Our UK History
JTI acquired Gallaher Limited in 2007, but before that Gallaher has a rich history and journey through the tobacco industry.
The Early Days
1840 – Birth of Tom Gallaher on 27th April at Templemoyle near Londonderry
1857 – Gallaher begins selling tobacco in 7 Sackville Street, Londonderry
In 1857 he set up a one-man business spinning tobacco and selling it from a cart.
1863 – Gallaher moves to premises in Hercules Street, Belfast
By 1863 the company was growing fast, so Gallaher moved to larger premises in Belfast. Gallaher started buying is own tobacco leaf through annual trips to America; his sharp business mind and big personality soon saw him dubbed at the ‘tobacco king.’
1881 – Premises open in York Street, Belfast
This factory was once the heart of the Gallaher empire and by 1896 it was the largest cigarette factory in the world.
1888 – First London premises open at 60 Holborn Viaduct
1896 – Gallaher Limited is formed
1902 – First machine-made cigarettes are produced
1927 – Death of Tom Gallaher on 3rd May, aged 87
The Growth
1941 – Blitz in Belfast! Prompts the move of production to Lisnafillan, Ballymena
1964 – New premises at Henry Street. Opened by Captain Terrence O’Neill, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland.
1986 – The closure of the Belfast factory announced
1999 – Lisnafillan becomes the sole Gallaher UK cigarette factory
21st Century
2007 – Gallaher becomes a subsidiary of Japan Tobacco International (JTI).
2014/15 – JTI UK acquires e-cigarette brands E-Lites and Logic
2016 – Opening of our Research and Development Facility in Weybridge, Surrey
2017 - Lisnafillan factory closes and operation moves to Gostków, Poland.
2019 - Today the UK is one of JTI’s top five markets, and we sell some of the nation’s best-known brands
