menthol VLN® cigarettes, and straight and wintergreen flavored moist snuff. Sales are expected to begin in late summer and early fall 2025, pending state approvals. The agreement also includes potential expansion to other retail and c-store chains.
22nd Century Group (Nasdaq: XXII) ha ampliato la sua partnership con il marchio Pinnacle insieme a una delle prime cinque catene di negozi di convenienza, lanciando quattro nuovi prodotti che includono due varianti di sigarette VLN® (a basso contenuto di nicotina) e due prodotti di tabacco umido. I prodotti saranno distribuiti in oltre 1.700 punti vendita in 27 stati.
I nuovi prodotti comprendono sigarette Pinnacle VLN® Gold, sigarette Pinnacle Menthol VLN®, e tabacco umido ai gusti naturale e wintergreen. Le vendite sono previste per la fine dell'estate e l'inizio dell'autunno 2025, in attesa delle approvazioni statali. L'accordo prevede anche una possibile espansione verso altre catene di vendita al dettaglio e negozi di convenienza.
22nd Century Group (Nasdaq: XXII) ha ampliado su asociación con la marca Pinnacle junto a una cadena de tiendas de conveniencia entre las cinco principales, lanzando cuatro nuevos productos que incluyen dos variantes de cigarrillos VLN® (bajo contenido de nicotina) y dos productos de tabaco húmedo. Los productos se distribuirán en más de 1.700 tiendas en 27 estados.
Los nuevos productos incluyen cigarrillos Pinnacle VLN® Gold, cigarrillos Pinnacle Menthol VLN®, y tabaco húmedo con sabor natural y wintergreen. Se espera que las ventas comiencen a finales del verano y principios del otoño de 2025, pendientes de aprobaciones estatales. El acuerdo también contempla una posible expansión a otras cadenas minoristas y de tiendas de conveniencia.
22nd Century Group (나스닥: XXII)가 상위 5대 편의점 체인과의 Pinnacle 브랜드 파트너십을 확장하여 니코틴 함량이 낮은 VLN® 담배 2종과 습식 스너프 제품 2종을 포함한 4개의 신제품을 출시했습니다. 이 제품들은 27개 주에 걸쳐 1,700개 이상의 매장에서 유통될 예정입니다.
신제품에는 Pinnacle VLN® 골드 담배, Pinnacle 멘솔 VLN® 담배, 그리고 스트레이트 및 윈터그린 맛 습식 스너프가 포함됩니다. 판매는 주 정부 승인에 따라 2025년 늦여름에서 초가을에 시작될 예정입니다. 이번 계약에는 다른 소매점 및 편의점 체인으로의 확장 가능성도 포함되어 있습니다.
22nd Century Group (Nasdaq : XXII) a étendu son partenariat avec la marque Pinnacle auprès d'une chaîne de magasins de proximité classée parmi les cinq premières, en lançant quatre nouveaux produits comprenant deux variantes de cigarettes VLN® (faible teneur en nicotine) et deux produits de tabac humide. Ces produits seront distribués dans plus de 1 700 magasins répartis dans 27 États.
Les nouveaux produits incluent les cigarettes Pinnacle VLN® Gold, les cigarettes Pinnacle Menthol VLN® ainsi que le tabac humide aux saveurs naturelle et wintergreen. Les ventes devraient débuter à la fin de l'été et au début de l'automne 2025, sous réserve des approbations des États. L'accord prévoit également une éventuelle expansion vers d'autres chaînes de distribution et de magasins de proximité.
22nd Century Group (Nasdaq: XXII) hat seine Pinnacle-Markenpartnerschaft mit einer der Top-5 Convenience-Store-Ketten erweitert und vier neue Produkte eingeführt, darunter zwei VLN® (niedriger Nikotingehalt) Zigarettenvarianten und zwei feuchte Schnupftabakprodukte. Die Produkte werden in mehr als 1.700 Geschäften in 27 Bundesstaaten vertrieben.
Zu den neuen Produkten gehören Pinnacle VLN® Gold Zigaretten, Pinnacle Menthol VLN® Zigaretten sowie feuchter Schnupftabak in den Geschmacksrichtungen Natur und Wintergrün. Der Verkaufsstart ist für Spätsommer bis Frühherbst 2025 geplant, vorbehaltlich der Genehmigungen der Bundesstaaten. Die Vereinbarung sieht auch eine mögliche Erweiterung auf weitere Einzelhandels- und Convenience-Store-Ketten vor.
- Expansion to 1,700+ stores across 27 states indicates significant market reach
- Launch of 4 new SKUs diversifies product portfolio
- Partnership with a top-5 c-store chain provides strong distribution channel
- Potential for further expansion to other retail and c-store chains
- Leveraging existing successful Pinnacle brand recognition
- Product launches dependent on securing state regulatory approvals
- Sales impact won't be realized until late summer/early fall 2025
Insights
22nd Century expanding distribution with major c-store chain, launching reduced-nicotine cigarettes and moist snuff products across 1,700+ stores.
This distribution agreement marks a significant expansion for 22nd Century Group's product reach. The deal with a top-5 convenience store chain will introduce four new Pinnacle-branded products across more than 1,700 stores in 27 states, substantially increasing the company's retail footprint.
The new products include two reduced-nicotine cigarettes (Pinnacle VLN Gold and Pinnacle Menthol VLN) and two moist snuff products (straight and wintergreen flavors). This diversification into the moist snuff category is particularly noteworthy as it allows 22nd Century to capture market share in the profitable smokeless tobacco segment while leveraging an established brand name.
The implementation of this partnership demonstrates 22nd Century's vertically integrated business model: the company provides the trademarked Pinnacle brand, manufacturing services, and tobacco blends, while handling distribution and tax compliance through existing networks. This approach maximizes margins by controlling more of the value chain.
What's most strategically valuable is the merchandising agreement that could potentially expand Pinnacle products to other retail and c-store chains beyond the initial partner. This suggests 22nd Century is using this major chain as a beachhead to demonstrate consumer acceptance before pursuing broader distribution channels.
Expected rollout in late summer/early fall 2025 means stocking orders should begin impacting revenues in the near term as state regulatory approvals are secured.
Launching New Pinnacle VLN and Moist Snuff Products in More Than 1,700 Stores Across 27 States
MOCKSVILLE, N.C., June 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 22nd Century Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: XXII), the only tobacco products company that is leading the fight against nicotine by offering smokers a choice about their nicotine consumption, today announced major updates to its Pinnacle product manufacturing and marketing agreement with its top-5 c-store chain customer, including the launch of four new Pinnacle SKUs, including two in the low nicotine product category. The agreement includes a merchandising agreement to potentially expand the availability of Pinnacle products to include other retail and c-store chains.
"We are very excited to launch our second partner VLN® product and branded moist snuff products, leveraging the well-known Pinnacle brand sold at one of the largest convenience store chains in the U.S.," stated Larry Firestone, 22nd Century Group Chief Executive Officer. "Pinnacle’s conventional cigarette and cigarillo products have built a strong sales track record with consumers, owing to extensive marketing and awareness directed by the chain and a compelling value proposition for adult smokers. We believe Pinnacle branded products in the VLN® and moist snuff categories can see similar success with customers at this c-store chain’s more than 1,700 stores.”
The new agreement includes two partner VLN products, Pinnacle VLN® Gold cigarettes and Pinnacle Menthol VLN® cigarettes which will be sold at approximately 1,700 stores across 27 states. Sales to customers are expected to begin in late summer and early fall of 2025, with stocking orders in advance, as state approvals are secured.
Additionally, two SKUs of Pinnacle moist snuff products, straight and wintergreen flavors, are expected to begin sales across the c-store’s network in the second half of 2025 as state regulatory approvals are secured.
22nd Century Group provides the trademarked Pinnacle brand name, manufacturing services and predicate tobacco blend for Pinnacle’s conventional products that were launched in 2023, as well as distribution to the retail stores and state tax stamp compliance through its national-scale distribution agreements. Similarly, the new partner branded Pinnacle VLN® cigarettes will be produced at 22nd Century’s manufacturing operations in North Carolina using proprietary VLN® tobacco strains and distributed across the chain through these distribution channels. Pinnacle cigarillo products are produced using a third-party model and distributed by 22nd Century, with Pinnacle moist snuff products expected to use a similar approach.
About 22nd Century Group, Inc.
22nd Century Group is the pioneering nicotine harm reduction company in the tobacco industry enabling smokers to take control of their nicotine consumption.
We created our flagship product, the VLN® cigarette, to give traditional cigarette smokers an authentic and familiar alternative that helps them take control of their nicotine consumption. VLN® cigarettes have
Our wholly owned subsidiaries include a leading cigarette manufacturer that produces all VLN® products and provides turnkey contract manufacturing for other tobacco brands both domestically and internationally. The 60,000 square foot facility in Mocksville, North Carolina has the capacity to produce more than 45 million cartons of combustible tobacco products annually with additional space for expansion.
Our proprietary reduced nicotine tobacco blends are made possible by comprehensive and patented technologies that regulate nicotine biosynthesis activities in the tobacco plant, resulting in full flavor and high yield with
VLN® is a registered trademark of 22nd Century Limited LLC.
Learn more at xxiicentury.com, on X (formerly Twitter), on LinkedIn, and on YouTube.
Learn more about VLN® at tryvln.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations, and assumptions contained in this press release are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to our full year business outlook. Forward-looking statements typically contain terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “consider,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “explore,” “foresee,” “goal,” “guidance,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “preliminary,” “probable,” “project,” “promising,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding (i) our cost reduction initiatives, (ii) our expectations regarding regulatory enforcement, including our ability to receive an exemption from new regulations, (iii) our financial and operating performance and (iv) our expectations for our business interruption insurance claim. Actual results might differ materially from those explicit or implicit in forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are set forth in “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 20, 2025, and in the Company’s Quarterly Report filed on May 13, 2025. All information provided in this release is as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
Investor Relations & Media Contact
Matt Kreps
Investor Relations
22nd Century Group
mkreps@xxiicentury.com
214-597-8200
FAQ
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