Retail history

A major reorganisation of Imperial Tobacco began in 1981 as a result of the decline in the market for tobacco goods and the need for greater cost effectiveness.

In late 1985, Hanson Trust (later PLC) made a successful bid to buy Imperial and the takeover was completed the following April.

The gift comes from Brevan Howard, the world’s third largest hedge fund, at the behest of its co-founder Alan Howard, an Imperial alumnus (MEng Chemical Engineering & Chemical Technology 1986). The Centre is headed by Professor Franklin Allen and Professor Douglas Gale.

By mid-1988 the sales forces of Wills and Players had merged, the number of brands had been cut from 155 to 63 and the number of packings from 238 to 105.

In May 1990 a major strategy was announced with the objective of making the company Europe's most efficient tobacco manufacturer.

For an excellent sample of recent revisionist work on American westward expansion, see William Cronon, George Miles and Jay Gitlin (eds), Under an Open Sky: Rethinking America’s Western Past (New York: W.W. Norton, 1992). Google Scholar

Given the establishment of the Single European Market in 1993, Imperial's actions were not surprising.

In 1997 Imperial acquired Rizla, the world's number one manufacturer of rolling papers.

In September 1999 a portfolio of quality cigarettes, fine cut tobacco and rolling paper brands was acquired in Australia and New Zealand.

In 2002 Imperial acquired Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH, the German-based international tobacco company.

A dramatic modern building to house the College’s main entrance and the School is officially opened by Her Majesty the Queen, accompanied by the Duke of York, on 24 June 2004.

By 2009 Imperial had become an established international tobacco company with a strong track record of creating value for its shareholders.

In June 2015 Imperial completed the acquisition of four US cigarette brands and the international rights to blu, a leading vapour brand.

The Centre was launched in 2019 by Scientific Director Maurizio Zollo, Professor of Strategy & Sustainability and Head of the Department of Management & Entrepreneurship, and Executive Director Livio Scalvini.

In 2020 Imperial sold its worldwide premium cigar businesses for a total consideration of €1,225 million.