Tobacco industry

It’s considered that tobacco has been grown already in IV-th century B.C. In the I-st century B.C. American Indians began to use tobacco as a medical and religious aid. At the 15th of October, 1492 Indians gave the tobacco to Christopher Columbus as a gift, shortly after this event, tobacco was brought to Europe, and it was cultivated everywhere.

In the middle of XVI century tobacco spread in Western Europe and in Turkey, where it was successfully assimilated and gave rich harvest. In XVII it gained popularity in Japan, China and other Asian countries. By the end of XVII century, there was no country without tobacco in the world.

In 1776 during the War of Independence in USA Americans used tobacco as a security for credit they got in France. The company produced tobacco and cigars. If before XX century overwhelming advantage belonged to the tobacco fro pipes and cigars, in the XX century cigarettes rated first in the total tobacco industry volume.

The word cigarette originates from France, where it means little cigar.

In USA cigarettes’ distribution was promoted by the emergence of some new sorts of light tobacco, for example White Burley, and of course, the invention of the first tobacco machine in 1880. During the next decade cigarettes surpassed cigars as regards sales volume. Soldiers, who didn’t have time to smoke a cigar or pipe, began to smoke cigarettes.

During this time the famous company Phillip Morris has been established. Cigarettes in USA were produced from wastes of other tobacco goods, in particular, chewing tobacco, which was very popular in Western America.

In 1902 Phillip Morris opened a headquarters in New-York for the promotion of the cigarettes to the American market.

The real boom in production took place during the First World War. In order to change the situation in its direction, Phillip Morris began the promotion of Marlboro as cigarettes for women, the motto of which was Mild as May. In its turn, American Tobacco Company, Lucky Strike producer, began to promote this brand among women, working up 38% of the market.

In the scramble for consumers companies invented something new, sometimes it was harmful things. Lorillard released its brand Kent with asbestos filter. In 1956, Reynolds launched the producing of Salem, the first menthol cigarettes with filter.

Phillip Morris bought Miller Brewing Company”, the producer of such beer brands as Miller, Red Dog Beer.

In 80-90th American tobacco companies applied their production in other countries, especially in developing Asian countries.

Hardly, working at his little shop at Bond – street, Philip Morris could suppose that his shop would turn out into the greatest tobacco company in the world.