Brown & Williamson to Sell Cigarettes by Catalog, Fax and Phone

Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., Louisville, KY, is planning to use catalogs and telemarketing to sell cigarettes by catalog, fax and telephone, wire reports said. Later, it will market over the Internet.

The company, a unit of British Tobacco Plc, will sell some of its cigarette brands, including Carlton, Misty and Tareyton. It has formed a new unit, BWT Direct LLC, to handle direct sales. The company reportedly believes direct sales will help it market these smaller brands as competition for retail shelf space increases.

The program will roll out in California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon and Texas.