Red Man
Encyclopedia
Red Man is a leading brand of chewing tobacco
in the United States
, produced since 1904. Red Man has traditionally come as leaf tobacco, in contrast to twist chewing tobacco or the ground tobacco used in snuff
, and became a leader in that form of oral/dental/mouth tobacco. It is made by the Pinkerton Tobacco company of Owensboro, Kentucky
. In 1985, Pinkerton was acquired by a Swedish
corporation, and after further corporate reshuffling, the Red Man brand now falls under the umbrella of the Swedish Match
company, which in turn is owned primarily by
institutional investors. The proportion owned by non-Swedish investors is approximately 80%.
, featuring an endorsement from baseball player Nap Lajoie
: "Lajoie chews Red Man, ask him if he don't." Red Man was initially sold in a few Midwestern
states; it expanded (in 1954) into the South
and then (in 1963) largely nationwide. The corporation's marketing material describes Red Man's consumer base: "A large number of consumers work outdoors and enjoy hunting, fishing and watch [sic] auto racing." Contemporary materials from Swedish Match also suggest that the brand name came from something of a homage to American Indian
s.
Marketing tie-ins with rural and outdoor sports have been a hallmark of the Red Man brand. From 1952 to 1955, Red Man produced a series of baseball cards, the only tobacco company to do so after 1920. Since then, the brand has sponsored competitive events including the "Red Man-All American Pulling Series", a tractor pulling
circuit, and the "Red Man All-American Bass Championship", a fishing
competition. In 1991, under pressure from the Federal Trade Commission
, which was enforcing a 1986 U.S. statute banning television ads for smokeless tobacco
, Red Man agreed to stop displaying its "product logo, selling message or the color or design of the tobacco product or its package" during televised coverage of the tractor pulls. The competitive fishing circuit that culminated in the Bass Championship was sponsored by the company and called the "Red Man Tournament Trail" from 1983 to 2000, after which Wal-Mart
took over as the name sponsor.
called Red Man Moist Snuff, in long cut and fine cut varieties, which are available in wintergreen, straight, and natural flavors.
of Roush-Fenway Racing as driver. Johnny Sauter
drove at Nashville. This team and sponsor planned on 10 to 15 races in 2010. In June 2010, Baker Curb Racing was forced to pull the sponsorship off the car after NASCAR extended its tobacco product sponsorship ban to smokeless tobacco; previously the ban had extended to cigarette makers with few exceptions and smokeless tobacco sponsorships had been in NASCAR for years (including at Baker Curb, whose #37 car had been sponsored by Red Man's sister brand Timber Wolf).
Chewing tobacco
Chewing tobacco Chewing tobacco Chewing tobacco (also known colloquially as hoobastank, backy, tobac, doogooos,Hogleg, chewpoos, chits, chewsky, chawsky, dip, flab, chowers, guy, or a wad, as well as referred to as dipsky, snuff, a pinch, a yopper, a Packing a bomb, a tobbackey or packing a...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, produced since 1904. Red Man has traditionally come as leaf tobacco, in contrast to twist chewing tobacco or the ground tobacco used in snuff
Snuff
Snuff is a product made from ground or pulverised tobacco leaves. It is an example of smokeless tobacco. It originated in the Americas and was in common use in Europe by the 17th century...
, and became a leader in that form of oral/dental/mouth tobacco. It is made by the Pinkerton Tobacco company of Owensboro, Kentucky
Owensboro, Kentucky
Owensboro is the fourth largest city by population in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is the county seat of Daviess County. It is located on U.S. Route 60 about southeast of Evansville, Indiana, and is the principal city of the Owensboro, Kentucky, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's...
. In 1985, Pinkerton was acquired by a Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
corporation, and after further corporate reshuffling, the Red Man brand now falls under the umbrella of the Swedish Match
Swedish Match
Swedish Match is a Swedish company based in Stockholm that makes snus, tobacco, cigars , Red Man Chewing Tobacco, dipping tobacco, matches and lighters. It was founded as Svenska Tändsticksaktiebolaget by Ivar Kreuger in 1917 in Jönköping...
company, which in turn is owned primarily by
institutional investors. The proportion owned by non-Swedish investors is approximately 80%.
History
Early in its history, Red Man advertisements were painted on the sides of barnsBarn advertisement
A barn advertisement is an outdoor advertisement painted onto the exterior of a roadside barn. Barn advertisers take advantage of the barns' prominence in rural landscapes, paying their owners for the right to paint and maintain logos and slogans on them...
, featuring an endorsement from baseball player Nap Lajoie
Nap Lajoie
Napoléon "Nap" Lajoie , also known as Larry Lajoie, was an American Major League Baseball second baseman. He was born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island...
: "Lajoie chews Red Man, ask him if he don't." Red Man was initially sold in a few Midwestern
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
states; it expanded (in 1954) into the South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
and then (in 1963) largely nationwide. The corporation's marketing material describes Red Man's consumer base: "A large number of consumers work outdoors and enjoy hunting, fishing and watch [sic] auto racing." Contemporary materials from Swedish Match also suggest that the brand name came from something of a homage to American Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
s.
Tractor pulling
Truck and Tractor pulling, also known as power pulling, is a motorsport competition, popular in America, Europe , Australia and Brazil, which requires modified tractors to pull a heavy sledge along a 35ft. wide and length of 100 metre or 300ft+ track, with the winner being the tractor that pulls...
circuit, and the "Red Man All-American Bass Championship", a fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
competition. In 1991, under pressure from the Federal Trade Commission
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act...
, which was enforcing a 1986 U.S. statute banning television ads for smokeless tobacco
Smokeless tobacco
Smokeless Tobacco may refer to:* Dipping tobacco, a type of tobacco that is placed between the lower or upper lip and gums.* Chewing tobacco, a type of tobacco that is chewed.* Snuff, a type of tobacco that is insufflated or "snuffed" through the nose....
, Red Man agreed to stop displaying its "product logo, selling message or the color or design of the tobacco product or its package" during televised coverage of the tractor pulls. The competitive fishing circuit that culminated in the Bass Championship was sponsored by the company and called the "Red Man Tournament Trail" from 1983 to 2000, after which Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
took over as the name sponsor.
Present day
Despite product warnings and federally mandated marketing prohibitions, Red Man remains a popular and profitable brand. There are currently six types of Red Man: the original blend, the higher nicotine Golden Blend, Gold Blend Totems, Select, Silver Blend, and Plug.Moist snuff
Red Man also produces a dipping tobaccoDipping tobacco
Dipping tobacco, traditionally referred to as moist snuff, is a type of finely ground or shredded, moistened smokeless tobacco product. It is commonly and idiomatically known by various terms – most often as dip and sometimes rub or chew...
called Red Man Moist Snuff, in long cut and fine cut varieties, which are available in wintergreen, straight, and natural flavors.
Auto racing
Beginning in 2010 Red Man joined Baker-Curb Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series as sponsor of car #27 with Greg BiffleGreg Biffle
Gregory Jack "Greg" Biffle is a NASCAR driver who drives the #16 3M Ford Fusion for Roush Fenway Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. After racing in the NASCAR Winter Heat Series in the mid-90s, he was recommended to Jack Roush by former announcer Benny Parsons...
of Roush-Fenway Racing as driver. Johnny Sauter
Johnny Sauter
Johnathan Joseph Sauter is a NASCAR driver from Wisconsin. Sauter is the son of former NASCAR driver Jim Sauter, and the brother of NASCAR drivers Tim Sauter and Jay Sauter...
drove at Nashville. This team and sponsor planned on 10 to 15 races in 2010. In June 2010, Baker Curb Racing was forced to pull the sponsorship off the car after NASCAR extended its tobacco product sponsorship ban to smokeless tobacco; previously the ban had extended to cigarette makers with few exceptions and smokeless tobacco sponsorships had been in NASCAR for years (including at Baker Curb, whose #37 car had been sponsored by Red Man's sister brand Timber Wolf).
External links
- Shorpy A photograph of outdoor advertising in Camden, NJ, 1939, showing the Red Man brand.