JTI Grows UK Share Despite Tobacco Volume Declines

Source from:  The Grocer  04/25/2014

Amber Leaf has helped Japan Tobacco International grow fractionally its share of the UK market, despite an ongoing decline in volumes.

JTI's share of the UK market grew 0.9% to 40.7% in the three months to 31 March 2014, driven by its Amber Leaf and Sterling brands, with the former holding on to the number-one spot across all tobacco categories, the company said today. However total volumes fell by 2.5% "due to industry contraction", it added.

In fine cut tobacco, UK volumes grew 4.5%, JTI said.

Worldwide, overall volumes continued to decline, with total shipments down 5.4% to 87.7 billion cigarettes. Shipments of JTI's 'global flagship brands' – which include Camel, Silk Cut and Benson & Hedges – declined 5.5%. Shipments of fine-cut tobacco grew 10.5%, powered by growth in Western Europe.

JTI's turnover climbed 5.1% to $2.87bn (£1.71bn) at constant exchange rates, while adjusted operating profit rose 14.5% to $1.12bn. Enditem