Tobacco and convenience-store retailer The Cigarette Store LLC, doing business as Smoker Friendly, has named Tom Allen as its new vice president of operations.
Allen joined Smoker Friendly in 2016 as the retailer operations manager, later acting as region director of the company’s business in the West.
As a multi-generational family business, Allen joins his uncles, Smoker Friendly President Dan Gallagher and CEO and Chairman of the Board Terry Gallagher Jr., as an essential part of the operations team, the Boulder, Colorado-based company said in a statement.
“With his dedication, leadership and understanding of our company’s values and goals, Tom has consistently demonstrated the ability to drive results,” Gallagher said.
In his new role, Tom will be responsible for all day-to-day store operations. His leadership will play a critical part in continuing to drive sales and profitability, streamline our operations, improve processes and ensure Smoker Friendly remains a leader in the retail tobacco industry, Gallagher said.
“I am excited and thankful for this tremendous opportunity,” Allen said. “I want to thank everyone at Smoker Friendly who mentored and developed me during these last nine years. I will do my utmost to enhance the operational excellence Smoker Friendly is known for in our industry.”
Prior to joining Smoker Friendly, Allen graduated from the University of Montana College of Business in 2006 and earned his MBA from Colorado State University in 2022. Between earning his degrees, Allen spent more than 10 years as an officer in the U.S. Army.
- The Cigarette Store/Smoker Friendly is No. 26 on CSP’s 2025 Top 40 Update to the 2024 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by store count. Watch for the full 2025 Top 202 ranking in the June issue of CSP magazine and in CSP Daily News.
Founded in 1991, Smoker Friendly now owns and operates 341 stores in 13 states. TCS is the largest licensee of Smoker Friendly International, and the largest tobacco store retailer in the United States, operating a mix of tobacco stores, cigar lounges, liquor stores and fueling locations under the Smoker Friendly, Tobacco Depot, Smoke ‘N Go, Havana Manor and Gasamat banners, in addition to its e-commerce site, paylesscigarsandpipes.com.
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