April 19, 2024

• 

[THE INVESTOR] British American Tobacco on July 23 launched an upgraded version of its heat-not-burn tobacco device Glo Series 2 in Korea to boost its market share here.

“Korean consumers will be the first in the world to be able to enjoy the next-generation Glo,” head of BAT Korea Matthieu Juery said during a press conference in Seoul.

 

Head of BAT Korea Matthieu Juery

The tobacco firm said the new edition of Glo will come with improved design and performance compared to the previous version, which was launched here in August last year. Moreover, the new product has also maintained the merits of the previous version. With a single charge, the new device lasts more than 30 sessions based on back-to-back usage, whereas users of its competing product Phillip Morris’ IQOS have to recharge it after every session.

The company also presented Neo with six different flavors, a tobacco product exclusively designed for its HNB device Glo, which is also an upgraded version of its current Neostiks. Neo will be produced at its plant in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province.

The new device and Neo are priced at 90,000 won (US$79.72) and 4,500 won, respectively. Customers will be able to purchase them from July 30 at its four Glo flagship stores in Seoul and Busan, website and all the convenience stores here.

BAT has a market share of around 10 percent for HNB cigarettes in Korea, while its competitor PMI and KT&G have 60 percent and 30 percent, respectively. KT&G also rolled out its second-generation e-cigarette device lil plus in June.

By Song Seung-hyun (ssh@heraldcorp.com)