{"id":964068,"date":"2026-05-18T09:29:33","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T13:29:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/22nd-century-group-nasdaq-xxii-expands-high-margin-pinnacle-platform-with-launch-of-pinnacle-pure-at-major-u-s-retailers\/"},"modified":"2026-05-18T09:29:33","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T13:29:33","slug":"22nd-century-group-nasdaq-xxii-expands-high-margin-pinnacle-platform-with-launch-of-pinnacle-pure-at-major-u-s-retailers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/22nd-century-group-nasdaq-xxii-expands-high-margin-pinnacle-platform-with-launch-of-pinnacle-pure-at-major-u-s-retailers\/","title":{"rendered":"22nd Century Group (Nasdaq: XXII) Expands High-Margin Pinnacle Platform With Launch of Pinnacle Pure at Major U.S. Retailers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n New Product Introduction Broadens XXII\u2019s Fast-Scaling Pinnacle Brand Reinforcing Brand Power, Opening New Retail Doors, and Strengthening the Company\u2019s Revenue and Margin Expansion Story<\/i>\u202f<\/p>\n

\n MOCKSVILLE, N.C., May 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 22nd Century Group, Inc.<\/b>\u202f(Nasdaq: XXII), a tobacco products company focused on reducing the harms of smoking through nicotine reduction, today announced the launch of\u202fPinnacle Pure, a new tobacco and water style combustible cigarette, further expanding the Company\u2019s growing family of\u202fPinnacle\u202fbranded products,\u202fexpected to be\u202fsold through\u202fmultiple\u202ftop national retailers\u202fin the United States\u202fand over 2,000 locations.\u202f<\/p>\n

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The\u202fexpected\u202flaunch\u202fof Pinnacle Pure\u202fin the second quarter of 2026\u202frepresents\u202fanother major commercial catalyst for 22nd Century Group and further strengthens the momentum building behind the Company\u2019s expanding Pinnacle platform. Importantly, this rollout is expected to build on the Company\u2019s previously announced Pinnacle VLN\u00ae<\/sup> expansion into 150 stores in metro New York and northern New Jersey, where Pinnacle Pure is also expected to be introduced on a similar timeline. <\/b><\/p>\n

Pinnacle Pure joins a rapidly growing portfolio of 22nd Century’s Pinnacle products\u2014including six styles of conventional cigarettes, two styles of VLN\u00ae<\/sup> cigarettes, two styles of moist snuff, and multiple flavor offerings of cigarillos\u2014 22nd<\/sup> Century is continuing to broaden category reach, deepen retail penetration, and strengthen its position as a scaled supplier across combustible and modern tobacco segments.<\/p>\n

Larry Firestone, Chief Executive Officer of 22nd Century Group, said,\u202f\u201cThe launch of Pinnacle Pure is another strong step forward in the rapid buildout of the Pinnacle platform and a clear reflection of our ability to create, manufacture, and scale relevant tobacco products across major retail channels.\u202fWe\u202fcontinue to\u202fbuild\u202fthe Pinnacle brand into\u202fa broader franchise with greater shelf presence, stronger retail relevance, and more meaningful long-term revenue potential.\u201d\u202f<\/p>\n

Firestone continued, \u201cFrom an investor perspective, Pinnacle Pure is especially compelling because of its expected\u202fhigh-margin contribution\u202fand the way it further strengthens the economics of the overall Pinnacle portfolio.\u202fWe also believe the growing strength of the Pinnacle brand is becoming a more important driver in attracting new retail interest. Retailers are looking for brands that offer breadth, consistency, supply reliability, and strong economics. As Pinnacle continues to expand and perform, we believe it can become an even more valuable door-opener for future distribution gains \u2014 and that is exactly the kind of commercial traction that can continue to sharpen the 22nd<\/sup> Century growth story in the market.\u201d\u202f<\/p>\n

\n About 22nd Century Group, Inc.<\/b>\n <\/p>\n

22nd Century Group is pioneering the\u202fTobacco\u202fHarm\u202fReduction\u202fand\u202fNicotine\u202fReduction\u202fMovements\u202fby enabling smokers to take control of their nicotine consumption.<\/p>\n

\n Our Technology is Tobacco<\/b>\n <\/p>\n

Our proprietary non-GMO reduced nicotine tobacco plants were developed using our patented technologies that regulate alkaloid biosynthesis activities resulting in a tobacco plant that\u202fcontains\u202f95% less nicotine than traditional tobacco plants. Our extensive patent portfolio has been developed to ensure that\u202four-high-quality tobacco can be grown commercially at scale. We continue to develop our intellectual property to ensure our ongoing leadership in the tobacco harm reduction movement.<\/p>\n

\n Our Products<\/b>\n <\/p>\n

We created our flagship product, the VLN\u00ae<\/sup>\u202fcigarette using our low nicotine tobacco, to give traditional cigarette smokers an authentic and familiar alternative in the form of a combustible cigarette that helps them take control of their nicotine consumption. VLN\u00ae<\/sup>\u202fcigarettes have 95% less nicotine compared to traditional cigarettes and have been proven to allow consumers to\u202fgreatly reduce\u202ftheir nicotine consumption.<\/p>\n

VLN\u00ae<\/sup>\u202fand Helps You Smoke Less\u00ae<\/sup>\u202fare registered trademarks of 22nd Century Limited LLC.<\/p>\n

Learn more at\u202f<\/u>xxiicentury.com<\/u><\/a>,<\/u> on\u202fX (formerly<\/u> Twitter)<\/a>, on\u202f<\/u>LinkedIn<\/u><\/a>,<\/u> and on\u202f<\/u>YouTube<\/u><\/a>.<\/u><\/p>\n

Learn more about VLN\u00ae<\/sup>\u202fat\u202ftryvln.com<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u202fCautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements<\/b><\/p>\n

Except for historical information,\u202fall of\u202fthe statements, expectations, and assumptions contained in this press release are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to our full year business outlook. Forward-looking statements typically contain terms such as \u201canticipate,\u201d \u201cbelieve,\u201d \u201cconsider,\u201d \u201ccontinue,\u201d \u201ccould,\u201d \u201cestimate,\u201d \u201cexpect,\u201d \u201cexplore,\u201d \u201cforesee,\u201d \u201cgoal,\u201d \u201cguidance,\u201d \u201cintend,\u201d \u201clikely,\u201d \u201cmay,\u201d \u201cplan,\u201d \u201cpotential,\u201d \u201cpredict,\u201d \u201cpreliminary,\u201d \u201cprobable,\u201d \u201cproject,\u201d \u201cpromising,\u201d \u201cseek,\u201d \u201cshould,\u201d \u201cwill,\u201d \u201cwould,\u201d and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding (i) our expectations\u202fregarding\u202fregulatory enforcement, including our ability to receive authorization or approval for new products, and (ii) our financial and operating performance. Actual results might differ materially from those explicit or implicit in forward-looking statements.\u202fImportant factors\u202fthat could cause actual results to differ materially are\u202fset forth in\u202f\u201cRisk Factors\u201d in the Company\u2019s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 26,\u202f2026. All information\u202fprovided in this release is as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.<\/p>\n

\n Investor Relations & Media Contact<\/b>
\n
Matt Kreps
Investor Relations
22nd Century Group
investorrelations@xxiicentury.com<\/u><\/a>
214-597-8200<\/p>\n

\n Attachment<\/strong>\n <\/p>\n