Altria Group owns Skoal through U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, acquired in the 2009 purchase of UST Inc. for $10.4 billion. Altria trades on the NYSE as MO.

When was Skoal introduced?

United States Tobacco Company launched Skoal in 1934 as a wintergreen-flavored moist smokeless tobacco, making it one of the first flavored dip products and the origin of the flavored segment.

What is the difference between Skoal and Copenhagen?

Both are USSTC brands owned by Altria. Copenhagen is the premium market leader positioned around traditional tobacco character, while Skoal is the number two premium brand built around wintergreen and flavored variants. Each sells more than $1 billion at retail annually.

Yes. Skoal remains in full production at USSTC plants in Tennessee, Illinois, and Kentucky, sold in fine cut, long cut, pouch, and Bandits pouch formats across the United States.

Household & Consumer Goods

Who Owns Skoal?

Skoal is owned by Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE: MO) through its U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company subsidiary. United States Tobacco Company introduced Skoal in 1934 as a wintergreen-flavored moist smokeless tobacco, and it remains the number two premium brand in the category behind sister brand Copenhagen, with more than $1 billion in annual retail sales. Altria acquired the brand in 2009.

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Parent Company

Altria Group, Inc.

Acquired

2009

Status

Publicly Traded

Headquarters

Richmond, Virginia, USA

Skoal Timeline

1847

Altria Group, Inc.

Parent company established in Richmond, Virginia, USA

Company Founded

1934

Skoal

Founded by United States Tobacco Company (internal development)

Founded

2009

Acquired by Altria Group, Inc.

Altria Group, Inc. acquired Skoal

Acquired

premiumpremiumUnited StatesOfficial Website

Who Owns Skoal?

Parent Company: Altria Group, Inc.
Ownership Type: Subsidiary
Acquisition Year: 2009
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock Ticker: NYSE: MO

Brand	Parent Company	Ownership Type
Skoal	Altria Group, Inc.	Subsidiary

Where to Buy

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Skoal on Amazon

History of Skoal

Founded: 1934
Founders: United States Tobacco Company (internal development)
Acquired by Altria Group, Inc.: 2009

United States Tobacco Company introduced Skoal in 1934, positioning it as a flavored, approachable alternative to the dry snuff products that dominated smokeless tobacco at the time. The wintergreen flavoring, originally added to mask fermentation harshness, became the product's signature and effectively created the flavored smokeless segment.

Skoal's major product innovation came in 1983 with Skoal Bandits, which packaged a small portion of tobacco in a tea-bag-style pouch. The format made dipping more convenient and discreet and was later exported; a U.K. launch in the 1980s triggered public protest and a ban, an early preview of pouch regulation debates. Today Skoal sells fine cut, long cut, and two pouch formats, Skoal Pouches and Skoal Bandits.

The brand crossed into Altria ownership with the 2009 UST acquisition and has since served as the number two brand in USSTC's portfolio, deliberately positioned at a slightly lower price point than Copenhagen to cover the premium segment against value brands like Grizzly and Longhorn. Parent company disclosures value the franchise at more than $1 billion in annual retail sales.

The product line has broadened well beyond the original wintergreen cut. Skoal now sells mint, apple, peach, citrus, and berry variants alongside unflavored natural options, and the bandit-style pouch line remains a differentiator against rivals that offer only loose tobacco. Flavored smokeless products account for a substantial share of USSTC volume, and Skoal carries nearly all of the company's flavor assortment.

About Altria Group, Inc.

Is Altria the same company as Philip Morris?

Altria is the former Philip Morris Companies, renamed in 2003. Philip Morris USA, the domestic cigarette business, remains a wholly owned Altria subsidiary. Philip Morris International, which sells Marlboro abroad, is a separate publicly traded company spun off in 2008.

Does Altria own Marlboro?

Altria owns Marlboro in the United States through Philip Morris USA. Philip Morris International owns and sells the brand in roughly 175 markets outside the United States.

What brands does Altria own?

Altria's portfolio includes Marlboro and other PM USA cigarettes in the U.S., Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky smokeless tobacco, Black & Mild cigars, on! nicotine pouches, and NJOY e-vapor products. It also holds minority stakes in Anheuser-Busch InBev and Cronos Group.

Is Altria publicly traded?

Yes. Altria trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker MO and is a member of the S&P 500. It is one of the best-performing U.S. stocks in history on a dividend-reinvested basis and has raised its dividend for more than 55 consecutive years.

Who is the CEO of Altria?

Salvatore Mancuso became CEO in May 2025, succeeding Billy Gifford. Mancuso joined Altria in 1990 and served as chief financial officer before taking the top role.

What happened to NJOY?

Altria acquired NJOY in 2023 for approximately $2.75 billion. Its main product, NJOY ACE, has been off the U.S. market since March 31, 2025, after the International Trade Commission found it infringed Juul patents and banned its import and sale. Altria has appealed and completed a redesigned product, but does not expect ACE to return during 2026.

Founded: 1847
Headquarters: Richmond, Virginia, USA
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock: NYSE: MO
Revenue: $23.3 billion net revenues / $20.1 billion net of excise taxes (FY2025)
Employees: ~6,200

Visit Altria Group, Inc. website

View full company profile for Altria Group, Inc.

Where Is Skoal Made / Based?

Headquarters: Richmond, Virginia, USA
Manufacturing / Operations: Clarksville, Tennessee, USA, Nashville, Tennessee, USA, Franklin Park, Illinois, USA, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, USA

Skoal Categories & Tags

Smokeless Tobacco Dip Wintergreen Altria Us Smokeless Tobacco

Skoal Recalls & Controversies

Skoal carries mandated smokeless tobacco health warnings and operates under the post-1998 marketing restrictions common to the category. Its most notable historical controversy was the 1980s U.K. launch of Skoal Bandits, which drew public protest and a parliamentary ban on oral tobacco pouches, a decision critics cited in later debates over snus and nicotine pouch regulation.

Like other flavored tobacco products, Skoal's fruit and mint variants face scrutiny from public health advocates over youth appeal, and state and local flavor restrictions affect distribution in some jurisdictions. No significant product recalls are on record.

Skoal Ownership: Pros & Cons

Advantages

+Ninety-year flavored smokeless franchise with loyal users
+More than $1 billion in annual retail sales
+Complements Copenhagen in a two-brand premium portfolio
+Altria's national distribution and trade spending
+Flavor and pouch format heritage provides product options

Considerations

-Moist smokeless category in gradual decline
-Flavored variants carry elevated youth-appeal regulatory risk
-Nicotine pouch migration is pulling category growth elsewhere
-Excise tax increases pressure retail pricing
-Secondary status behind Copenhagen limits investment priority

Frequently Asked Questions About Skoal

Sources & Further Reading

Competitors to Skoal

These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.

Brand	Parent Company	Country	Founded	Market Position	Primary Market	Gender Target
CopenhagenSister Brand	Altria	USA	1822	Market leader	United states	All Genders

Learn More About Competitors

Household Consumer Goods

Copenhagen

Owned by Altria Group, Inc.

America's oldest and best-selling premium moist smokeless tobacco brand, created in 1822 and owned by Altria through U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company.

smokeless-tobaccosnuffdip

Competitive Analysis

Market Positioning: Skoal competes with 1 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.

Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.

Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.

Independent Alternatives to Skoal

Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by Altria Group, Inc., giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.

Household Consumer Goods

Better Homes & Gardens

Owned by Dotdash Meredith (IAC)

Licensed home goods brand available exclusively at Walmart, offering stylish furniture, decor, kitchenware, and garden products inspired by the iconic lifestyle magazine.

home-decorfurniturekitchenware

Privately Owned

Better Homes & Gardens is privately owned, unlike Skoal which is under a publicly traded parent company.

Household Consumer Goods

Kenvue

Owned by Kenvue

Consumer health brand of Kenvue, the company behind Tylenol, Listerine, Band-Aid, and Neutrogena, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Kimberly-Clark following a November 2026 acquisition.

consumer-healthpersonal-careotc

Privately Owned

Kenvue is privately owned, unlike Skoal which is under a publicly traded parent company.

Household Consumer Goods

KraftMaid

Owned by Cabinetworks Group

American semi-custom cabinetry brand owned by Cabinetworks Group, offering kitchen and bathroom cabinets through dealers and home centers.

cabinetrykitchen-cabinetsbathroom-cabinets

Privately Owned

KraftMaid is privately owned, unlike Skoal which is under a publicly traded parent company.

Household Consumer Goods

Sanino

Owned by Evyap

Turkish personal care brand owned by Evyap, known primarily for toothpaste and oral care products sold in Ukraine and Eastern European markets.

toothpasteoral-carepersonal-care

Privately Owned

Sanino is privately owned, unlike Skoal which is under a publicly traded parent company.

Household Consumer Goods

Sherwin-Williams

Owned by The Sherwin-Williams Company

Flagship paint and coatings brand of The Sherwin-Williams Company, founded in 1866 and sold through approximately 4,900 company-operated stores.

paintcoatingshome-improvement

Publicly Traded

Sherwin-Williams operates independently without a large parent corporation.

Household Consumer Goods

Solo

Owned by Dart Container Corporation

American disposable cups and food service products brand, owned by Dart Container Corporation since 2012.

disposable-cupsfood-servicetableware

Privately Owned

Solo is privately owned, unlike Skoal which is under a publicly traded parent company.

Altria Group, Inc. Stock Information

Jobs at Altria Group, Inc.

Latest News About Skoal

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Who Owns Skoal?

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Parent Company

Altria Group, Inc.

Acquired

2009

Status

Publicly Traded

Headquarters

Richmond, Virginia, USA