Sales up for Bristol's most successful firm
Behind an unassuming Southville office-front lies Bristol's most successful company.
Imperial Tobacco sold 151.5-billion cigarettes across the world in the six months to the end of March.
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Sales of cigarettes are up for Bristol's Imperial Tobacco
That's 7.55 billion packets of 20 cigarettes – equivalent to 479 packets every second.
The firm, which has 425 staff across Bristol and 14,500 worldwide, unveiled a 54 per cent rise in sales to £12 billion in the same period.
Profits have risen by 49 per cent to a staggering £1.37bn.
The company, which has the highest sales and profits of any firm in the Bristol area, owns some of the High Street's most familiar tobacco brands – including Lambert and Butler and Richmond.
It sold an estimated 3.5 billion cigarettes of each brand over the six months. It also owns Rizla, and the Drum and Golden Virginia rolling tobacco brands.
Much of its success was down to its takeover of Altadis – a Spanish rival for which it paid £11bn in 2008.
This gave Imperial the Gauloise and Fortuna brands, two of the biggest selling cigarettes in Europe.
Speaking about the results, chief executive Gareth Davis said: "There's no doubt in my mind that tobacco is a great place to be in the current economic environment.
"We expect slightly stronger growth in the second half of the year."
Imperial currently has 225 staff in its Upton Road headquarters in Southville, and a further 125 employees in its sales team in Winterstoke Road in Ashton.
It also has 75 staff in its cigar factory in Winterstoke Road – which makes the Classic and Castella brands.
But these staff will be made redundant by September when the factory closes and production moves to Spain to cut costs.
For those people starting work at Imperial Tobacco, there is still the luxury of a final-salary pension scheme – a rarity in the current economic climate.
7 Comments
by Stan, BRI Lung Cancer Ward
Wednesday, May 13 2009, 7:14PM
“Great. I'm so proud that Bristol's two most successful companies (Imperial and BAE) peddle products which bring an unpleasant and untimely death?”
by Car Owner, Bristol
Wednesday, May 13 2009, 3:41PM
“Excellent news BEP but you have forgotten that other great company, Firstgroup. Reported their full year results today with a pre-tax profit increase of 31% to £200 million and increased revenue to over £6 billion. Job cuts of 3,500 will produce at least a further £200 million savings by 2010. A superb result considering the present financial climate.”
by James S, Bristol
Wednesday, May 13 2009, 1:16PM
“Worried about your finances?
Concerned about your future?
Depressed by the economic climate?
Why not have a smoke?
For only £6 per 20 you can banish your health worries and replace them with health certanties, finances become simpler when your top priority is dragging yourself towards a slow and painful death one lungful at a time!
Smoke now!”
by Herbert, Bristol
Wednesday, May 13 2009, 1:15PM
“Thats some big numbers - doesn't even go into the 8-10 billion pounds in tax the government take from smokers each year. Should keep a few people on JSA dont you think?...”
by Adrian, Bristol
Wednesday, May 13 2009, 12:59PM
“Advert: Lost ur job?, have a fag and die from Cancer...That way u dont have to pay any bills!!”
by Jo, Horfield
Wednesday, May 13 2009, 12:23PM
“"There's no doubt in my mind that tobacco is a great place to be in the current economic environment"
People fo Britain: Lost your job? Bank about to reposess your house? Why not have a fag!
This is a very weird article! It just seems bonkers to be reading boasts about the amount of ciggies sold every second like its a good thing! I mean it obviously is for the company, but then doesn't that make this a bit like an advert...and isn't advertising cigarettes banned....strange!”
by Jo, Horfield
Wednesday, May 13 2009, 12:20PM
“Am I the only one who finds this story weird? It just seems really strange to read boasts about the amount of cigarettes sold every second....and I love the comment from the Chief Exec: ""There's no doubt in my mind that tobacco is a great place to be in the current economic environment." Lost your job? Broke? Why not have a fag!”