RJ Reynolds
Consumer Research Report. Camel Menthol Concept Study.
Fields
- Alias
- MRDCR66 21B
- MRDCR66 21A
- MRDCR66 21
- Type
- MARKETING RESEARCH
- Attachment
- 2870 -2910
- Named Person
- Gray, H.
- Sugg, W.A.
- Stewart, B.R.
- Blevins, R.
- Rechholtz, R.A.
- Smith, W.S. Jr
- Weber, A.G.
- Judge, C.H.
- Referenced Document
- Salem Vs. Kool Brand Profile Study, Mrd#Cr66 21(A). Menthol Cigarette Image Study, Mrd#Cr66 21.
- Date Loaded
- 27 Feb 1998
- Request
- Minnesota
- 1rfp93
- Box
- Rjr2335
- Author
- Rjr
- Site
- Mdd
- Mdic
- Brand
- Camel Menthol 85
- Kool
- Salem
- Marlboro
- Camel
- UCSF Legacy ID
- qjy69d00
Document Images
CONFIDENTIAL
O.e-loG-a'/ ( 6J
Consumer Research Report
MRD#CR66-21(b)
CAMEL MENTHOL CONCEPT STUDY
PUBLISHED BY THE MARKETING RESEARCH DEPARTMENT
R. J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY, WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.
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SUMMARY
CAMEL MENTHOL Concept Study
MRD#CR66-21 (b)
This is a study to ascertain consumer opinions, among whites
and Negroes, on the concept of a CAMEL menthol cigarette.*
Results
1. Overall response to the idea of a mentholated CAMEL is fair.
Attitude comments were approximately equally divided between
favorable and unfavorable mentions. Negroes gave a better
ratio of favorable to unfavorable attitude comments than did
white respondents. Negro men had the most favorable reaction.
2. Negroes and whites differ markedly over their notions as to
what mentholated CA-hSELS would taste like. Negroes believe it
would taste mild (men 22%, women 26%) whereas whites think it
would taste strong (men 16%, women 29%).
3.
Both Negro and white respondents feel that CAMEL MENTHOLS would
have about the same amount of menthol as SALEMS and considerabl
less than Kools. -From 16-32$ of the groups interviewed fe t that
CAMEL MENTHOL and SALEM have either a "very high" or a "fairly
high" menthol level, but from 50 to 77% graded Kool in that man-
ner.
Copies sent to: Messrs. W. S. Smith, Jr.
Howard Gray
W.
R.
C.
R. A.
A.
H.
A. Sugg
Rechholtz
Judge
Blevins,
r.
B.
A. R.
G. Stewart
Weber
Marketing Research Department
July 8, 1966

CAMEL Menthol Concept Study
MRD#CR66-21 (b)
This is a study to ascertain consumer opinions, among whites
and Negroes, on the concept of a CAMEL menthol cigarette.
Requested by: Mr. Howard Gray
Background: In anticipation of CAMEL MENTHOL'S introduction into
test markets this concept study was conducted to obtain an indica-
tion of its acceptance among smokers and to examine this as to dif-
ferences by white vs. Negro.
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Chicago, Illinois
Method: Interviews were conducted on'a door to door basis among
adult smokers. Respondents were asked questions about the idea
(favorable and unfavorable) of a CAMEL menthol cigarette with
follow-up emphasis on its taste characteristics and likelihood
of buying. An "amount of menthol" scale was also administered.
Dates of Interviewing: Weekends of June 11 and June 18, 1966.
Distribution of Interviews: A total of 656 interviews were made:
335 with white adult smokers and 321 with Negro adult smokers. The
interviews were distributed so as to be reasonably representative
of the white and Negro populations of Cleveland and Chicago.
Note: 1. This study was conducted as a hook-on to MRD#CR66-21(a),
the SALEM vs. Kool Brand Profile Study.
2. While all racial and ethnic groups generally have a
tendency to react more favorably when asked to give
attitudes than their subsequent behavior would justify,
it is possible that Negroes are even less critical in
an interviewing situation than whites tend to be.

2
ATTITUDE TOWARD CAMEL MENTHOL
A sealed CAMEL MENTHOL package was displayed throughout the
interview.
Consumers were asked, "Here's a cigarette they might bring
out (pause)...." "What do you think of the idea of a CAMEL MENTHOL
cigarette?"...."What makes you feel that way?"
Some people made more than one comment.
Cleveland & Chicago Combined
White Negro
Male Female Male Female
Base - total in each group (164) (171) (161) (160)
Favorable Comments $ $ $ ~
Good idea for CAP4EL smokers who
want menthol 10 8 6 13
Would not be as strong if mentholated
May be good because CAMELs are 1 8 9 11
o~d/reliable/good/etc. 9 9 14 9
They would sell easily 7 6 9 7
Would taste good 1 2 1 6
Package makes cigarette look cool - 4 1 1
CAMELs need a change
Good idea because tired of 1 1 3 6
other brands - - 2 1
A good idea, just 18 19 16 9
Miscellaneous favorable comments 3 5 12 9
50 62: 73 72

3
ATTITUDE TOWARD CAMEL MENTHOL
A sealed CAMEL MENTHOL package was displayed throughout the
interview.
Consumers were asked, "Here's a cigarette they might bring
out (pause)...." "What do you think of the idea of a CAMEL MENTHOL
cigarette?"...."What makes you feel that way?"
Some people made
more than one comment.
Base - total in each group
Unfavorable Comments
Would ruin CAMELs/prefer CAMELs
the way they are
Everyone is coming out with menthol
There are enough menthol cigarettes/
not need more
Menthol cigarettes have no tobacco
flavor
Would not taste good
Would ruin CAMEL's good taste
Would be too strong
Not many people like CAMELs
Prefer other brands/don't like CAMELs
Just don't like menthol
Prefer non-filter
Not like the package
Miscellaneous unfavorable comments
Cleveland & Chicago Combined
White Negro
Male Female Male Female
(164) (171) (161) (160)
$ $ $ $
8 4 6 4
7 11 7 6
7 8 2 2
2 - 1 3
1 1
3 - 4 -
2 3 6 9
1 1 - 1
6 12 8 9
13 16 7 9
1 - 2 -
1 1 - 2
4 5 5 6
55 61 49 52

4
ATTITUDE TOWARD CAMEL MENTHOL TASTE
"How do you think these CAMEL MENTHOL cigarettes would taste?"
"Please try to describe the taste they would have."
Some people made more than one comment.
Cleveland & Chicago Combined
White Negro
Male Female Male Female
Base - total in each group (164) (171) (161) (160)
$ ~ $ $
Description of Taste
Would be strong/very strong tasting/
like regular CAMELs 16 29
9
8
Would have more tobacco taste than
other menthol cigarettes 7 5
2
2
Like any other menthol cigarettes 8 11 15 18
Would taste like SALEM/Kool 13 8 15 10
All menthol cigarettes taste the
same 5 5
2
3
Would be mild/lighter tasting .-6 8 22 26
Cool tasting/m entholated 4 8 12 13
Would have men thol/tobacco taste 4 2 6 3
Soothing/refre shing/satisfying - 2 6 11
Would be smoot h tasting - 2 2 6
Would taste go od, just 3 6 12 3
Too much menth ol/strong menthol 2 5 5 6
Would have too strong a tobacco
flavor 1 3 6 3
Would be bitte r - 2 - 1
Would taste li ke medicine - 1 6 6
Would not tast e good, just 2 2 2 3
Miscellaneous favorable descriptions 4 2 5 6
Miscellaneous
descriptions unfavorable
6 5
5
9
81 107 134 137

ATTITUDE TOWARD BUYING CAMEL MENTHOL
"If they did bring out CAMEL MENTHOLS....How likely would
you be to buy them?"
The phrases of the scale (as shown below) were then read and
the respondent was asked to choose a phrase that described his
feelings.
Cleveland & Chicago Combined
White Negro
Male Female Male Female
Base - total in each group (164) (171) (161) (160)
$ $ $ $
Likelihood of Buying
Definitely would buy them 19 18 25 16
Probably would buy them 11 17 22 12
Might buy them 25 25 24 31
Not sure 7 7 11 12
Definitely would not buy them 36 33 18 29
100 100 100 100
Note: Caution is required in reading this table. Normally, this line
of questioning does not actually predict consumer behavior, but
rather serves to facilitate realistic expression of consumer
attitudes.

AMOUNT OF MENTHOL IN CAMEL MENTHOL, SALEM AND KOOL
"Would you expect the amount of menthol in these cigarettes to
be.....?" (The phrases of the scale were then read.)
White Negro
Male Female Male Female
Base - total in each group
CAMEL MENTHOL (164)
$ (171)
$ (161)
$ (160)
$
Very high 16 16 15 19
Fairly high 10 12 17 10
About average 38 38 45 52
Somewhat low 15 14 9 9
Very low 15 12 5 3
Not know* 6 8 9 7
100 100 100 100
SALEM
Very high 14 10 9 7
Fairly high 11 20 17 11
About.average 51 47 52 62
Somewhat low 16 15 10 9
Very low 5 5 3 6
Not know . 3 3 9 5
100 100 100 100
Kool
Very high 47 50 39 29
Fairly high 26 27 20 21
About average 19 18 24 39
Somewhat low 4 2 6 4
Very low 1 0 4 1
Not know 3 3 7 6
100 100" 100" 100

INSTRUCTIONS
MENTHOL CIGARETTE IMAGE STUDY
MRD#CR66-21
This is a study to determine the consumer brand profile dif-
ferences between SALEM and KOOL cigarettes.
Cities: Chicago, Illinois;
The Interview:
and Cleveland, Ohio.
Hello, I'm Miss/Mrs. from Marketing Research, and we're
getting information about various products people use."
1. "In the past seven days have you, yourself, smoked any cigar-
ettes, or not?"
If yes, "About how many cigarettes do you usually smoke in a
day?" Record under: 1-15, 16-25, 26 or more. Non-smokers (less
than one cigarette per day) do not count toward quota and should
not be interviewed further.
2. "What is your usual brand of cigarettes?"
Recording: Check on list; if brand comes in more than one
form ask if usually smoke filter/menthol or non-filter.
3a. "As you may know, different kinds of people may smoke different
kinds of cigarettes. For example, a cowboy is often shown
smoking Marlboro. We are interested in two brands of cigar-
ettes--SALEM and KOOL (alternate from interview to interview
as to which brand name is said first and circle which asked
first at top of column) and would like you to try to tell us
for various types of people which you think they would most
likely smoke--SALEM or KOOL.
"First we have a Bank President....Do you think a Bank Presi-
dent would smoke SALEM or KOOL?" (Alternate which brand name
is mentioned first as above. Follow same order throughout the
interview.)
If respondent cannot answer, say "It doesn't matter if you
really.don't know whether a Bank President would smoke SALEM
or KOOL....it's just your opinion we are after...Which do you
think a Bank President might smoke: SALEM or KOOL'?"
If you still can't get an answer record: Not Know. Also record
in this same column if respondent states there would be no dif-
ference (N.Diff). But give it a good try, without annoying the
respondent, before you have to resort to this.

2
Continue throughout this section in this fashion, until you
reach "Has the best tobacco taste" where the wording changes
to:
3b. "Now, still thinking about SALEM and KOOL (Again, stick to the
brand order you were following above) which do you think has
the best tobacco taste....SALEM or KOOL?" No difference and
Not know are treated the same here as above. Try to evoke a
clear choice, but if this is impossible, record as N.Diff or
N.Know.
4. Next ask about advertising (again using same brand order you
have been following above) as worded on questionnaire. Record
exactly what is said.
5. CAMEL MENTHOL Questions
Show the respondent the package you have been given (up to
this point the package should have been kept from sight). Do
not unseal the package, do not let respondent have a sample
(explain that this is your only pack and has to be returned
to the office). Follow wording on questionnaire and be care-
ful to record everything respondent says here regardless of
how casual or unimportant you may think it is.
Follow the arrows for your question order. Keep package on
view until you reach end of menthol level for CAMEL MENTHOL.
Respondent may hold package if he wants to, but don't offer
to let him.
IMPORTANT NOTE
There was not enough room on the questionnaire for the following sec-
tion on the amount of menthol in SALEM/KOOL.
Put the CAMEL MENTHOL package out of sight and, using the rota-
tion order you followed previously, say:
"Now, what about SALEM/KOOL.... would you expect the amount of
menthol in SALEM/KOOL to be:..."
Always ask about CAMEL MENTHOL first, followed by SALEM/KOOL.
6. Classification:
(a). Age - If you are unsure, ask "Approximately how old are you?"
(b). Education - Ask "What was the last year of school that you
comp ete ?"
(c). Sex - record.
(d). Race - record. Non-white, non-Negro, such as Oriental,
should be recorded as white for this study.
