Ballantyne Brands, LLC, Launches Mistic™ E-Cigs At The Pantry

Continuing to strengthen its presence in the growing electronic cigarette (e-cig) market, Ballantyne Brands, LLC today announced an agreement with The Pantry, one of the nation’s leading convenience store operators, to distribute its Mistic™ brand of e-cigs in more than 1,500 Kangaroo Express stores across the Southeast.

“The Pantry will be taking a more dominant position as it relates to the exposure we give e-cigs. It’s a growing category, and we want to make sure we capitalize on the brands that make sense,” said Jen Eaton, category manager at The Pantry. “Mistic™ was a very clear decision in this category, especially to leverage their growing user base and capitalize on Mistic™ residual cartridge sales in our stores.”

This agreement between Ballantyne Brands and The Pantry is beneficial to both parties with Mistic™ products that fit the e-cig needs of Kangaroo Express customers. The Pantry is the among the first national retailers to offer a Mistic BLACK soft-tip disposable e-cig, which will be offered in both tobacco and menthol in all stores at a retail price point of $5.99.

“The Pantry has been a phenomenal company to work with, and it’s exciting for us to work with a company that is engaging in the category and wants it to succeed,” said John Wiesehan III, vice president of sales for Ballantyne Brands.

The number of retail outlets nationwide carrying Mistic™ e-cigs since the beginning of 2013 has grown from slightly more than 3,000, to in excess of 15,000. Ballantyne Brands said it expects Mistic™ to be carried in more than 25,000 retail locations by the end of this year.

Bonnie Herzog, managing director of Beverage, Tobacco, and Convenience Store research at Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, says she expects consumption of e-cigs to surpass that of traditional cigs in the next decade. She has said that the e-cig category is margin-enhancing to retailers, whereas in the traditional tobacco market, there is currently margin suppression.

About Ballantyne Brands, LLC

Electronic cigarettes, commonly called e-cigs, are alternatives to traditional tobacco products. Ballantyne Brands distributes our Mistic™ electronic cigarettes to thousands of retail outlets across the country. Ballantyne Brands offers rechargeable and non-rechargeable e-cigs in both traditional tobacco and menthol flavors at a variety of nicotine levels. Our team continually works to provide our customers with the highest quality products available at a price below our competitors and much less than that of traditional cigarettes. Our innovations are guaranteed to provide our customers with a more convenient and enjoyable alternative smoking experience.

About The Pantry

The Pantry’s Kangaroo Express® convenience stores meet the daily food and fuel shopping needs of guests. As of May 7, 2013, the Company operated 1,567 stores in 13 states under select banners, including its primary operating banner Kangaroo Express. The Pantry is one of the nation’s largest convenience store chains and the leading independently operated chain in the southeastern United States. The Pantry is headquartered in Cary, N.C. For more information, visit www.thepantry.com.

Kangaroo Express offers hot and cold beverages, snacks, fresh foods, gasoline and a wide assortment of merchandise and services for guests’ on-the-go lifestyles. It is home to more than 220 foodservice restaurants, including Subway and Dairy Queen. Kangaroo Express associates are committed to providing store guests with the fastest, friendliest and cleanest shopping experience and embracing communities with campaigns such as Salute Our Troops®, raising millions of dollars for the USO and other military support organizations. For more information, visit www.kangarooexpress.com or visit us on Twitter and Facebook.