KT&G to release new Davidoff

KT&G Corp., Korea’s tobacco giant, said it plans to launch a new version of Davidoff cigarettes in the local market on Wednesday.

Davidoff Rich Blue is the second edition of the global premium cigarette brand owned by U.K.-based Imperial Tobacco Group PLC. The cigarette has 3 milligrams of tar, thus offering a milder taste than the first Davidoff Classic’s 6 milligrams, KT&G said Monday. 

“We applied the rich blue color because it was customers’ favorite, proven by our survey results,” said John Kammerman, ITG’s North Asia general manager. “The Davidoff Rich Blue is available only in a few countries around the world.”

The Korean firm clinched a licensing agreement with the world’s fourth-largest cigarette manufacturer to produce and use the Davidoff label. It is sold in 130 countries worldwide, fetching 17 billion pieces in sales every year, according to KT&G.

(heeshin@heraldcorp.com)