Packaging and Pricing
Development of Cigarette Packaging
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DEVELOpMeNT OF
CIGARETTE PACKAGING
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DE.V, ELOPMENT OF CIGARETTE PACXAG~NG
Phase I--Packaging Requirements
I. INTRODUCTION
Zn line with Liggett & Myers' interest in strengthening
its market position in the menthol-filter cigarette area, we
have undertaken to develop a new package for this kind of
product. While new cigarette packaging will be our primary
focus, it is possible that some packaging concepts may also
be applicable to smoking tobacco and you have indicated that.
you would like us to be aware of consumer needs in this area.
There has been very little change in tobacco packaging or mer-
chandising methods with the exception ~f the introduction of
the pouch package a few years ago. Packaging is expensive--
particularly the large 14-ounce cans--and volume is low. On
the other hand, with the current cigarette and health contro-
versy, probably due to be revived again when the governmen~
report is released in November, pipe smoking may increase in
popularity. With a new packaging approach and promotion, this
increase might be further accelerated.
The first task in carrying out the packaging program is
to define packaging requirements. These requirements must
necessarily reflect the characteristics of the cigarette mar-
ket from the point of manufacture to the point of consumption.
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II. MARKET CHARACTERISTICS
A. C;GA~ETTES
1. Distribution
Cigarettes are the most widely distributed item in the
United States. Sales by type of outlet break down a~proxi-
merely as foll0ws:
a. S~permarkets (defined by L & M as retail
outlets doing $I million worth of business
a year) --50~.
b. Conventional over-the-counter retail outlets
(from Ma-and-Pa stores to large drug stores)--
34%.
C. Vending machines--16% (according to "vend"
magazine, October i, 1963).
The chain of distribution for cigarettes is from factory
to warehouse, warehouse to jobber or wholesaler, and jobber
to retailer. Some cigarettes are shipped direct to a few
large accounts; e.g., large supermarket chains like A & P
and vending operators. Merchandise in the warehouse is your
property.
There are one half million outlets distributing cigarettes
today-~ne 38,000, mostly supermarkets~ have 5~ of total volume.
The major trend is to greater sales of cartons in super-markets.
Vending continues to grow in volume in part because it is a
very profitable business for the vendor. The trend to Super-
market carton sales has been helped by the fact that super-
marksts have done a good job of merchandising cigarettes. The
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supermarkets have come to realize that cigarettes are both a
very profitable business in themselves and ~ i~portant traffic
draw. The problem with supermarkets is to obtain distribution
in all outlets, There is intense competition for shelf space
and numerous demands for special promotions by manufacturers.
Al~hough 14 cigarette brands out of 51 have 93% of the volume,
supermarkets must carry lower volume brands because customers
who want them and cannot find them will take their trade to
other stores.
The crux of the problem in introducing a new brand of
cigarettes is to convince the supermarket opelator that the
manufacturer will st/mulate substantial demand a~ong his--
the supe.~market's--customers and that the brand should be
given not only shelf space but special introductory promo-
tional attention. The problem is more difficult in some
cases, e.g., A & P where bo~h a New Product Committee and a
Warehouse or Store Manager may refuse to handle the new brand.
~.,, C~a~ette TTDes
There are presently four ~ypes of cigarettes:
a. Regulars
b. Kings
Filter kings
Menthols
In terms of gross appearance, packages are red,
or white.
3. Markets
The objectives of cigarette marketing programs are:
a. To reach male smokers aged 25-38.
b. To appeal to young adult wo~en.
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c. Not te alienate older smokers, beth male and
female.
Men become smekers earlier and consume mere cigarettes
per capita than women. Cigarettes aimed at the female market
exclusively have been flops. Marketing programs have been
slanted at certain types of men, but always basically at the
male market.
The cigarette market may be broken down into age brackets
as fellows~
a. 16-21--the formative years~ smoking starts and
brand preferences are developed.
b. 22-25--per capita censumption is the highest.
This group can be influenced te switch brands
more easily than any other. More men under
30 years old smoke non-menthol filter cigarettes
(43% versus 21% non-filter regular, 26% "non-
filter king, i0% menthol). The same is true
with men 30 and over except the spread is
smaller (39% versus 3~ non-filter regular,
19% hen-filter king, I~A menthol). Women fol-
low the same general pattern, but more of them
smeke menthols and fewer smoke regulars. (Sta-
tistics from J. Walter Thompson report, Con.___~
tinuinq Stud7 of Smokers (Phase V), June 1963.)
o. 36-45--stili susceptible to sales promotion but
traditionally harder to induce to change brands~
still smoking as much as when younger but more
conscious of brand and quantity smoked. This
group is where filter kings and menthols have
caught on.
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d. 46 and over--consumption begins to decline.
4. The Menthol Market
The traditional menthol smoker profile--guilt-ridden,
s~nsual, pleasure seeker; does not really thank that smoking
is very good for one. There has been a steady increase
recently in the number of male smokers of menthols, and it
is thought that these people have come to like the taste of
menthols and smoke them for this reason rather th~n health
connotation. In other words, the market for menthol cigarettes
seems to be changing--the smoker is now an average person
rather than an odd type, and he is smoking for enjoyment rather
than for medicinal reasons. Salem with its fil~r had the most
to do with changing the image from menthol Kools. Salem has
just enough menthol to impart a pleasing flavor, not a jolt.
Salem was the first flavored filtered cigarette. People
accepted it because it had more flavor than regular falter
cigarettes.
There was formerly a geographical pattern in the use of
menthol cigarettes, but as they have increased in volume, the
geographic issue has washed out.
The Salem case shows that innovation can pay off because
if you have something with genuine appeal, imitators come
along aa~ help to build up the market.
Market Se,qments
a. Sociological--sex differences;
70~ of men are
smokers, 35% of women. Men are genez~lly
heavier smokers.
Economic--not as important as sociological
factors.
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do
Ethnic factors--sales variations between races
are a result of differences in promotion rather
than basic radical differences in smoking de-
sires or habits. The Jewish population makes
up a large part of the cigarette market in
metropolitan New York. It moves quickly to
reflect current style trends. Promotion must
be smart and sophisticated to get it to buy.
The Spanish and Negro groups like to purchase
Only the best of everything--they are not
locking for bargains. They can be reached
successfully only by promotion that they
understand, i.e., Negro salesmen and media
(but not exclusively). Menthol cigarettes
seem to be going very well in this market.
The difference between the two markets is that
in the case of the Spanish and Negro markets,
there must be a racial slant in the marketing
efforts directed toward them, while in the case
of the Jewish market, this is not a requirement.
Geographic--high population density in industrial
areas means more smokers. A cigarette manufac-
turer must concentrate on the Northeast segment
if he wants to succeed in penetrating the mar-
ket with a new package.
(1) Northeast to Southeast--per capita smoking
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slightly above average.
(2) Midwest and Northwest--below average.
(3) Southwest and Far West--average.
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Influences on Smoking,Habits
a. Urban versus non-urban.
L & M thought the flip-
top box would be a hit with farmers. They found,
however, that boxes were more of an influence in
terms of style than utility and therefore sales
were higher in cities than in the country.
Occupation affects opportunity to smoke but
there are no significant market segments based
on occupation.
Appetites of smokers of both sexes are the sam.e--
men smoke more because they have more opportunity
to smoke.
Brand image is very important with men--more so
than with women.
The consumer today has gone the rounds of ciga-
rette packaging gimmicks and come back to the
old soft pack that has been used for the last
60 years. However, he is beginning to think
change again now that he has settled down. it
is still too early to tell the future of the
plastic cigarette package. However, Paxton
is apparently doing well in vending machines.
Purchase Patterns
a. Marrieds versus non-marrieds; at age 16-21
there is much bumming of cigarettes; at 22-35
there is buying by the package if unmarried,
buying by the carton if married.
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There is an average of one smoker per house-
hold--60 million smokers in the U. S.
Arthur D. Little, In=.
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