Introduction of New ENTZ Smokes

KT&G puts on the market ENTZ cigarettes in newly designed packs to appeal more to smokers

KT&G has put on the market a new ENTZ cigarette in a new style, although it was the world’s first compact and slim size cigarette pack sold in 2005, the company said recently.
The new ENTZ has a completely new design, in reflection of smokers’ preference for a pleasant and sensual feel in cigarette packs with graphic design showing new motifs, the company said.
ENTZ renewal cigarettes will have natural quality packaged in a special sensual color to appeal to today’s smokers who are sensitive to details. The new ENTZ’ compact and slim-size still has the same taste (3.5 mg tar) and sweet fruit flavor while retaining a smooth and nice aftertaste as its special features. The new ENTZ was put on the market on Aug. 18 and smokers can confirm the information on the new ENTZ on the KT&G homepage (www.ktng.com). KT&G will continue to boost the consumer’s satisfaction for its cigarettes in the days to come by producing and putting on the market a series of new cigarettes with diversified tastes and in well-designed packs.
The tobacco and cigarette monopoly in Korea announced its Q2 results recently showing a 2.4 percent reduction in sales, although the operating profit and net income were up 23.2 percent and 110.9 percent YoY respectively.
The company’s Q2 sales amounted to 855.2 billion won, operating profit 355.1 billion won and net profit 451.4 billion won.
The company plans to strengthen its competitive power by reforming its organization by business areas and finding new future growth engines by realigning its governance structure so that the cigarette and health food business sectors will grow in balance in terms of profit and growth to see the company reborn as a super enterprise.
KT&G has reduced the number of its branches around the country to 137 from 168 as of July 1 following a 19 percent cut in the company’s operations. The company carried out the moves in order to upgrade its competitive strength in tune with the cuts in its share of the cigarette market to 62.3 percent based on 2009 figures as well as changes in customers and market.
The company also plans to foster its non-ginseng businesses, including health food, as its future growth engine by making KGC Sales one of its affiliates. The new affiliate used to be an affiliate of Korea Ginseng Corp.
The reorganization of KT&G was designed to strengthen its marketing units by making them more effective. Some 470 officers and staff were given honorable retirement from the company, roughly 10 percent of the company’s total payroll.
The company wanted to strengthen its market management and manpower management through the reform.
KT&G Welfare Foundation, in the meantime, donated 5,500 electric fans to senior citizens who live alone, knowing their suffering from the sweltering heat waves this summer and to help them retain their health. President Kim Jae-hong of the foundation delivered those electric fans in a ceremony on July 16.
President Kim said at the ceremony that he hoped that the fans will help senior citizens who have been living in small rooms without cooling equipment, adding that they would also help those senior citizens to relieve their loneliness.
The foundation has been holding a number of charitable events around the country including a table tennis game for senior citizens and other events in cooperation with local welfare organizations across the country since 2004. In 2007, the foundation supplied 18,200 walking aids for old people and will continue to undertake welfare events for the senior citizens around the country. nw

An official of the KT&G Foundation chats with an elderly lady after presenting her with an electric fan provided by the foundation to the needy elderly people living alone on July 17 . The foundation donated 5,500 electric fans to those people.