American Snuff Company

The American Snuff Company is a manufacturer of dipping tobacco, chewing tobacco, and dry snuff headquartered in Memphis, TN. The company is currently owned by British American Tobacco, which acquired U.S.-based Reynolds American in 2017.

History
In 1782, John Garrett II, a member of the 6th Delaware Militia Company, built a snuff mill on Red Clay Creek outside of Wilmington, DE. In 1795, his son, Levi Garrett, opened a retail store in Philadelphia to sell dry snuff, twist chewing tobacco, rolls of plug, and "segars". Snuff was packaged in bottles or in beef bladders. In 1851, Levi's sons join the business, as well as his son William's sons. The company name is then changed to W.E. Garrett & Sons. In 1870, the Garrett Snuff trademark is one of the first to be issued from the new U.S. Patent Office.

In 1900, the American Snuff Company is founded in New York City. In 1912, the company's headquarters are moved from New York to Memphis, TN. The key brands at this time were Levi Garrett, W.E. Garrett, Dental Scotch, and Honest Scotch. In 1952, Taylor Brothers, a Winston-Salem, NC based tobacco manufacturer founded in 1883 by William B. Taylor, was acquired by the company. Taylor Brothers manufactured twist, plug, and loose leaf chew, and brands such as Bull of the Woods and Cannon Ball were acquired in the deal, with Conwood brands and Red Fox brands added later.

In 1967, American Snuff Co. acquired Scott Tobacco Co., based in Bowling Green, KY. The move added more twist brands, such as Mammoth Cave and Warren County, to the product portfolio.

In 1974, Levi Garrett chewing tobacco was introduced, with a distinctively sweet taste compared to other products at the time. In 1980, Hawken is introduced with its unique cut and "round can" setting it apart from other products. Also in 1980, moist snuff brand Kodiak is introduced. In 1985, the company is sold to the Pritzker Family of Chicago, IL, and the company name is changed to Conwood Company.

In 2001, Grizzly dipping tobacco is introduced, first in a three-state test market. With outstanding sales, national distribution is achieved by the end of 2002. In 2006, Conwood Company is acquired by Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), which owned R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. In 2010, the decision was made to change the company name back to American Snuff Co. to reflect its heritage. In 2017, British American Tobacco acquired Reynolds American, Inc.

Facilities

 * Memphis, TN - where processed tobacco is received and made into a variety of smokeless products
 * Clarksville, TN - where tobacco is sourced from the region and then processed
 * Winston-Salem, NC - the former Taylor Brothers facility still in use today

Current Brands
Dip tobacco: Chewing tobacco: Twist chewing tobacco: Plug chewing tobacco: Dry snuff:
 * Grizzly - the company's flagship brand
 * Kodiak - premium brand introduced in 1980
 * Cougar - a value brand available in 3 styles
 * Hawken - a "rough cut" product, the first to be packaged in a round plastic can
 * Levi Garrett - 1974, sweetened product
 * Taylor's Pride - introduced in 1986
 * Morgan's - introduced in 1998, a value-priced brand
 * Peachey - purchased from the Scotten Dillon Company in the 1980s
 * Cumberland
 * Mammoth Cave
 * Moore's Red Leaf
 * Warren County
 * Bloodhound
 * Bull of the Woods
 * Cannon Ball
 * Levi Garrett Plug
 * Taylor's Pride Plug
 * Dental
 * Honest
 * Peach
 * Tube Rose
 * W.E. Garrett & Sons

Related Brands and Products
While not under the arm of the American Snuff Company, parent company R.J. Reynolds has offered some smokeless products as well. Notably, Camel Snus, introduced in 2006, and more recently Velo, a nicotine pouch product falling into the "modern oral" category. A former product, Zonnic, was a nicotine gum sold by another subsidiary, Niconovum USA, had been introduced in 2014 and removed from the market by 2019.