British American Tobacco Group was founded in 1902 as the “British American Tobacco Company” by a joint venture between Imperial Tobacco Company (UK) and The American Tobacco Company (USA).
Today, BAT is the most international Company of tobacco industry with world market share of about 13%, operating in 200 markets and with over 200 brands. British American Tobacco Italia S.p.A. (BAT Italia) was officially founded on 1st January 2002, assuming the current configuration on 1st June 2004, after the tender on 16 July 2003 and the resulting merger with “Ente Tabacchi Italiani S.p.A.”.
The BAT’s direct presence in Italy, the second largest European market in tobacco industry, confirms its strategy oriented to achieve greater involvement in the reality of the countries in which it operates. In this perspective, BAT Italia, with its strong feature as an international Company, occupies a role of reference and of great strategic value for the national economy. With a market share of about 22% and with both over 25 international brands, including Rothmans, Lucky Strike and Pall Mall, and national, acquired by ETI, including MS, BAT Italia ranks second place among operators in Italy.