CLARENCE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--22nd Century Group, Inc. (NYSE MKT: XXII), a plant biotechnology company focused on tobacco, announced today that the Company has launched a remastered RED SUN website that powerfully communicates the brand’s new Extremely Nicotine message. Underpinning the www.redsuncigarettes.com website – and the brand itself – is RED SUN’s mission: “To give smokers the BOLDEST, most UNAPOLOGETIC and HIGHEST NICOTINE cigarette in America!”
“The RED SUN website serves as our Company’s “Ground Zero” of brand awareness,” explained Nathan P. Schmitt, Director of Marketing for 22nd Century. “Positioned very much like Red Bull® energy drinks, RED SUN is a bold, super-premium brand. Consumers have embraced RED SUN; in fact, as showcased on our website, nearly 200 adult smokers across the country have become ‘RED SUN extremists’ by tattooing our brand’s logo on their bodies!”
Though 22nd Century does not encourage non-smokers to start smoking, or current smokers to smoke more, the Company believes strongly that consumers should have a choice of nicotine levels between cigarette brands. The new RED SUN website articulates the brand’s core values including: Authenticity, Independence, Boldness, and an Unconventional attitude. Explaining why “More is Better” and the reason behind the brand’s audacious high nicotine messaging, the RED SUN website declares: “We own the formula for America’s highest nicotine tobacco! No other brand can match RED SUN’s EXTREME nicotine! Why is more nicotine better? RED SUN smokers can enjoy greater satisfaction with every cigarette. Our smokers are unapologetic about smoking and deserve the best tobacco has to offer.”
22nd Century’s factory manager, Barry Saintsing is highlighted on the RED SUN website as the “father of the blend.” Identified as RED SUN’s Master Tobacconist, Saintsing served 36-years with RJ Reynolds as a Master Product Developer where he worked to perfect tobacco blends in the United States and in dozens of other countries around the world. “The RED SUN blend is carefully balanced to provide smokers with a powerful, undiluted tobacco taste,” explained Mr. Saintsing. “My work with RED SUN is especially fulfilling since so many smokers have told me how much they really like the bold, premium taste that RED SUN delivers.”
A new initiative for the Company is introduced on the website’s “Plant a Tree” page. 22nd Century is working with four non-profit organizations (Green Seattle Partnership, The Park People, California ReLeaf, and Friends of Trees) to plant a tree for every case of RED SUN cigarettes that is sold. The stated goal of the Company’s new Green Thumb initiative is to promote urban and community forest renewal and to improve the natural beauty of urban centers and parks across America.
The RED SUN website address is www.redsuncigarettes.com. It is open to adults of legal smoking age.
About 22nd Century Group, Inc.
22nd Century is a plant biotechnology company focused on technology which allows it to increase or decrease the level of nicotine in tobacco plants and the level of cannabinoids in cannabis plants through genetic engineering and plant breeding. The Company’s primary mission is to reduce the harm caused by smoking. 22nd Century currently owns or exclusively controls more than 200 issued patents and more than 50 pending patent applications around the world. The Company’s strong IP position led to a licensing agreement with British American Tobacco (“BAT”), the world’s second largest tobacco company. Visit www.xxiicentury.com for more information.
RED SUN is a registered trademark of 22nd Century Limited LLC. All other names and marks are the registered trademarks of their respective owners and are not affiliated with 22nd Century Limited, or RED SUN cigarettes in any way.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking information, including all statements that are not statements of historical fact regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of 22nd Century Group, Inc., its directors or its officers with respect to the contents of this press release, including but not limited to our future revenue expectations. The words “may,” “would,” “will,” “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend” and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity or performance. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date that they were made. These cautionary statements should be considered with any written or oral forward-looking statements that we may issue in the future. Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States, we do not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform these statements to reflect actual results, later events or circumstances, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by us in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, filed on February 5, 2015, including the section entitled “Risk Factors,” and our other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission which attempt to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business, financial condition, results of operation and cash flows. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from those expected or projected.
