Gallaher Group
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Gallaher plc | |
 |
|
| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1857 |
| Headquarters | Weybridge, Surrey, England |
| Key people | John Gildersleeve (Chairman), Nigel Northridge, (Chief Executive) |
| Industry | Tobacco |
| Products | Cigarettes, Tobacco |
| Revenue | 8.2billion GBP (year to 31/12/05) |
| Net income | 394million GBP (year to 31/12/05) |
| Website | gallaher-group.com |
Gallaher Group is a major British based multinational tobacco company. It is traded on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: GLH) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.
The business was originally founded in 1857 by Tom Gallaher in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. By 1896, he had opened the largest tobacco factory in the world in Belfast. The business was incorporated on 28 March 1896 to "carry on in all their branches the businesses of tobacco, cigar, cigarettes and snuff manufacture".
Gallaher operates primarily in the United Kingdom and Europe, with much smaller operations in Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East. For the year ended 31 December 2004 turnover was £8.115 billion of which £5.568 billion was tobacco duty. Profit before tax was £429 million and net profit was £290 million.
Gallaher is the smallest of the three major quoted British tobacco groups; the other two are BAT and Imperial Tobacco. On 4 August 2000, Gallaher completed acquisition of Liggett Ducat, Russia's #1 cigarette brand. In January 2002, Gallaher became the 100% owner of Austria's former nationalized biggest tobacco-company Austria Tabak.
Gallaher's two UK factories are in Cardiff and Ballymena, Northern Ireland. Gallaher brands include Benson & Hedges, Silk Cut, Mayfair, Old Holborn, Amber Leaf and Hamlet Cigars.
