Japan Tobacco (JT), the largest international cigarette producer started its activity in 1999 when JT acquired the non-US enterprises of R.J. Reynolds tobacco manufacturer. The next acquisition of Gallaher company in 2007 increased the size of JT by adding more than 10,000 new workers. At present, the tobacco giant has about 25,000 workers and operations in 120 countries all over the world with headquarters in Geneva and Switzerland.
The company owns eight global key brands that constitute the core of JT’s brand portfolio, among them are: Winston, Camel, Glamour, Sobranie, LD and others.

JT declared that it had made an agreement to purchase all shares of the family-owned enterprise, Gryson NV and its related companies. The treaty has been concluded with GT&Co BVBA, which monitors Gryson. Established in Houthulst, with a manufacturing plant in Wervik, Belgium, Gryson has taken a significant position in the Roll your Own market all over a great number of European countries, mostly in Belgium, Spain, France and Portugal, as well as in several small but quickly developing export markets. The main driver of Gryson’s presence is its diversified brand portfolio including such best-selling brands as Fleur du Pays and Orlando.

The first brand is considered a true French heritage, holding a share of around 10% on sales of 900 tons in 2011. “This investment in Gryson allows JT a great opportunity to increase its position in the growing and profitable Roll your Own market in Europe, standing on such wisely managed, innovative and profitable company. This announcement demonstrates JTI’s plans to purchase and create in future more and more outstanding brands thus responding to diverse preferences of today’s smokers,” stated Eddy Pirard JTI’s President for Western Europe. “We are sure that JT is the best variant to assure a profitable future to Gryson, its key brands and more essentially to its people. As well as Gryson, JTI possesses such traits as responsibility and supreme commitment to its business. They plan to maintain and expand the manufacturing facilities in Wervik, and I am sure that our workers will feel comfortable under JT’s leadership,” declared Guido Vandermarliere, representative of Gryson. “We estimate to finish the acquisition within the present year after setting all regulatory mechanisms.”