Altria Group

There are quite a number of tobacco manufacturers known worldwide. And one of them is Altria Group. Actually, the company obtained this name not so long ago, only in 2002 it was named Philip Morris Companies Inc., but in 2003 as a part of its rebranding campaign it changed its name to Altria Group Inc.. Philip Morris Companies was founded by the tobacconist of London, who named the company after himself. He was the first to start the selling of hand-rolled cigarettes in 1860s.

Altria Group Inc. is an American company, a holding, a leading tobacco manufacturer and at the same time it is a significant food market participant. The company also provides financial services. The company Philip Morris International was spun off from the holding in March 2008. Thus Altria Group now controls only the American part of Philip Morris (called Philip Morris USA) and about half of the tobacco market in USA.

Altria’s subsidiary company Philip Morris USA is the world leader of sales in the commercial tobacco industry. Their largest brand - Marlboro cigarettes presented in 1924 - takes the leading positions in global popularity. Marlboro is one of the most recognizable, most popular and the best-selling brands. Among other brands produced by Philip Morris USA are: L&M, Virginia Slims, Red & White, Next cigarettes, Parliament and many others.

Being firmly devoted to cigarettes, Altria is now transitioning from principally a cigarette manufacturer to a supplier of various tobacco products, which include smokeless tobacco products and cigars. With this design it has made some strategic purchases, including UST Inc. producing smokeless tobacco.

Nowadays Marlboro cigarettes, L&M, Next cigarettes and even cheap Virginia Slims cigarettes can be bought in online stores, which offer a great diversity of cigarettes brands.