The former R.J. Reynolds has become the first major U.S. cigarette company to claim a stake in the smokeless-tobacco market, purchasing the maker of Grizzly and other smokeless products for $3.5 billion.

The Independent reported April 26 that Reynolds American, now a subsidiary of British American Tobacco (BAT), agreed to purchase Conwood from the Pritzker family.

"Conwood provides us with a significant, strategic platform within the growing moist-snuff category that would have taken years to build," said Reynolds American CEO Susan Ivey. "The moist-snuff category has been growing at 4 percent to 5 percent for the past five years. Clearly, we're excited by this unique opportunity to gain immediate scale and strength in the category."

Smokeless tobacco has grown in popularity as restrictions on public smoking have increased. Parent company BAT has already invested in moist-snuff products in Europe.