Altadis: История табачной империи

Altadis is a Spanish French multinational purveyor and manufacturer of cigarettes, tobacco and cigars. It was formed via a 1999 merger between Tabacalera, the former Spanish tobacco monopoly and SEITA (Société d'exploitation industrielle des tabacs et des allumettes), the former French tobacco monopoly. Through its international holdings, including ownership of the former Consolidated Cigar Holdings and half ownership of the Cuban state tobacco monopoly, Habanos S. A., Altadis was the largest producer of mass market and premium cigars in the world, as well as the fourth largest producer of tobacco products. The company was acquired by the British tobacco giant Imperial Tobacco (now Imperial Brands) in 2008, becoming a subsidiary of it.

In 1926, France concentrated its tobacco industry into a single state run monopoly called SEIT (Service d'Exploitation industrielle des tabacs). The production of matches (allumettes) was added to the state monopoly's purview in 1935 and the company was renamed SEITA (Société d'exploitation industrielle des tabacs et des allumettes). In August 2000, Consolidated Cigar and Havatampa, owned by Tabacalera, merged to form Altadis USA. In September 2000 Altadis purchased a 50% interest in the Cuban state tobacco monopoly, Habanos SA. In 2003, Altadis acquired the internet seller 800 JR Cigar, Inc., one of the largest cigar retailers in the United States.

On 18 July 2007, the board of Altadis backed a €16.2 billion offer for the company by Imperial Tobacco (now Imperial Brands). The acquisition was cleared by the Spanish stock market regulator on 7 November 2007, paving the way for the creation of the world's fourth largest tobacco company. The acquisition was completed on 25 February 2008 with the delisting of Altadis from the Bolsa de Madrid.

Western Europe's third largest cigarette manufacturer, Altadis produced and sold blond, regular and dark cigarettes. Its major markets included the United States, Spain and France. In 2004, Altadis Group economic sales rose 3.9% to euro 3.518 million with a staff of 27,500 people.

In January 2019, Altadis announced new heads of sales and consumer marketing, in the face of Paul Waller and Brad Winstead.