A little research on large tobacco companies brings up some surprising results. Almost all are diversified to the point of becoming international conglomerates with solid business foundations, management, and profits. Here is a little information about seven of the biggest publicly traded tobacco companies in the world.
Phillip Morris International is based in New York City, USA. PMI is the largest publicly owned tobacco company in the world with a market cap of more than $105 Billion. It has 78 thousand full time employees and operates in 180 countries. A few popular PMI brands are Marlboro, L&M, Parliament, and Virginia Slims.
British American Tobacco has a market cap more than $59 billion. It is based in London, United Kingdom and trades around the world. The company has 60 thousand full time employees. Some popular BAT brands are Dunhill, Viceroy, Kent, Kool, Lucky Strike and Pall Mall.
Imperial Tobacco Group PLC is based in Bristol, United Kingdom. With 38 thousand employees and a market cap of $24 billion Imperial Tobacco is involved in marketing, production, and sales of tobacco products worldwide. They also provide logistics services for tobacco product manufacturers and other diverse industries.
Indian Tobacco Company Ltd is a publicly traded Indian conglomerate based in Kolkata, India. Through their FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) division ITC Ltd sells and exports finished tobacco products and leaf. A few popular brands are Armenteros cigars, and Lucky Strike, Players, and Bristol cigarettes.
Godfrey Phillips India Ltd is based out of New Delhi, India. GPI Ltd is the second largest cigarette producer in India with a strong presence in cigars. FS1 and Foursquare are their most popular brands.
VST Industries Ltd is another tobacco related company based in India, city of Hyderabad. The company sells cigarettes, tobacco leaf, and other tobacco products in India and internationally. Charms Smooth Virginia and Charms Virginia Filter are two of their brands.
Kothari Products Ltd is based in Kanpur, India. Among other items it produces tobacco products such as chewing and scented tobacco.
It is interesting to note the locations of the world’s biggest public tobacco companies. Four are based in India, two in the United Kingdom, with only one, the largest, in the United States. Japan Tobacco Company is the third largest publicly traded tobacco company though 50 percent of the company is held by the Japanese Ministry of Finance. The largest tobacco company in the world is the state owned China National Tobacco Corporation.