Circle K is expanding its exclusive cigarette offerings, rolling out new "control brand" Traffic this summer. The cigarettes are manufactured by the consumer products division of Chesterfield, MO-based U.S. Tobacco Cooperative Inc. (USTC). The control-brand partnership presumably leaves USTC the option to distribute Traffic cigarettes to other retailers in markets where Circle K stores don’t exist. A national advertising campaign supports the launch, with Circle K and USTC promoting the tobacco product jointly. The cigarettes started trickling into stores in June, and will reach all locations.“We are extremely pleased to be partnering with Circle K,” USTC chief executive officer Stuart Thompson said in a media release. “We look forward to supplying Circle K convenience stores with the highest quality U.S. tobacco products as they continue their growth here.”In stores, the cigarettes are positioned behind counters along with a range of other cigarette brands. Door clings position the brand as the "lowest priced cigarette;" the SKUs cost some 15-20% less than comparable brands.This isn’t Circle K’s first foray in exclusive tobacco products. In 2012, the retailer launched private-label Crown cigarettes, which it continues to stock today.