I read on another forum that Fred Stokers are closing, I never tried their snuff yet but might place an order before they go under. Message #2215 of 2215 < Prev | Next > I just received a letter from Fred Stoker’s and they are closing shop as of 29 June 2010. This is a result of the PACT ACT Legislation. link
I’m on their mailing list, and I have not received a letter. I heard that they were ending retail mail order, but would continue to sell at a distributor level.
Doesn’t look like it’s so much PACT, but the fact that they were bought out:North Atlantic Trading Company Acquires Stoker, Inc. for $22.5 Million New York - North Atlantic Trading Company, Inc. has purchased all of the outstanding shares of Dresden, Tennessee-based tobacco maker Stoker, Inc. for $22.5 million, subject to certain post-closing adjustments. Stoker, a family-owned business established in 1940 by Fred Stoker, manufactures looseleaf chews, moist and dry snuffs, plug and twist tobaccos and smoking tobaccos. It also produces the Fred Stoker & Sons direct mail catalog and operates a wholesale distribution division, RBJ Sales. “The Stoker business, with its strength in both the value-oriented chewing tobacco and make-your-own (MYO) tobacco segments, is a perfect complement to our own premium and value brands in these segments,” said Thomas F. Helms, Jr., chairman and c.e.o. of North Atlantic Trading Company. “Given the intense price competition in the tobacco industry today and the growing popularity of value-oriented tobacco products among adult consumers, the acquisition of Stoker’s brands provides an opportunity to increase market share in these strategically important segments of our business.” Helms said that the acquisition would create opportunities for improved manufacturing and distribution efficiencies, and gives the company a strong position in the popular 16 ounce value-oriented bag category. “Over the last three years, we have successfully responded and grown to meet consumer demand with our Zig-Zag MYO tobacco products,” Helms added. “While the Zig-Zag MYO tobacco products continue to exhibit strong growth, we also recognize that many adult consumers are price-sensitive and seek value-oriented MYO products. Stoker’s tobacco products provide us with important brands through which we can reach more of these price-sensitive adult consumers, who continue to switch from manufactured cigarettes.”
Damn, that’s too bad. Seems that what happens when ‘the old man dies’ in family businesses. Have to see how the quality and prices are affected…
Yep, I think he passed last year, now they sold the thing off.
Hold the presses. I should be fair to Stoker’s kids. The business was actually sold in 2003, in 2004-5 it was announced that the Dresden facility would be shut down and consolidated with the Louisville facility. So I guess they finally got off their ass and started consolidation.
Oh, well… then they sold before Fred died? Well, that screws my great son-of -a-founder theory
Well crap… as if the world doesn’t have enough problems now I have too; well is there any place on this planet a person can live have everything he needs and be left ALONE…
@ibild Not anymore!
Maybe I’ll call and ask some question tommorrow. I pretty fluent in the dialect
This is a really big loss. I’m surprised more isn’t it said/written about it. Their chewing tobacco was very popular with hardcore chewers. I shouldn’t have kept putting off trying their nasal snuff. The reviews, from a number of folks here, were favorable. They carrried whole leaves and air-cured and dark-fired ropes, etc… It was a very interesting company with a very interesting history.
They were bought out. Their chew is still being made.
Well, that’s good then. At a number of stores that have carried their products, they are under the impression they’ve closed shop. I’ve seen some of their products dwindling from shelves or gone.
I thought the aquisition by North Atlantic was in '03.
It was in 03, but they waited until 2010 to shut down the Dresden facility and consolidate in Louisville.
Gotcha. You sure are keeping track of them! Well, do you know (or does anyone, suppose) if they’'ll be making all the same stuff?