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As the company evolved over the next decade, it con-
tinued to focus on delivering quality and value with its
product lines. Today, its portfolio includes pipe tobacco
brand Kentucky Select and the value brand Buckhorn, as
well as cigarette tube and flavored pipe tobacco product
lines. East Carolina RYO also ventured into the vapor di-
vision with its Puff line of e-cigarettes, but the company
is currently taking a wait-and-see approach to that sector
of its business, explains Shango. “The company still does
some business, but we’re waiting to see what happens with
the FDA before we decide where to go from here with it.”
Like many manufacturers, East Carolina RYO is close-
ly monitoring developments through a lawyer in Wash-
ington, D.C. who provides weekly reports on regulatory
news. “Right now everyone is asking questions, but no
one has any answers,” says Shango. “Hopefully, there will
be some clarity under the new administration.”
In the meantime, he and his partners plan to continue
doing what they do best. “Our customers can count on
quality and consistency—the products we sell them today
will be the same tomorrow, in a month or in a year,” says
Shango. “We have top-rated tobacco buyers who have
been in this business a long time and [have] strict man-
ufacturing and quality-control processes. We are in this
business for the long haul. We will fight for our business
and do whatever it takes to make the FDA happy with
what we’re doing now and in the future.”
TB
Our customers
can count on
quality and con-
sistency—the
products we
sell them to-
day will be the
same tomor-
row, in a month
or in a year,
Flavored Kentucky Select Pipe Tobacco
is available in cherry, vanilla, whiskey,
black Cavendish, natural and rum.
[ T O B A C C O B U S I N E S S . C O M ]
TOBACCO BUSINESS
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