烟草在线据《CSP每日新闻》报道编译　　由于在2012年第三财季才开始在全国零售和推广blu eCigs，电子烟销售为罗瑞拉德公司的当季净销售总额贡献了1400万美元。

　　“公司继续执行它的战略计划，开始对在今年初收购的领先的电子卷烟品牌blu eCigs进行广告、分销和推销方面的投资，”罗瑞拉德公司的主席、首席执行官兼总裁莫里·S.凯斯勒说道，“在定价和产品引进方面的竞争环境在今年明显升温，预计第四季度还将继续升温。因此，我们近期的营销计划倾向于保护消费者的忠诚度，这是持续盈利增长的根本所在。同时，公司还将增加对blu eCigs的投资，以便进一步打开全国的零售分销渠道。”

　　在截至9月30日的第三财季内，罗瑞拉德的卷烟单位批发总量比2011年同期下降了2.1%。2012年第三财季的国内卷烟单位批发总量也下降了2.1%。

　　估计批发库存形式的变化对年前的大约1.6亿单位库存会产生积极影响。这比预期的库存量少，因为批发商进入第三财季的单位库存量比去年同期低，而且在2012年第三财季还进一步降低了库存水平。

　　此外，2012年第三财季比2011年同期的装运日期少了一天，对销量产生了1.6%的负面影响。由于对批发库存形式的相对变化的积极影响和2012年第三财季少一天装运日期的负面影响进行了调整，罗瑞拉德的国内批发出货量比2011年第三财季下降了2.0%。

　　“由于市场份额、销售额、利润和平均净定价的增长，罗瑞拉德再次强化了它在美国卷烟市场的地位，”凯斯勒称，“值得一提的是，尽管薄荷卷烟促销和新产品活动竞争激烈，但是公司在第三财季仍然扩大了其在薄荷卷烟市场的份额领导地位，显示出旗舰品牌新港的显著增长。”

　　总部位于美国北卡罗莱纳州格林斯博罗的罗瑞拉德公司的子公司罗瑞拉德烟草公司是美国第三大卷烟生产商。罗瑞拉德成立于1760年，是美国最悠久的持续经营的烟草公司。罗瑞拉德的旗舰优质卷烟品牌新港是美国最畅销的薄荷卷烟也是销量第二大的卷烟品牌。除新港外，罗瑞拉德产品线还有另外4个卷烟品牌家族，营销的品牌名称为健牌、真实、Maverick和Old Gold等。

Lorillard to 'Ramp up Investment Behind blu eCigs'

　　With the national retail roll-out and advertising campaign of blu eCigs just beginning in the third quarter of 2012, sales of the electronic cigarettes contributed $14 million to Lorillard Inc.'s total net sales for the quarter.

　　"The company continued to execute against its strategic plan as it began to invest in advertising, distribution and merchandising on blu eCigs, the leading e-cigarette brand acquired earlier this year," said Murray S. Kessler, chairman, CEO and president. "The competitive environment, both in terms of pricing and product introductions, has clearly heated up through the year and is expected to continue in the fourth quarter. Therefore, our marketing plans for the immediate future are geared toward protecting consumer loyalty which is fundamental for continued profitable growth. At the same time, the company will ramp up investment behind blu eCigs as it further penetrates national retail distribution."

　　During the quarter, which ended Sept. 30, total Lorillard wholesale cigarette unit volume decreased 2.1% compared to the corresponding period of 2011. Domestic wholesale cigarette unit volume also decreased 2.1% for the third quarter of 2012.

　　Changes in wholesale inventory patterns are estimated to have positively impacted year ago comparisons by approximately 160 million units. This was less than expected as wholesalers entered the third quarter with fewer units than year ago but further reduced inventory levels during the third quarter of 2012.

　　Additionally, the third quarter of 2012 contained one fewer shipping day (63) than the third quarter of 2011 (64), which had a 1.6% negative effect on volume. Adjusting for both the positive impact of the relative change in wholesale inventory patterns and the negative impact of one fewer shipping day in the third quarter of 2012, Lorillard domestic wholesale shipments were down 2.0% as compared to the third quarter of 2011.

　　"Lorillard once again strengthened its position in the U.S. cigarette market during the third quarter as it grew market share, sales, margins and average net pricing, all of which translated to strong EPS growth over last year," Kessler said. "Notably, the company expanded its share leadership position in the menthol cigarette segment during the quarter despite intense competitive menthol promotional and new product activity, demonstrating the remarkable strength of its flagship brand, Newport."

　　Greensboro, N.C.-based Lorillard Inc., through its Lorillard Tobacco Co. subsidiary, is the third-largest manufacturer of cigarettes in the United States. Founded in 1760, Lorillard is the oldest continuously operating tobacco company in the U.S. Newport, Lorillard's flagship premium cigarette brand, is the top selling menthol and second-largest selling cigarette in the U.S. In addition to Newport, the Lorillard product line has four additional cigarette brand families marketed under the Kent, True, Maverick and Old Gold brand names. Enditem