{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"179478","rtpr_id":"nGNX9gC4l5-20261026","ticker":"XXII","exchange":"NASDAQ","all_tickers":["XXII"],"title":"22nd Century Expands the Pinnacle Pure Portfolio To 6 SKU’s With Addition of 100’s and Menthol Varieties","author":"Globe Newswire","published_at":"2026-10-26T11:37:00.098Z","article_body":"New 100’s Format Serves the Significant Portion of Adult Smokers Who Prefer\nthe Larger Form Factor — Approximately Half of the U.S. Cigarette Market\n\nCompany targets additional revenue opportunities with an expanded lineup\n\nMOCKSVILLE, N.C., Oct. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 22nd Century Group, Inc.\n(Nasdaq: XXII), today announced the expansion of the Pinnacle Pure tobacco and\nwater cigarette lineup with the addition of 100’s size and Menthol (green)\nvarieties, joining Yellow and Blue to total 6 SKU’s in the market. Pinnacle\nPure is made with just two ingredients — tobacco and water — and launched\nin the second quarter of 2026 at major U.S. retailers.\n\n22(nd) Century’s newly launched Pinnacle tobacco-and-water cigarette brand\nhas caught the eye of smoking consumers and is currently growing rapidly in\nour launch partner’s approximately 1,500 retail outlets. The recent addition\nof Pinnacle Pure expands the Pinnacle portfolio and further helps meet the\ndemand of adult smokers seeking a better alternative to their standard brands.\n\n“Consumer response to Pinnacle Pure has been exceptional,” said Larry\nFirestone, Chief Executive Officer of 22nd Century Group. “In only a few\nmonths since launch, initial sales volumes have shown impressive and quick\ntraction within the segment — and with the expanded number of SKU’s, we\nnow serve an even more significant portion of adult smokers who prefer the\n100mm form factor, and Menthol (Green) extends the tobacco-and-water choice to\none of the category’s most loyal taste segments. This breadth is exactly\nwhat opens new retail doors as we execute our distribution expansion plans.”\n\nPinnacle Pure 100’s and Pinnacle Pure Menthol (Green) are expected to begin\nshipping in December 2026.\n\nAbout 22nd Century Group, Inc.\n\n22nd Century Group is pioneering the Tobacco Harm Reduction and\nNicotine Reduction Movements by enabling smokers to take control of their\nnicotine consumption.   \n\nOur Technology is Tobacco\n\nOur proprietary non-GMO reduced nicotine tobacco plants were developed using\nour patented technologies that regulate alkaloid biosynthesis activities\nresulting in a tobacco plant that contains 95% less nicotine than\ntraditional tobacco plants. Our extensive patent portfolio has been developed\nto ensure that our high-quality tobacco can be grown commercially at scale.\nWe continue to develop our intellectual property to ensure our ongoing\nleadership in the tobacco harm reduction movement.   \n\nOur Products\n\nWe created our flagship product, the VLN(®) cigarette using our low\nnicotine tobacco, to give traditional cigarette smokers an authentic and\nfamiliar alternative in the form of a combustible cigarette that helps them\ntake control of their nicotine consumption. VLN(®) cigarettes have 95% less\nnicotine compared to traditional cigarettes and have been proven to allow\nconsumers to greatly reduce their nicotine consumption.   \n\nVLN(®) and Helps You Smoke Less(®) are registered trademarks of 22nd\nCentury Limited LLC.\n\nLearn more at xxiicentury.com\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=Dd2J8ZVkR-6ocVrHwiCobkLhUbSi4R_iDllyFLoU1kPB-qa3sPkxuHQvn70EuOEaA1E8N6GGuCnEvmHjcLfI0t5Erl2OAAPN2U1r9cLVQqA=),\non X (formerly Twitter)\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=wJHYa_ijtRWqXQqMBPBQokyFNvmymc1fa11w8aAMWJF5vxCaX2DwM3arpBDHdoA7MjKRh1WwewEmDrQ1NRpl5OHSvvdFgFeG96GVAs7KuswMTmgTltIN_L7L5MsRyjSQ),\non LinkedIn\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=cGrnj5ev3rYm7hsIL1OTo2vAiznxt8EGlyNZok7R1dhhMSp0jLtEHnboh3B03v-hETpVq4jdB24wPr6sbmg-WTgcFwH_fwA-DnfLGmB-42lOAh5Sb5cH6Q9x0oVPk3DK),\nand on YouTube\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=t7fY0pC1vJMKW7U05okz1GB2yk5auGoT4OokSGJmj1p7OYmaW0hCzlazmLEA2YJGNt9HgwZrAbn9WBllMHBQv1_n68gLu4RKut9ApOFGU6A=). \n\nLearn more about Pinnacle VLN and VLN(®) at tryvln.com\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=kGeicyNwulrqqgTOW2tya9QgSZJhYWYrPWpwVxZnkF6Kk3lWPGlq-dnVCGpLg34mbq-T6WQb0jYJ3bY0EPQGdQ==)\nand Pinnaclevln.com.\n\nCautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements\n\nExcept for historical information, all of the statements, expectations,\nand assumptions contained in this press release are forward-looking\nstatements, including but not limited to our full year business outlook.\nForward-looking statements typically contain terms such as “anticipate,”\n“believe,” “consider,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,”\n“expect,” “explore,” “foresee,” “goal,” “guidance,”\n“intend,” “likely,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,”\n“predict,” “preliminary,” “probable,” “project,”\n“promising,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would,” and\nsimilar expressions. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited\nto, statements regarding (i) our expectations regarding regulatory\nenforcement, including our ability to receive authorization or approval for\nnew products, and (ii) our financial and operating performance. Actual results\nmight differ materially from those explicit or implicit in forward-looking\nstatements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ\nmaterially are set forth in “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual\nReport on Form 10-K filed on March 26, 2026 and Quarterly Reports on Form\n10-Q filed May 7, 2026 and August 14, 2026. All information provided in this\nrelease is as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to and\ndoes not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required\nby law.   \n\nInvestor Relations & Media Contact\nDaniel Otto  \nChief Financial Officer & Investor Relations   \n22nd Century Group   \ninvestorrelations@xxiicentury.com   \n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0c134f7d-c166-4b24-874f-262b3515f650)\n\n\n\nGlobeNewswire, Inc. 2026","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nGNX9gC4l5-20261026","title":"22nd Century Expands the Pinnacle Pure Portfolio To 6 SKU’s With Addition of 100’s and Menthol Varieties","author":"Globe Newswire","ticker":"XXII","created":"2026-10-26T11:37:00.098Z","tickers":["XXII"],"exchange":"NASDAQ","article_body":"New 100’s Format Serves the Significant Portion of Adult Smokers Who Prefer\nthe Larger Form Factor — Approximately Half of the U.S. Cigarette Market\n\nCompany targets additional revenue opportunities with an expanded lineup\n\nMOCKSVILLE, N.C., Oct. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 22nd Century Group, Inc.\n(Nasdaq: XXII), today announced the expansion of the Pinnacle Pure tobacco and\nwater cigarette lineup with the addition of 100’s size and Menthol (green)\nvarieties, joining Yellow and Blue to total 6 SKU’s in the market. Pinnacle\nPure is made with just two ingredients — tobacco and water — and launched\nin the second quarter of 2026 at major U.S. retailers.\n\n22(nd) Century’s newly launched Pinnacle tobacco-and-water cigarette brand\nhas caught the eye of smoking consumers and is currently growing rapidly in\nour launch partner’s approximately 1,500 retail outlets. The recent addition\nof Pinnacle Pure expands the Pinnacle portfolio and further helps meet the\ndemand of adult smokers seeking a better alternative to their standard brands.\n\n“Consumer response to Pinnacle Pure has been exceptional,” said Larry\nFirestone, Chief Executive Officer of 22nd Century Group. “In only a few\nmonths since launch, initial sales volumes have shown impressive and quick\ntraction within the segment — and with the expanded number of SKU’s, we\nnow serve an even more significant portion of adult smokers who prefer the\n100mm form factor, and Menthol (Green) extends the tobacco-and-water choice to\none of the category’s most loyal taste segments. This breadth is exactly\nwhat opens new retail doors as we execute our distribution expansion plans.”\n\nPinnacle Pure 100’s and Pinnacle Pure Menthol (Green) are expected to begin\nshipping in December 2026.\n\nAbout 22nd Century Group, Inc.\n\n22nd Century Group is pioneering the Tobacco Harm Reduction and\nNicotine Reduction Movements by enabling smokers to take control of their\nnicotine consumption.   \n\nOur Technology is Tobacco\n\nOur proprietary non-GMO reduced nicotine tobacco plants were developed using\nour patented technologies that regulate alkaloid biosynthesis activities\nresulting in a tobacco plant that contains 95% less nicotine than\ntraditional tobacco plants. Our extensive patent portfolio has been developed\nto ensure that our high-quality tobacco can be grown commercially at scale.\nWe continue to develop our intellectual property to ensure our ongoing\nleadership in the tobacco harm reduction movement.   \n\nOur Products\n\nWe created our flagship product, the VLN(®) cigarette using our low\nnicotine tobacco, to give traditional cigarette smokers an authentic and\nfamiliar alternative in the form of a combustible cigarette that helps them\ntake control of their nicotine consumption. VLN(®) cigarettes have 95% less\nnicotine compared to traditional cigarettes and have been proven to allow\nconsumers to greatly reduce their nicotine consumption.   \n\nVLN(®) and Helps You Smoke Less(®) are registered trademarks of 22nd\nCentury Limited LLC.\n\nLearn more at xxiicentury.com\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=Dd2J8ZVkR-6ocVrHwiCobkLhUbSi4R_iDllyFLoU1kPB-qa3sPkxuHQvn70EuOEaA1E8N6GGuCnEvmHjcLfI0t5Erl2OAAPN2U1r9cLVQqA=),\non X (formerly Twitter)\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=wJHYa_ijtRWqXQqMBPBQokyFNvmymc1fa11w8aAMWJF5vxCaX2DwM3arpBDHdoA7MjKRh1WwewEmDrQ1NRpl5OHSvvdFgFeG96GVAs7KuswMTmgTltIN_L7L5MsRyjSQ),\non LinkedIn\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=cGrnj5ev3rYm7hsIL1OTo2vAiznxt8EGlyNZok7R1dhhMSp0jLtEHnboh3B03v-hETpVq4jdB24wPr6sbmg-WTgcFwH_fwA-DnfLGmB-42lOAh5Sb5cH6Q9x0oVPk3DK),\nand on YouTube\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=t7fY0pC1vJMKW7U05okz1GB2yk5auGoT4OokSGJmj1p7OYmaW0hCzlazmLEA2YJGNt9HgwZrAbn9WBllMHBQv1_n68gLu4RKut9ApOFGU6A=). \n\nLearn more about Pinnacle VLN and VLN(®) at tryvln.com\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=kGeicyNwulrqqgTOW2tya9QgSZJhYWYrPWpwVxZnkF6Kk3lWPGlq-dnVCGpLg34mbq-T6WQb0jYJ3bY0EPQGdQ==)\nand Pinnaclevln.com.\n\nCautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements\n\nExcept for historical information, all of the statements, expectations,\nand assumptions contained in this press release are forward-looking\nstatements, including but not limited to our full year business outlook.\nForward-looking statements typically contain terms such as “anticipate,”\n“believe,” “consider,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,”\n“expect,” “explore,” “foresee,” “goal,” “guidance,”\n“intend,” “likely,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,”\n“predict,” “preliminary,” “probable,” “project,”\n“promising,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would,” and\nsimilar expressions. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited\nto, statements regarding (i) our expectations regarding regulatory\nenforcement, including our ability to receive authorization or approval for\nnew products, and (ii) our financial and operating performance. Actual results\nmight differ materially from those explicit or implicit in forward-looking\nstatements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ\nmaterially are set forth in “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual\nReport on Form 10-K filed on March 26, 2026 and Quarterly Reports on Form\n10-Q filed May 7, 2026 and August 14, 2026. All information provided in this\nrelease is as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to and\ndoes not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required\nby law.   \n\nInvestor Relations & Media Contact\nDaniel Otto  \nChief Financial Officer & Investor Relations   \n22nd Century Group   \ninvestorrelations@xxiicentury.com   \n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0c134f7d-c166-4b24-874f-262b3515f650)\n\n\n\nGlobeNewswire, Inc. 2026"},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-10-26T11:37:00.148620251Z","server_sent_at_ms":1793014620148},"received_at":"2026-10-26T11:37:00.214Z","source_url":null},"analysis":{"id":"167362","press_release_id":"179478","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Tobacco","sector":"Consumer Staples"},"redFlags":[],"eventType":"product_launch","narrative":"22nd Century Group expanded its Pinnacle Pure tobacco-and-water cigarette lineup with 100's and Menthol (Green) varieties, bringing the portfolio to 6 SKUs.\n\nThe brand, launched in Q2 2026, is growing rapidly across a launch partner's roughly 1,500 retail outlets, and the new varieties are expected to begin shipping in December 2026.\n\nManagement frames the broader lineup as a way to reach the roughly half of U.S. smokers who prefer the 100mm format and to open new retail doors under its distribution expansion plans.","sentiment":"bullish","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":false,"suggestedAngle":"Small-cap product-line expansion signaling distribution momentum for the tobacco-and-water concept."},"keyFigures":{"customDimensions":{"sku_count":6,"retail_outlets":1500,"shipping_start":"December 2026"}},"quotedText":"Consumer response to Pinnacle Pure has been exceptional","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Larry Firestone","role":"Chief Executive Officer"},{"name":"Daniel Otto","role":"Chief Financial Officer & Investor Relations"}],"products":["Pinnacle Pure","Pinnacle Pure 100's","Pinnacle Pure Menthol (Green)","VLN (R) cigarette"],"companies":[{"name":"22nd Century Group, Inc.","ticker":"XXII"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"materialImpact":{"score":2,"reasoning":"Portfolio expansion adding two SKUs (100's and Menthol) to a recently launched brand at a small-cap consumer company. Positive commercial signal but no revenue figures or material financial impact disclosed."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[],"primary":"XXII"},"globalImportance":15,"audienceRelevance":15,"eventTypeSecondary":[],"importanceComponents":{"tickerTier":"micro-cap","eventGravity":"routine product-line expansion","financialDisclosure":"no figures stated"}},"event_type":"product_launch","event_type_secondary":null,"sentiment":"bullish","material_impact_score":2,"narrative":"22nd Century Group expanded its Pinnacle Pure tobacco-and-water cigarette lineup with 100's and Menthol (Green) varieties, bringing the portfolio to 6 SKUs.\n\nThe brand, launched in Q2 2026, is growing rapidly across a launch partner's roughly 1,500 retail outlets, and the new varieties are expected to begin shipping in December 2026.\n\nManagement frames the broader lineup as a way to reach the roughly half of U.S. smokers who prefer the 100mm format and to open new retail doors under its distribution expansion plans.","key_figures":{"customDimensions":{"sku_count":6,"retail_outlets":1500,"shipping_start":"December 2026"}},"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Larry Firestone","role":"Chief Executive Officer"},{"name":"Daniel Otto","role":"Chief Financial Officer & Investor Relations"}],"products":["Pinnacle Pure","Pinnacle Pure 100's","Pinnacle Pure Menthol (Green)","VLN (R) cigarette"],"companies":[{"name":"22nd Century Group, Inc.","ticker":"XXII"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"model_name":"glm-5.3-flashx","prompt_hash":"sha256:5c812bd9e28b810d","schema_hash":"sha256:05005c02d9cffac9","created_at":"2026-10-26T11:37:06.412Z","global_importance":15,"audience_relevance":15,"importance_components":{"tickerTier":"micro-cap","eventGravity":"routine product-line expansion","financialDisclosure":"no figures stated"}},"durationMs":4276,"modelName":"glm-5.3-flashx"}}