Summary Box: Camel maker Reynolds American to close 2 cigarette plants, expand smokeless ops

Summary Box: Reynolds American closing 2 plants

CLOSING PLANTS: Tobacco company Reynolds American Inc. will close two cigarette plants — one in its headquarters city in Winston-Salem, N.C., and another in Puerto Rico. Production of cigarettes like Camel and Pall Mall will start to shift to its largest facility in nearby Tobaccoville, N.C., this summer.

SMOKELESS FACILITIES: It will expand its smokeless tobacco processing and manufacturing capacity at facilities in Memphis and Clarksville, Tenn. The maker of Kodiak and Grizzly smokeless tobacco said the two plants will be fully operational by early 2012.

CIGARETTE DEMAND: Reynolds American and other tobacco companies are focusing on cigarette alternatives — such as snuff and chewing tobacco — for future sales growth as tax increases, smoking bans, health concerns and social stigma make the cigarette business tougher.