RESTRICTED
MILLBANK PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
DATE 12 dCT 1979
SEEN' 8)
FILE
JESTPjY
'i'ii: :.7E T-~
A-
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Minutes of Meeting held on Monday, Ist October
1979 At
G.R. & D.C. Southampton.
Present: Messrs. P. Sheehy (chairman)
R.J. Pritchard
P.L. Short
L.C.F. Blackman
F. Haslam
W.B. Fordyce (secretary)
Part-time: M. Oldman
Matters Arisina
(a) Product Develovment Seminars ACTICN
Dr,. Fordyce reported that the London Heathrow
seminar for Marketing Managers and Directors
from the European Companies had taken place as
planned, while a further seminar for countries
from the Asian sub-continent would take place
in Sri Lanka in the week beginning 1st October.
At the Chairman's suggestion, it was agreed
that a one-day seminar for Directors would take
place on some date to be agreed (around mid
December), and that ibis should essentially be
an up-dating exercise in the Product Development
area. A programme will shortly be put forward to
the Chairman for his consideration. F.H.
(b) Proiect "LIEUTENANT"
It was reported that agreement has now been
reached between Marketing Department, the IBU's,
Product Development and BWIT. Further monitoring
will be on a six-montbly basis as previously
suggested, and it is expected that costs should
fall more or less equally between Louisville and
Southampton, with further economies arising from
the reduced test frequency.
(c) One-Diece Pack
Mr. Pritchard reported that the R. & D. blank C:)
design is not in fact clear of the Molins Patent,
C::1
but Molins have, however, agreed to drop their C)
demand for Royalty payments. It is now intended,
~__i
therefore, to use the B.A.T. blank design, whilst
rQ
paying L2000 per machine to Molins for the
appropriate machinery modifications.
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The choice of a
made by B.A.T.
felt that both
Islands may not
terms.
DELTA
suitable market has still to be
(U.K. & E.), since it is currently
the Canary Islands and the Channel
be sufficiently large in volume
Dr. Oldman described the current state of
development
of the Delta Panel technique, whose use has so far
been restricted to the assessment of low-tar
cigar-
ettes. Though not yet ready for "export" to
Associated Companies throughout the Group, major
Companies are aware of the progress to date, and
it is anticipated that the technique should be
ready for disclosure to Associated Companies by
the end of the year.
Other applications for the technique were
suggested, including the examination of full-
flavour Products, MOORGATE brands, and competitive
products in both these categories. .
Dr. Oldman went on to discuss other behavioural
studies currently under way in Southampton, and
these will be reported by G.R. & D.C. in due
course. Further, it was agreed that M.P.D.C.
should be updated on the progress of these studies
at some appropriate time in the future.
2 PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT GROUP PROJECTS
BROLAM-HEADT-A14P (Short and long-term testing in
U.S.A. of BROLAM, with and without Duolite, versus
MARLBORO. Project leader: . W.B. Fordyce) .
Although the construction of MARLBORO in the
States
is not necessarily completely stable, our latest
information suggests that it is sufficiently so
for
the proposed consumer- test to proceed early in
1980.
The necessary tobaccos and filters for both pro-
ducts have already been ordered by Southampton,
and
manufacture will take place before the end of the
year. While two versions of BROLAM with respect-
ively 10% and 20X ventilation have been designed,
information from B. & W. suggests that MARLBORO
has stabilised at 9/10% ventilation for the time
being (although Philip Morris appear to be using
a number of different forms of ventilation to
achieve this end-result) . No problems are
currentlv anticipated either in manufacture,
masking,
or consumer testing, but contact will be
maintained
with R. & D. Louisville over the next three
months.
TIMER-VIRTUE (Short and long-term testing of TIMER
V. MERIT in the U.S. Project leader: %W-B.
Fordyce) .
Consumer testing of TIMER versus MERIT will begin
on
4 th October, 1979, and it is anticipated that it
will take 5-6 weeks. Analysis of the data should,
therefore, be available in early December.
P.L.S.
L.C.F.B.
W.B.F.
C:)
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INK JET PRINTING (Masking of cigarettes. Project
leader: D. Conway).
Cambridge Consultants Limited have now proposed
further development of this technique, capable of
over-printing cigarettes at a speed of 100 per
minute. While it isrecognised that Marketing
are not yet too favourably disposed 'towards the
form of over-printing achieved hitherto, it was
agreed that establishing a practicable operating
speed should bav-e priority over improvements
in the colourants available.
VIGOR (Virginia cigarette to meet target GORI
ratings. Project leader: M.B.P. Sheridan)..
Five products have been designed and compared
together with UK SILK CUT KS, using the Delta
Panel technique. One product (M140) was found
to be reasonably acceptable, 'while a second of
U.S.
character (M80) was also felt to be a possible
candidate for further development. It was notic6d
that M140 sprayed with pure ethanol-found higher
acceptability in the panel assessment.
Further flavour research is in progress to improve
the acceptability of these samples.
GUARANTEE '(Cigarettes designed not to exceed a
stated delivery and to make smoker compensation
impossible. Project leader: -D.E. Creighton).
Considerable discussion took place on whether the
"guarantee" should correspond to smoking-machine
figures obtained under prevailing smoking
protocols.
it was expected that such a development would pose
considerable technical difficulties, and it'was
agreed that stage 1 of the development should be
the
design of cigarette's of low to middle delivery
which would negate all attempts by the smoker to
achieve any form of compensation. Tentative
designs have already been suggested within the
P.D.G., but'tbere is no significant progress to
report at this stage.
GEMINT (5 mg products of 10 mg character.
Project leader: A.G. Stephenson). -
Experimental flue-cured cigarettes have been
manufacutred and sumbitted for analysis. HAUNI-
type pe'rforations will be applied on selected
variants. In addition, a programme for the
expansion of various blend components has been
initiated, with the dual objectives of increasing
burn-rate and lowering densities, in order to
achieve bigber taste per puff.
PROJECT BATON (100% R.T.S. cigarettes with 1-2%
mg tar delivery. Project leader: G.O. Brooks).
01%
CN
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Six different materials have now been manufac-
tured into 100% R.T.S. cigarettes and are
currently under-going analysis. The cigarettes
have been smoked subjectively by' the P.D.G., and
on present indications the products made from
P.J.S.
(Normal Stem) ex B. & W., have been found much the
most acceptable. Further-developments await the
outcome of delivery measurements. In the mean
time, the ac,ceptability of the more promising
samples will be explored using Delta against such
low delivery products as CARLTON (U.S.) and
MEDALLION (Canada).
SAMPLP MANUFACTURE (Project leader:- P. Kangis) .
Replies to the original P.D.G. enquiry have now
been received from the following companies:
Wills (Australia)
B.A.T. Benelux (Belgium)
Suomen Tupakka (Finland)
B.A.T. Cigaretten-Fabriken (Germany)
M.T.C. (Malaysia)
B.A.T. (Suisse) (Switzerland)
B.A.T. (U.K. & E.) (U.K.)
Brown & Williamson (U.S.K.)
Considerable diversity in practice was found to
exist amongst all companies replying, and P.D.G.
were asked to ensure that Group guidelines would
be available by January Ist, 1980.
WADER (Measurement of nitric oxide and hydrogen
cyanide deliveries of significant brands world-
wide. Project leader: D.E. Conway).
This.project is now effectively terminated, and
attention -will now turn within G.R. * & D.C. to
the
leaf precursors of the compounds in question,
together with research work on possible methods of
control. Information obtained in the course of
the project will be circulated to appropriate
companies within the group.
BROADBAR (Re-examination of MOORGATE brands since
acquisition. Project leader: G.R. & D.C.) .
Work is now underway in Southampton on this exam-
ination, paying particular attention to changes
which have taken place in R.T.S. and in filter
specifications. The importance of maintaining
the original character of the brands in question
was emphasised, and the Product Development
Advisors
were asked to keep in close touch with progress in
G.R.'& D.C.
At the same time, Dr. Haslam was asked to prepare
a memo for Mr. Sheehy by 5th October, covering all
matters in which B.W.I.T. and Central Product
Development have a mutual interest.
F.H.
P.K.
L.C.F.B.
C=)
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CZD
F-H
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4
LASER PERFORATED CIGARETTES (Project leader:
A.G. Stepbenson).
Sample cigarettes perforated by the HAUNI system
have been compared with cigarettes ventilated to
the same degree using the Hauni Needle device. All
perforations were positioned 13 mm from the mouth
end, and while the expected delivery reductions
were obtained by both ventilation systems, no
particular differences were noted in the levels
of the various smoke constituents determined.
Similarly, subjective assessments by the G.R.
& D.C. smoke panel (not Delta) showed slight but
probably not significant differences in*impact
or irritation. No adverse comments were made on
the taste of the cigarettes.
A further supply of SEFK 555 cigarettes,
perforated
to the same level by both HAUNI systems, are being
examined for puff-by-puff delivery
characteristics.
BRAND X/Y .(Low delivery cigarette, Latin America.
Project leader: Dr. Haslam).
Work is proceeding according to plan, and the
second
series of samples is currently being manufactured.
TOTA-1 PRODUCT DESIGN (Project leader: Dr.
Haslam).
As agreed at the last meeting of M.P.D.C., the
further dissemination of this technique is now
in..
the hands of the Product Development Group -
(possibly through the medium of Product Knowledge
Seminars), and of individual'Territorial Teams.
Itwill, therefore, cease to feature on the
M.P.D.C.
agenda.
MORGAN PACK (Focke and Pfhul, one piece pack under
examination'by Packaging Group. Project leader:
Dr. Haslam).
Although*the pack was well received in consumer
tests in Switzerland, it was agreed that the price
(54p per mille) was much too high to merit further
consideration. The Marketing Committee will be
advised of this conclusion. F.H.
INTERNATIONAL BRAND DrT.IVERIPS
Mr. Short reported that target deliveries have now
been agreed in collaboration with U.K. & E., with
firm figures planned up to 1991. In addition,
tent-
ative programmes for further reductions have been
agreed to cover the years up to 1984/5.
CD
PHYSICAL MEASUREMENTS AND CONSUMER COMPLAINTS
C:)
The 'note previously circulated by Dr. Fordyce was
discussed, and the P.D.G. in collaboration with
Production and Marketing will now ensure that
00
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appropriate steps are taken throughout the group
to ensure that all companies conform to the
highest
standards of physical Quality Control. F.H.
In particular, the Chairman asked that Associated
Companies be reminded of the importance of main-
taining strict surveillance over the coal
retention
of all group brands. P.D.G.
5 OIL-WATER PARTITION
Dr. Blackman reported that R. & D. ar*e_
continuing
to look for more economic approaches to this
technique, with a view to giving it more wide-
spread application around the group. 'It is now
established as an R. & D. project, and will not
concern M.P.D.C. unless special circumstances
require that it*be brought back to the agenda.
L.C.F.B.
6 DIAMMONIUM PHOSPHATR
G.R. & D.C. have added both DAP and urea to the
sheet and casing components of the TIMER blend.
Its effect on other products such as GEMINI will
be studied in due course. L.C.F.B.
P.D.G. will maintain contact with R. & D. work,
and consideration will be given to how best to
test the effects of DAP on consumer preference
(following initial work using.the most appro-
priate panel assessment) . A plan covering the
proposed programme will be circulated either
with these minutes or shortly after their distri-
bution. W.B.F.
7 NITROSAMINES
Two aspects of this group of compounds are
currently
under consideration in Southampton.
(a) Nitrosamines ex tobacco versus those
from other sources
Work is in progress using the Borgwaldt
device whicb-employs radio-active
nitrogen. No results are available
at the moment.
(b) Cultural Practice and tobacco
treatment
Leaf from Venezuela and Maryland
may'be particularly likely to show C:)
high hitrosamine'leve-ls in the smoke,
probably because of the high nitrate
level of these two crops. It is, F1*J
tberefor'e, possible that changes in 01%
cultural practice, most particularly \0
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. ACTIO!,
in the types of nitrogen fertilisers
used, could beneficially affect nitros-
amine levels. This is under study in
Leaf Department.
8
9
Little evidence is available so far on the ranking
of commercial brands for tobacco-specific nitrosa-
mines, but a comparison with competition brands in
Switzerland tends to indicate that B.A.T. brands
may not compare favourably with those'of Philip
Morris. Further, measurements of ambient nitrosa-
mine levels (analytically very different) tend to
suggest that cigarette smoke may be as significant
a source as those deriving from other sources such
as cooking of some meats.
Other avenues under consideration in the Leaf
Steering Committee include variety selection and
curing practice. It is also possible that all
aspects of processing from R.D.P. through to the
end of the primary processing stage could affect
.final levels found in smoke. For the moment, the
elimination or reduction of nitrate levels in
legf,
either by stem-leaching or micro-biological degra-
dation appear to be the most promising directions
to pursue.
At Mr. Sheehy's request, work in any promising
avenue should proceed with all speed, with a 50%
reduction in smoke nitrosamine levels as a fir*st
target.
R. & D./MARKETING INTERFACE
It is anticipated that a closer working relation-
ship between R.'& D. and Marketing will'begin to
show
considerable benefits, notably in the areas of
smoking behaviour, and of the quality of infor-
mation supplied to Marketing Advisors.
COMPENSATION
G.R. & D.C. have two studies in progress. The
first
concerns differences between the behaviour of
middle-
and low-tar habitual smokers, wbilst the second is
basically an examination amongst small groups of
potential switcbers. Evidence to date suggests
that
such smokers may well compensate by as 'much as
40%
of their accustomed delivery. However,- it was
noted
that the "nicotine hypothesis" is being challenged
in some quarters, although no other valid theory
has yet been suggested.
At Dr. Blackman's suggestion it was agreed that
Dr.
Thornton should make a presentation to the
Committee
at its' next meeting. .
R.J.P.
L.C.F.B.
CD
C:)
CD
L.C.F-'-m
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10
11
12
13
WBF/SM
COCOA SUBSTITUTES
Dr. Haslam reported that LORRILARD and AMERICAN
BRANDS do not now appear"to be using cocoa,
although
they might well be using some form of
cocoa.substi-
tute, and be reminded the meeting-tbat there is
still
no U.K. clearance for the addition of cocoa to
cigarettes. It was agreed that a B.A.T. brand
enjoying significant sales, and using cocoa in the
casing, should be used as a test vehicle for the
examination of whatever cocoa substitutes are
available to us at present.
The P.D.G. will also establish B. & W.'s latest
thinking in this area.
BURLEY HEAT TREATMENT
Dr. Blackman outlined R. & D.Is approach to a
study
of the important parameters in this stage of
processing. The urgency of the matter was
emphasised
and G.R. & D.C. will make a report to M.P.D.C. in
six months' time.
EXPANDED TOBACCOS
Tobaccos from Viceroy Rich Lights and B. & H. are
in *the process of being expanded by both Gi3 '
and.
the DIET process, and the outcome will be reported
in due course.
The construction of the DIET plant in the South-
ampton compound is proceeding satisfactorily and
is
expected to be completed by January 1980. The
anticipated cost is E1.2 million, and a re-
evaluation of those countries where the process
can
be profitably installed is in progress.
At present, it appears that the installation of
DIET in Malaysia, Germany, Singapore, Denmark,
Canada and the U.K. may be viable, and it appears
that ten plants in total may be required.
G.R. & D.C. Production Services are pursuing a
value engineering approach to tbe*current plant
design and are currently in contact with B.O.C.
and D.C.L. The topic will remain on
the'Committee's
agenda for-the time being but with emphasis on the
Product Development trends foreseen by G.R."& D.C.
and P.D.G.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Thursday, 6th December at 10.00 am at G.R. & D.C.,
Southampton.
P.D.G.
L.C.F.B
R.J.P.
L.C.F.B
F.H.
C:)
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NJ
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P. Sheehy, Esq.
C.H. Stewart Lockhart, Esq.
E.A.A. Bruell, Esq.
I.B.D. Bluett, Esq.
D.S. Dunbar, Esq.
B.P. Garraway, Esq.
N.W . Goddard, Esq.
M.W. Marjoram, Esq.
R.J. Pritchard, Esq.
P.L. Wright, Esq. '
R.A. Crichton, Esq.
R.F. Gilderdale, Esq.
M.R. Noakes, Esq.
T.J. Tice, Esq.
H.G. Verkerk, Esq.
P.J.N. Roberts, Esq.
P.L. Short, Esq.
Dr. F. Haslam
Dr. W.B. Fordyce
Dr. L.C.F. Blackman/
R.D. Lowe, Esq.
D.E. Conway, Esq.
C.B. Dodwell, Esq.
P. Kangis, Esq_
G.O. Brooks, Esq.
Mr. C.1. McCarty
Mr. L.E. Ricard
Dr. H, Stutzer
Mr. H. Widdup
Mr. X.M. Sumner
CD
N.)
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