History Carreras Tobacco Company

1 history

1.1 19th century
1.2 20th century
1.3 post world war ii

history
19th century

the antecedents of carreras business stem eighteenth century (their products , advertising materials consistently bore legend established 1788 ), , forebears of founder’s family spanish apothecaries. founder of business spanish nobleman, don josé carreras ferrer, fought in peninsular war under duke of wellington (1808–1814). after serving distinction , receiving highest military honours, believed obliged leave spain on account of political views.

during years of 19th century carreras began trading in london @ time when cigars increasing in popularity , don josé became pioneer in field. however, although business prospered did not become major concern until son, don josé joaquin, began specialise in blending of tobaccos , snuff. 1852 don josé joaquin carreras had established himself near leicester square @ 61 prince s street w1, , in 1853 granted warrant sole supplier of cigars , tobacco spanish legation in london. fame tobacco blender spread, , produced blends suit individual tastes of highest members of society, customers visiting showrooms select own tobaccos. 1 of don josé s famous customers third earl of craven. special blend, become known craven mixture, created specially him , blend has since spread in popularity throughout world. of don josé s tobacco brands became world famous, including guards mixture , hankey s mixture. on 1 thousand brands of cigar bought carreras, snuffs, cigarettes, pipes , usual requisites of trade.

in 1860 carreras became founder committee member of tobacco trade benevolent association, , opened shop, time in arcade in london s newly developed , fashionable regent street w1.

the business remained in hands of carreras family until 1894, when mr w j yapp, well-known figure in shoe leather industry, took control. prince s street became part of wardour street in 1878, , number 61 became known prince s house, no 7 wardour street. house of carreras became london landmark, , here prince edward (later edward vii) came select finest cigars.

early 20th century

in 1881, first cigarette making machine patented in united states james bonsack , 1883 1 of british manufacturers, w. d. & h. o. wills, had pioneered use of bonsack in england. wills joined twelve other companies form imperial tobacco group, both rothmans , carreras chose remain independent, , 1901 bonsack machine, making 200 cigarettes minute, exclusively available members of group. however, of cigarette machine makers, bernhard baron, had returned london united states in 1896 patent new machine make 450 cigarettes minute, , progress watched interest mr yapp running carreras business keen make cigarettes paying venture.

baron determined put making machine small concern such carreras. having been deprived of opportunity sell machines newly formed imperial tobacco company, had monopoly on bonsack machines, yapp able negotiate business arrangement baron in 1903. on 6 june 1903, carreras became public company yapp , baron directors and, under leadership of bernhard baron, heralded beginnings of defiant competition powerful imperial tobacco group , new american invader, james buchanan duke, capturing large slices of british market ogden’s guinea gold, first virginia cigarette made in country. original carreras prospectus heavily criticised in city press, within short time shares subscribed, particularly members of tobacco trade quick realise potential of new venture. baron family had reputation employers treated staff well. bernhard baron walk amongst employees daily, enquiring after families, , son, louis, , grandson, maurice, made regular visits factory floor. tradition developed on bernhard s birthday, each december, employees given 2 weeks wages , cake take home.

in 1904, allied company established. called carreras , marcianus ltd , operating st james s place, aldgate ec3, former baron machine company works, company’s purpose commence production of machine made cigarettes. during last 6 months of 1904 3 brands made debut, including black cat, first cigarette in united kingdom contain coupons redeemable gifts.

in 1905 yet more brands introduced such chick, jetty , sweet kiss , carreras began coupon trading in black cat. business prospered , in 1906 additional premises opened nearby, introducing new brands such carreras ovals , 7 up. baron chose many novel schemes promotion of carreras’ pipe tobacco , cigarette brands. in 1909, company introduced baron automatic pipe filler in cartridges, revolutionised pipe smoking , sold million.

in 1907 carreras introduced version of football pools. coupons listing forthcoming matches available tobacconists , prizes given both best forecast , owner of shop coupon had been purchased.

expansion of business continued and, in 1907, first arcadia works built on city road ec1. more developments made in pipe field, including cartridge case. other brands introduced before first world war including fireball, golden clipper, red route mixture , life ray.

in 1913, carreras acquired prestige business of alexander bugoslavsky , opened showroom @ 55 piccadilly w1 still retained many of grand, privately occupied houses , clubs. medallion still reproduced on each packet of piccadilly filter acquired purchase of bugoslavsky s company.

the 1914-18 war caused rapid acceleration in cigarette smoking , carreras fore in supplying cigarettes armed forces. cigarettes in short supply baron did not deviate object of better quality marketing of better quality products competitors. example, enclosed french dictionaries in containers of cigarettes sent front , supplied millions of copies of phrase , grammar books.

the arcadia works @ mornington crescent

in 1921, after launch of craven a, carreras launched yet more brands such wall arms, piccadilly , turf. 1927 business had outgrown arcadia premises in city road, war had increased demand cigarettes and, despite taking on additional london premises @ aldgate, carreras had find new factory. in 1928, famous arcadia works opened in mornington crescent nw1, formerly favourite residence of artists , writers. building, has become major london landmark, revolutionary in concept unusual in design. first factory in britain make use of pre-stressed concrete technology, first contain air conditioning , dust extraction plant , company first provide full welfare services employees. such fame of arcadia works visited royalty, including duke of windsor when prince of wales, king george vi when duke of york, , late duke of kent. many other important visitors every part of globe entertained @ mornington crescent. dominating entrance building 2 large bronze cats. cast @ haskins foundry in london, these versions of egyptian god bastet each 8 feet 6 inches tall , stood guard on arcadia works until 1959 when carreras merged rothmans of pall mall , moved new factory in basildon, essex. cats separated, 1 making short journey essex, 1 went bask in sun outside carreras factory @ spanishtown, jamaica.

between 2 world wars, carreras sales in united kingdom , overseas increased , more brands launched. in 1929 valuable trade-marks acquired purchase of john sinclair ltd of newcastle upon tyne (including barneys tobacco, barneys punchbowle , parson s pleasure). after purchase of sinclairs grandson of founder of firm, john alexander sinclair, elected board of carreras , later became joint managing director.

post world war ii

once again world war brought sharp increase in nation’s demand cigarettes, coinciding inevitable scarcity of tobacco leaf. brought shortage of both carreras , competitors products, situation not alleviated until 1950s. in 1953, carreras acquired assets of r & j hill limited of london , entire share capital of murray, sons & company limited of belfast manufacturing fine range of popular pipe tobaccos, including erinmore mixture , erinmore flake.

by alfred dunhill ltd, tobacconists had been established in 1907 @ no 30 duke street sw1, subsidiary of carreras group. carreras had associate in jamaica , interest in p j carroll, ireland’s largest cigarette manufacturer. dutch cigar company, schimmelpenninck, part of group. baron family, had held controlling interest in carreras since 1900s, decided sell shares in 1958 but, before doing so, responsible 2 major projects became decisive in progress of company. firstly decided transfer manufacturing plant new town of basildon in essex arcadia works in mornington crescent had become uneconomic , mass production techniques being carried out on different floor levels. secondly, beginning of swing towards filtered cigarette smoking, carreras launched brand came have national appeal - guards.

in november 1958, sale of baron family shares, carreras merged rothmans of pall mall had markets in 120 countries around world. 2 factors played important part in bringing rothmans , carreras. first trend towards filter cigarettes beginning in 1950s. both rothmans , carreras had pioneered filtered brands. second carreras’ decision move manufacturing large, modern factory in basildon provide much-needed production capacity rothmans expanding international trade.

a manufacturing agreement entered , 1961 business had expanded point carreras had acquired rothmans cigarette , tobacco business in britain , of overseas markets. result of deal, biggest shareholder in enlarged operation became rothmans tobacco (holdings). business expanded new trading links forged , new businesses opened up.

carreras rothmans ltd formed in 1972, when carreras limited used vehicle merger of various european tobacco interests form rothmans international.