British American Tobacco - Our history

1902

When the UK’s Imperial Tobacco Company and the American Tobacco Company of the United States form a joint venture, the British American Tobacco Company. James ‘Buck’ Duke becomes the company’s first chairman. His strategy is to devise a superior product, hire the best people to make it, price it as low as possible, and mechanise production.

1905

The acquisition of a majority share in Cairo-based cigarette manufacturer, Maspero Freres Company, allows us to expand our export trade of cigarettes made from Turkish tobacco into India and Europe.

1915

Sales total 25 billion cigarettes per year, as the additional demand from the armed forces for tobacco stretches our manufacturing capacity to the limit.

1921

Cigarrera Bigott Sucs is formed in Venezuela and, in the following few years, acquisitions are made in Chile, Mexico and Central America.

1939

The outbreak of the Second World War severely disrupts our global operations.

1942

Profits that were static at £5.5 million right through the depression go down to £3 million until the war ends

1960

Global sales exceed 280 billion cigarettes with trading profits of more than £58 million.

1970–1973

We move into retailing with acquisitions, including Argos in the UK and Saks Fifth Avenue in the USA.

1976

BAT Industries is formed. Within two years it is the UK’s third biggest company. Annual sales increase to 500 billion cigarettes.

1981

Trading profits from the tobacco operations triple over the previous decade to more than £463 million.

1994

The prestigious Lucky Strike and Pall Mall brands are now added to our portfolio, with the acquisition of the American Tobacco Company.

1999

Following a global merger with Rothmans International we gain several major brands, including Dunhill.

2001

New investments in countries such as Turkey, Egypt, Vietnam and South Korea.

2011

Major acquisition of Protabaco in Colombia for US$452 million. The Group establishes Nicoventures Limited, a company to focus exclusively on the development and commercialisation of innovative, regulatory approved nicotine products.

2012

UK-based company CN Creative, who specialise in the development of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) technologies, are acquired.

2014

The Group announces it will invest US$4.7 billion as part of Reynolds American Inc.'s acquisition of Lorillard. The deal means we will maintain our 42% stake in the enlarged and substantially stronger Reynolds American business in the US.

2018

BAT is one of just 13 companies to be recognised as a Global Top Employer 2018 by the Top Employers Institute.

The Group’s 2018 annual and sustainability reports underline BAT’s commitment to ‘transforming tobacco’ by offering an unrivalled suite of potentially reduced-risk products to adult consumers.

After nearly 37 years with BAT, and eight as CEO Nicandro Durante informs the Board of his intention to retire in 2019. Chief Operating Officer Jack Bowles, who joined BAT’s Management Board in 2009, is announced as his successor.

2019

Jack Bowles takes over as Chief Executive on 1 April. “It is an exciting time for me to take over as Chief Executive. Our industry is evolving and with this comes great opportunity,” he says.

BAT is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) for the 18th consecutive year – and is once again named as industry leader in the DJSI’s most prestigious World Index.

2021

Luc Jobin succeeded Richard Burrows as Chairman of BAT, following the conclusion of the company’s AGM on 28 April. See Luc Jobin’s profile .

BAT’s Vuse becomes the world’s first global carbon neutral vape brand¹. This world-first achievement marked the latest step in BAT’s ambitious target to be carbon neutral across its own operations by 2030.