Red Man

Red Man is a brand of both chewing tobacco and dipping tobacco manufactured by the Pinkerton Tobacco Company, which is now owned by Swedish Match North America. Currently, Swedish Match holds 44% of the market share of chewing tobacco, and of that, Red Man accounts for 85%.

### History

In 1887, John W. Pinkerton purchased an Ohio tobacco company and renamed it the Pinkerton Tobacco Company. In the first year, the company searched for a "perfect original chewing tobacco recipe", and Red Man was born. Red Man began production in 1904 and first was available in Toledo, Ohio. The earliest advertisements show the product retailing for 10¢ to 15¢ and made from cigar leaf. In 1910, the company ordered a fleet of Model T's to keep pace with growing demand. In 1911, "The Trust", a tobacco monopoly, is broken up, and Red Man is quickly able to expand. In early years, each package of Red Man was weighed by hand and it was packaged in boxes. Advertisements were often on roadside signs on rural highways. Also, advertisements made of muslin cloth were often hung on barns or other structures in rural America. In 1922, founder John W. Pinkerton dies and control stays in the family, to his son-in-law Orr Bovard and son Sherwood Pinkerton, Jr. In the 1930s, Pinkerton hired two full-time artists to paint barns with the Red Man brand name, similar to the Mail Pouch painted barns that still exist in rural America. In 1940, the company is passed to Sherwood Pinkerton's brother-in-law. In 1942, sugar rationing during World War II led Pinkerton to use substitutes that are found in fruits. This formula lasted from 1942 until the early 1950s. In 1954, distribution was expanded across the South, and in June of 1963, it was available nationwide. In 1967, foil pouch packaging was introduced to keep products fresher longer than the earlier wax paper boxes. 80 years after the introduction of Red Man, the Golden Blend is introduced and described as "smooth and balanced".

In 1985, Pinkerton Tobacco Company was acquired by Swedish Match.

In 1990, to continue innovation on freshness, re-sealable pouches are introduced. In 1992, Red Man became a sponsor of the NTPA Pulling Series. In 2005, Red Man Silver Blend was introduced and was naturally sweet and sugar-free, and used techniques from the days of sugar rationing during World War II. It can be compared to the average 5.5 tsps per 3oz pouch of other chews. In October 2007, Swedish Match launches Red Man premium moist snuff in eleven states as a test run. In 2008, Red Man moist snuff (dipping tobacco) is introduced, adding a new category to its offerings. It originally came in a metal lid. Also, unlike the company's other moist snuff products, Red Man is introduced as a premium brand. In 2010, the plastic "FlavorFresh" lid was introduced, citing an improvement in preserving moisture and freshness.

Red Man (loose leaf) remains the most widely available chewing tobacco nationwide, and the 14 Southern/Southeastern states account for 85 to 90% of sales, according to Swedish Match.

### Products

*The following is a list of products as described by the website.*

#### Chewing tobacco

* Red Man Original - original product
* Red Man Golden Blend - smooth & balanced (sweetened)
* Red Man Silver Blend - sugar free, naturally sweet using Maltitol & Sorbitol found in fruits.
* Red Man Select - a full-bodied chew made from choice, premium leaf, for a rich taste with a hint of whiskey
* Red Man Plug - a plug chewing tobacco

#### Moist snuff

* Fine Cut Natural - a fresh, darker blend of fine cut moist snuff
* Long Cut Straight - moist, darker blend with rich, bold taste
* Long Cut Wintergreen - pure wintergreen flavor

Red Man offers a "Fresh or Free" promotion with its moist snuff, in that Red Man will refund the purchase price if a consumer sends in a lid and receipt of an expired can they'd purchased.

### References

1. ↑ https://www.swedishmatch.com/Media/Pressreleases-and-news/News/Red-Man--the-flagship-of-chewing-tobacco/
2. ↑ https://redman.com/Chew/Heritage/
3. ↑ https://www.swedishmatch.com/Media/Pressreleases-and-news/News/Red-Man--the-flagship-of-chewing-tobacco/
4. ↑ http://www.smokeshopmag.com/1007/brand.htm
5. ↑ http://www.smokeshopmag.com/0208/brand.htm
6. ↑ https://www.swedishmatch.com/Media/Pressreleases-and-news/News/Red-Man-Moist-Snuff-Flavor-Fresh-Lid/

### External links

* Red Man website: https://redman.com/