Japan Tobacco International, a member of the international cigarette manufacturer Japan Tobacco, has entered the Croatian market and brought its brands Winston and Camel.
In five years, the Croatian budget will earn 90 million euros from the company through excise duties and taxes, and the company operates in 120 countries where it has 26 factories, emphasized Yasushi Shingai, the Deputy CEO of the company, at today’s press conference held at the Regent hotel in Zagreb.
– Japan Tobacco International has arrived in Croatia with an ambitious plan for long-term growth and business development, and we have signed a distribution agreement that, according to current forecasts, should result in a turnover of 120 million euros over the next five years and guarantee 50 new jobs – said Yasushi Shingai, adding that JTI is 50% owned by the Japanese government and is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, expressing hope that this step by Japan Tobacco International will encourage other Japanese investors to invest in Croatia.
In the Croatian market, JTI has been offering Old Holborn rolling tobacco for some time, and is now bringing two global brands; Winston, which is the second best-selling cigarette brand in the world, and Camel, which has been produced since 1913. The Croatian tobacco market, according to Martin Braddock, the company’s director for the Adriatic region, shows a trend of increasing consumer demand for international brands, and the company will focus on further developing brand value and product quality. For now, says regional director Siniša Trbojević, they do not intend to start production in Croatia, but will import cigarettes from their factory in Trier, Germany, and that Japan Tobacco International is open to discussions with all distributors of cigarettes and tobacco products operating in the Croatian market. (Siniša Maksimović)
