Imperial Tobacco hit by pirates
BRISTOL'S biggest firm Imperial Tobacco said today that its sales continue to be hit by the increase in black market tobacco and illegal imports.
Rising prices and the recession have resulted in more and more people looking for cheaper alternatives which has hit the profits of the big firms such as the Ashton based Imperial.
The world's fourth largest cigarette maker put out a statement to the Stock Market yesterday which said that the firm's revenues have grown by two per cent over the last three months.
But the company also warned that its sales in Europe and Russia are being badly hit by the growth in popularity of fake and black market products.
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As a result the company has warned that its performance over the first half of the year is likely to be disappointing and would result in falling profits.
Imperial tend to specialise in budget brands and hand-rolled tobacco but has still been badly hit by the rise in the popularity of cheaper and illegal alternatives.
According to latest estimates around a third of cigarettes and tobacco smoked in the UK comes from illegal sources and the figures are on the increase.
Over the last year the maker
Despite the poor performance in Europe the company is still doing well in other parts of the world such as the Middle East, Africa and Asia. In these regions, revenues grew by 12 per cent and sales increased by 10 per cent for its leading brands such as Davidoff.
The tobacco firm has moved to reassure its influential shareholders that its full year performance would still meet market expectations.
Performance over the second half of the year is expected to account for 55 per cent of the Imperial's total annual profit.
However, performance in Europe and Russia is causing the firm its biggest headache as the economy and consumer spending habits are not expected to improve in the short term.
Share prices fell three per cent after the firm reported their figures this morning.
5 Comments
by harryreg_uk
Wednesday, January 30 2013, 6:23PM
“@katachua - absolutely no idea but I wonder how many would have started if they'd gone around one of those wards first?”
by BristolMark2
Wednesday, January 30 2013, 1:04PM
“Yes, exactly. Poor Imperial Tobacco, can't sell enough cancer sticks to keep their shareholders happy. You have to feel for them.”
by katachua
Wednesday, January 30 2013, 1:03PM
“Tell the Pirates to beggar off to North Bristol, says I.
And harryreg_uk - care to guess show many nurses smoke?”
by Pogo_T_Clown
Wednesday, January 30 2013, 12:55PM
“Oh dear. They're finding it harder to peddle poison to people. How terribly sad.”
by harryreg_uk
Wednesday, January 30 2013, 11:44AM
“A lot of this is down to the whopping Tax on tobacco, and now the Government are talking about sticking it on Alcohol - bootleggers must be rubbing their hands together as well as laughing their heads off!
Education, education, edu-damn-cation is the only way - force all school kids to visit a Hospital Respiratory ward, that'll stop 'em!”