Jacksonville cigar maker Swisher International Inc. announced Thursday it has formed a company called E-Alternative Solutions that will develop, market and distribute electronic vaping solutions.
“We have the ambition to become a market leader in the evolving e-alternative category — just as Swisher has in the tobacco market for over 150 years,” said John Miller, Swisher senior vice president of sales and marketing in a news release.
Miller will serve as CEO of E-Alternative Solutions and the company has hired Jacopo D’Alessandris as president. D’Alessandris has almost 20 years of marketing and management in the consumer packaged and electronic goods markets, most recently as chief marketing officer for the consumer division of Philips North America.
“The e-cigarette and vapor space has been growing rapidly but is still in its infancy. Breakthrough technology and innovative marketing, coupled with Swisher’s expertise in the tobacco space will be the key ingredients I will focus on to build EAS’ success,” D’Allesandris said in the news release.
The company will initially offer two proprietary liquid vapor products which it said are being tested in select markets and sold online.
Swisher was founded in Ohio and moved to Jacksonville in 1924. The company is headquartered at 459 E. 16th St. near Downtown and has manufacturing facilities in Wheeling, W.V., and Santiago, Dominican Republic.
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