TAAT® Highlights Seasoned Tobacco Industry Veterans Joining Management Team After ADCO Acquisition

With over 50 years of combined experience in the tobacco and convenience industries, TAAT® welcomes Pat Bell and Phillip Krumlauf to its executive management team following the Company’s acquisition of ADCO; a convenience wholesaler in Ohio with over CAD $87 million in net revenues in 20211.

LAS VEGAS and VANCOUVER, MAY 25, 2022 - TAAT® GLOBAL ALTERNATIVES INC. (CSE: TAAT) (OTCQX: TOBAF) (FRANKFURT: 2TP) (the “Company” or “TAAT®”) hereby announces that as a result of its acquisition of ADCO Distributors, Inc. (“ADCO”) as announced in the Company’s May 20, 2022 press release, the TAAT® management team has been further strengthened by onboarding accomplished executives from the tobacco and convenience industries as a continuation of their respective engagements with ADCO. In 2022, TAAT® is ambitiously pursuing additional market share in the USD $812 billion global tobacco category, and believes that these enhancements to the Company’s management team with over 50 years of combined experience in the United States could prove instrumental to its ability to grow the current TAAT® footprint of over 2,700 stores nationwide.

Two key appointees to the TAAT® management team are profiled below:

Pat Bell: After becoming ADCO’s Chief Operating Officer in 2016, Mr. Bell grew ADCO’s net revenues from USD $45 million to over USD $80 million. In addition to this role, Mr. Bell is also the Chairman and President of the Ohio Wholesale Marketers Association; whose Associate Trustees include personnel from Altria Group, ITG Brands, and R.J. Reynolds2. For five years, Mr. Bell was a Territory Manager at Swisher International, maker of the world’s best-selling cigar Swisher Sweets, who currently ships over two billion cigars per year to 70 countries3. Right before joining ADCO, Mr. Bell was an Account Manager for ​​Commonwealth-Altadis; a U.S. division of the global tobacco giant Imperial Brands4. Mr. Bell provided insights about his vision for TAAT® and ADCO after closing the acquisition in a video released by the Company on May 20, 2022.

Phillip Krumlauf: During his 34-year career at R.J. Reynolds, Mr. Krumlauf held positions in U.S. markets to include California, Maryland, and Ohio. In addition to sales roles, Mr. Krumlauf was also a Training and Development Manager for new sales representatives of R.J. Reynolds, providing ongoing evaluations and follow-up coaching to optimize performance. From 1999 to 2021, Mr. Krumlauf managed and grew a USD $100 million territory based in Akron, Ohio for R.J. Reynolds. In this capacity, Mr. Krumlauf negotiated favourable wholesale and retail contracts, while cultivating long-term business relationships.

 

In the Company’s May 20, 2022 press release, TAAT® announced it had successfully acquired ADCO; a tobacco and convenience distributor in Ohio. As a result of this acquisition, TAAT® is welcoming new key members to its management team to include a 34-year account manager and sales trainer for R.J. Reynolds in the United States.

Readers using news aggregation services may be unable to view the media above. Please access SEDAR or the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website for a version of this press release containing all published media.

TAAT® Founder Joe Deighan commented, “The benefits of acquiring ADCO go far beyond their distribution infrastructure and wholesale network, as we are also onboarding some exceptionally talented veterans of the tobacco and convenience industries to our management team. As we continue to grow our presence in the tobacco space, this type of industry experience is invaluable to us for creating and maintaining a competitive edge. We are delighted to be welcoming individuals such as Mr. Bell and Mr. Krumlauf to the TAAT® team, and we look forward to working together in leveraging our respective strengths to drive long-term growth.”

Sources

1 - https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2022/02/26/2392598/0/en/TAAT-Enters-into-Agreement-to-Acquire-Ohio-Based-Distributor-to-Enhance-its-Position-in-the-U-S-Tobacco-Industry.html

2 - http://ohiowholesalers.org/aws/OWMA/pt/sp/board

3 - https://swishersweets.com/pages/about

4 - https://www.imperialbrandsplc.com/about-us/our-companies/itg-brands.html

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company,

 

TAAT® GLOBAL ALTERNATIVES INC.

“Joe Deighan”

Joe Deighan, COO and Director

For further information, please contact:

TAAT® Investor Relations

1-833-TAAT-USA (1-833-822-8872)

investor@taatglobal.com

THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE (“CSE”) HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE, NOR HAS OR DOES THE CSE’S REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER.

About TAAT® Global Alternatives Inc.

The Company has developed TAAT®, which is a tobacco-free and nicotine-free alternative to traditional cigarettes offered in "Original", "Smooth", and "Menthol" varieties. TAAT®'s base material is Beyond Tobacco™, a proprietary blend which undergoes a patent-pending refinement technique causing its scent and taste to resemble tobacco. Under executive leadership with "Big Tobacco" pedigree, TAAT® was launched first in the United States in Q4 2020 as the Company seeks to position itself in the $812 billion1 global tobacco industry.

For more information, please visit http://taatglobal.com.

References

1 Statista: Consumer Markets - Tobacco Products

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking information and information can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “estimates”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur, or be achieved. Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements regarding the anticipated performance of TAAT® in the tobacco industry, in addition to the following: Potential outcomes and impact from the engagement of Mr. Bell and Mr. Krumlauf by TAAT® following the completion of its acquisition of ADCO. The forward-looking information reflects management’s current expectations based on information currently available and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed timeframes or at all. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include: (i) adverse market conditions; (ii) changes to the growth and size of the tobacco markets; (iii) changes to the regulatory landscape applicable to the Company's business; and (iv) other factors beyond the control of the Company. The Company operates in a rapidly evolving environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is impossible for the Company’s management to predict all risk factors, nor can the Company assess the impact of all factors on Company’s business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

The statements in this news release have not been evaluated by Health Canada or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. As each individual is different, the benefits, if any, of taking the Company’s products will vary from person to person. No claims or guarantees can be made as to the effects of the Company’s products on an individual’s health and well-being. The Company’s products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

This news release may contain trademarked names of third-party entities (or their respective offerings with trademarked names) typically in reference to (i) relationships had by the Company with such third-party entities as referred to in this release and/or (ii) client/vendor/service provider parties whose relationship with the Company is/are referred to in this release. All rights to such trademarks are reserved by their respective owners or licensees.

Statement Regarding Third-Party Investor Relations Firms

Disclosures relating to investor relations firms retained by TAAT® Global Alternatives Inc. can be found under the Company's profile on http://sedar.com.