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About us

We were formed in 1999 when our parent company JT Group acquired the non US operations of R.J. Reynolds. In 2007 we acquired UK based Gallaher, doubling our size and adding 11,000 new employees.

Today we’re even bigger, with a diverse employee base driving our success all over the world. Our mission is to nurture our internationally recognized brand roster while leading the way in next generation products and new ways of doing business.

We are committed to making our business not only the fastest growing of its kind, but also the most responsible and sustainably run.

JTI at a glance counter section
120
Countries in which we operate
JTI at a glance counter section
40,000
Employees around the world
JTI at a glance counter section
100
Nationalities represented across our workforce

Our flagship brands

Nine world renowned brands make up the core of our brand portfolio. Each possesses its own distinct character and heritage, brought together under our unrivalled commitment to quality.

Find out more about our brands

Our next generation products

Part of being a sustainable business means creating, growing and innovating outside of our traditional tobacco products offering. Our innovative brands Ploom and Logic are at the forefront of the next generation tobacco products market.

Reduced risk - at a glance

We first entered the heated tobacco market in 2011 with the acquisition of Ploom. Using state of the art and smoke-free tobacco heating methods, Ploom is a major part of our vision for a future in which smokers and non-smokers can coexist in harmony.

Reduced risk - at a glance
Visit the Ploom website
Reduced risk - at a glance

We acquired Logic, an electronic vapor products company, in 2015. Already a market leader in the United States, Logic is growing rapidly as we aim to make it the number one brand of its kind globally.

Reduced risk - at a glance
Visit the Logic website
A young company with a rich heritage

We were created in 1999 when Japan Tobacco Inc purchased the non-US operations of R.J. Reynolds (RJRI) – yet we have roots in many of the most famous tobacco companies around the world, with a global heritage that can be traced back to the late 16th century

We think this makes us unique. We’re a forward-looking business but we also appreciate and are aware of our place in history. Our lineage encompasses Austria Tabak, founded by Emperor Joseph II in 1784, and Gallaher, which began life in Londonderry, Ireland in 1857. These are just two of the notable tobacco companies whose legacy we’re proud custodians of.

The acquisition of RJRI may have effectively created JTI, but our integration of Gallaher in 2007 doubled our size; the positive influence of the skills and experience of the personnel we’ve gained can’t be underestimated. We’ve also made sure we preserve the prestigious brands at the heart of every new acquisition: from the instantly recognizable qualities of Winston, to the additive-free, organic ingredients that Natural American Spirit is known for – the latest addition to our brand portfolio in 2016.

1898

In 1898, the Japanese government monopolized the exclusive sale of tobacco leaf. In the early 1900s that was extended to include all tobacco products and salt as well – ultimately leading to the formation of Japan Tobacco and Salt Corporation (JTS) in 1949, to help ensure stable supplies and tax revenues for the government.

1984

In 1984, legislation was passed that changed Japan’s monopolies and public corporations. The following year, the monopolies were abolished and our parent company JT was formed, taking over the business operations and assets of JTS.

1999

With ambitions to become a global company, JT was eager to both broaden the company’s brand portfolio and increase its spread of international markets. This led to the acquisition of several companies around the world, most notably RJRI in 1999 which would ultimately lead to the creation of JTI.

2007

At the time, the acquisition of RJRI was the largest overseas acquisition ever taken by a Japanese company… but in 2007 we broke our own record with the purchase of FTSE 100-listed Gallaher, for 9.4 billion GBP.

Our 2016 performance

2016 was our sixth consecutive year of double digit profit growth at constant currency, making us once again the fastest growing tobacco company in the world

At a glance counter
3,693
USD million adjusted operating profit
At a glance counter
+13.4 %
Year-on-year change at constant currency
At a glance counter
10,490
USD million in core revenue
At a glance counter
11 %
Reduction in CO₂ emissions in 2016 compared to 2009
At a glance counter
5 %
Reduction in energy consumption in 2016 compared to 2009
At a glance counter
11 %
Reduction in water consumption in 2016 compared to 2009

Our corporate strategy

We are proud of the growth we’ve achieved over our short existence as JTI. Our goal is to create a long term, sustainable future for our business, which we aim to achieve by:

Our Strategy - at a glance
Continuing to be the profit growth engine of the JT Group
More on how we work
Our Strategy - at a glance
Sharpening our focus on responsibility and credibility
More on our approach to sustainability
Our Strategy - at a glance
Building and nurturing our outstanding brands
More on our brands
Our Strategy - at a glance
Investing in our people as a cornerstone of our growth
More on working at JTI
Our Strategy - at a glance
Continuing to enhance our productivity
More on working at JTI
Our Strategy - at a glance
Find out more about how we work
More on how we work