Marlboro maker Altria boosts e-cigarette brand

• MarkTen e-cigarettes to be sold nationally in second quarter
• Electronic cigarette sales passed %241 billion annually last year

Don't look for the Marlboro Man, himself, to be puffing on electronic cigarettes any time soon. But the company that makes the iconic cigarette brand, Altria Group, said on Wednesday that it plans to expand its MarkTen e-cigarette brand nationally in the second quarter.

The move comes at a time the electronic cigarette market appears ready to explode domestically. Electronic cigarette sales topped $1 billion last year, reports the website StatisticBrain.com. The site estimates that 2.7% of U.S. adults have tried e-cigs and that some 2.5 million U.S. adults are e-cigarette smokers.

Earlier this month, Altria Group also announced that its Nu Mark subsidiary acquired the e-vapor business of Green Smoke for $110 million.

MarkTen was first launched in test markets in Indiana and Arizona late last year by Altria's NuMark subsidiary.

It was the last of America's major tobacco companies to market the battery-powered devices that heat a liquid nicotine solution, creating vapor that users inhale.

MarkTen is a disposable e-cigarette but can be reused with a charging kit and additional cartridges. It says the product's "Four Draw" technology provides a more consistent user experience.

Richmond, Virginia-based Altria said the brand has quickly gained distribution in its test markets.

Contributing: The Associated Press