Everything about Imperial Tobacco totally explained
Imperial Tobacco Group PLC is the world's fourth largest international
tobacco company and the only tobacco manufacturer in the
UK where it's also market leader. It is the second largest UK-based tobacco company by global sales. It is
Germany's second largest tobacco company following its purchase of
Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH in 2003 which added brands such as
Davidoff,
Peter Stuyvesant and
West to its portfolio. In 2007 Imperial Tobacco entered the United States tobacco market with its $1.9 billion acquisition of Commonwealth Brands Inc, the fourth largest tobacco company in the US. Imperial Tobacco's corporate headquarters are in
Bristol,
England. It has more than 30 factories operating around the world, and employs some 14,500 people.
In February 2008, Imperial acquired European peer
Altadis with brands including
Fortuna,
Gauloises Blondes and
Gitanes.
For the year ended 30 September 2006 Imperial Tobacco had a turnover of £11.676 billion, or £3.162 billion excluding
tobacco duty. It made a profit before tax of £1.168 billion.
History
The Imperial Tobacco Company was created in 1901 through the amalgamation of thirteen British tobacco and cigarette companies compromising
W.D. & H.O. Wills of
Bristol (the leading manufacturer of the time),
John Player and Sons of
Nottingham and 11 other independent family businesses, which were being threatened by competition from the
United States in the form of
James Buchanan Duke and his
American Tobacco Company. The original merger took place between
W. D. & H. O. Wills of
Bristol and
Stephen Mitchell & Son of
Glasgow. The company's first Chairman was
William Henry Wills of the Wills Company. Subsequently the smaller companies in the group including
Lambert & Butler,
William Clarke & Son,
Franklyn Davey,
Edwards Ringer,
J & F Bell and
F & J Smith were absorbed by the larger, with Wills and Players eventually emerging as the UK market leaders.
In
1902 the then Imperial Tobacco Company and the
American Tobacco Company agreed to form a joint venture; the
British-American Tobacco Company Ltd. The parent companies agreed not to trade in each other's domestic territory and to assign trademarks, export businesses and overseas subsidiaries to the joint venture. American Tobacco sold its share in
1911 but Imperial maintained an interest in British American Tobacco until
1980.
In
1973, having become increasingly diversified (restaurant chains, food services and brands, distribution etc), Imperial Tobacco Company became the Imperial Group Limited, later
Imperial Group PLC. The company was acquired by the conglomerate
Hanson Trust plc in
1986, at a price of £2.5 billion. Hanson undertook a major reorganisation of the company; divestments netted £2.3 billion, leaving Hanson with the hugely profitable tobacco business for "next to nothing." These sales included:
In
1996, following a decision to concentrate on core tobacco activities, Hanson demerged Imperial and it was listed as an independent company on the UK stock exchange. A US listing followed in
1998.
Current cigarette brands
All JTI products in Australia - Camel More Mild Seven etc.
Davidoff
Embassy
Excellence
Fortuna
Gauloises
Gitanes
Horizon
John Player Special (JPS)
Lambert & Butler - the UK's best selling brand
Mark Fernyhough cigarettes
Moon
Peter Jackson
Peter Stuyvesant
Prima
R1
Regal
Richmond
Route 66
Superkings
West
Other products
Drum fine cut tobacco
Van Nelle fine cut tobacco
Golden Virginia fine cut tobacco
Rizla rolling paper
Skruf snusFurther Information
Get more info on 'Imperial Tobacco'.
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