International Internet's StogiesOnline.com Approved To Buy Direct From Swedish Match
BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 24, 2000--International Internet, Inc. (OTCBB:IINN) announced today that it's subsidiary StogiesOnline.com has been approved to buy directly from Swedish Match AB (Nasdaq:SWMAY). Swedish Match is one of the world's leading cigar manufacturers with a total annual production amounting to more than 1 billion cigars. These are sold in more than 90 countries, where the US and Western Europe are the most important markets. With a long tradition of producing superior cigars, Swedish Match's brands La Paz, Willem II, Clubmaster, Justus van Maurik, De Heeren van Ruysdael and Montague enjoy strong market positions. The total market for cigars is increasing, despite large differences between various markets. This makes cigars a product with great growth potential. The most well-known Swedish brands are Bellman, Cortez and Frans Suell.
In the U.S., the premium end of the cigar market is enjoying explosive growth. Swedish Match is exploiting that segment with its Montague and La Paz brands. Through the recent acquisition of the American company General Cigars' mass-market business, Swedish Match also acquired well-known brands such as Garcia y Vega, White Owl and Tijuana Smalls. The current agreement allows International Internet's StogiesOnline.com/Mr. Cigar Inc., to purchase cigars directly from the manufacturer. The new agreement places StogiesOnline.com in a better position to compete in the Mass Market and Premium cigar market. International Internet retails cigars through their website at stogiesonline.com and their retail location in Boca Raton, Fla.
Brian John, StogiesOnline.com subsidiary president, stated: "Our approval to buy directly from Swedish Match allows us to be even more competitive in the Mass Market. With the mass market comprising approximately 70% of the overall cigar industry this represents a very important relationship for our continued growth and further penetration in to the cigar market." |
