EXHIBIT 99.1

                 NORTH ATLANTIC ANNOUNCES CHANGES IN MANAGEMENT


NEW YORK (April 12, 2005) Thomas F. Helms, Jr., Chairman of the Board of North
Atlantic Holding Company, Inc. and its subsidiary, North Atlantic Trading
Company, Inc., today announced that Douglas Rosefsky, who served as the
companies' Chief Financial Officer since January 2005, has been appointed Chief
Executive Officer and Brian Harriss has been appointed as Chief Financial
Officer. Mr. Rosefsky is a managing director of Alvarez & Marsal, a global
professional services firm, and his services are provided pursuant to the
companies' engagement of that firm.

Mr. Harriss, who replaces Mr. Rosefsky as Chief Financial Officer, had
previously served in various senior finance, planning and business development
positions at a number of market-leading consumer products and direct marketing
companies, including PepsiCo., Inc., Cadbury Schweppes P.L.C., The Readers'
Digest, Inc. and, most recently, Hanover Direct, Inc. Mr. Helms, who formerly
served as both Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and is North Atlantic
Holding Company's controlling stockholder, will continue as an executive
Chairman and a full-time employee, focusing on the companies' general business
strategies, strategic alliances, joint ventures, acquisitions and licensing
arrangements.

Chairman Helms stated, "Doug Rosefsky has demonstrated the leadership skills it
takes to make substantial financial and operational improvements. The Board of
Directors and I believe that, by naming him CEO, our various constituencies,
including employees, customers, suppliers and the investment community, will
appreciate both the confidence we place in Doug and the authority and
responsibility we have vested in him."

Helms added, "Brian Harriss, with an accomplished career in financial and
planning positions with consumer products and marketing companies, we see as the
right fit for our CFO position. His extensive experience in financial matters
and business development will strengthen our organization's capabilities." Helms
concluded, "With these two top executives in place, I will be able to
concentrate on the many complex and varied issues affecting the companies'
overall strategic direction. Doug and Brian, together with the leaders of our
operating subsidiaries, give us a well rounded management team positioned for
future success."

North Atlantic Holding Company, Inc. and North Atlantic Trading Company, Inc.
are holding companies which own National Tobacco Company, L.P., North Atlantic
Operating Company, Inc. (NAOC), North Atlantic Cigarette Company, Inc. (NACC)
and Stoker, Inc. (Stoker). National Tobacco Company is the third largest
manufacturer and marketer of loose leaf chewing tobacco in the United States,
selling its products under the brand names BEECH-NUT REGULAR, BEECH-NUT
Wintergreen, TROPHY, HAVANA BLOSSOM and DURANGO. NAOC is the largest importer
and distributor in the United States of premium cigarette papers and related
products, which are sold under the ZIG-ZAG brand name pursuant to an exclusive
long-term distribution agreement with Bollore, S.A. NAOC also contracts for the
manufacture of and distributes Make-Your-Own smoking tobaccos and related
products under the ZIG-ZAG brand name, pursuant to its trademarks. NACC
distributes cigarettes under the ZIG-ZAG brand name. Stoker manufactures and
distributes loose leaf chewing tobacco under STOKER, OUR PRIDE and other brand
names and Make-Your-Own cigarette tobaccos under, among others, the STOKER and
OLD HILLSIDE brand names.

For further information, contact: James W. Dobbins, Senior Vice President and
General Counsel, at (212) 253-8185