Reemtsma

Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH is one of the biggest tobacco and cigarette producers in Europe and a subsidiary of Imperial Tobacco. The company's headquarters is in Hamburg, Germany.

History

Reemtsma was created in 1910 in Erfurt, Germany. In 1918, the production was automated. In 1921, the trade mark "R6" was introduced in the market. In 1923, production was moved to Altona, now part of the city of Hamburg, where Reemtsma's main headquarters still are today. In 1930, Reemtsma took over the Berlin-based Problem Cigarettes.

During the National Socialist time the company prospered despite the official anti-tobacco policy of the Nazis. In 1937, the company reported 60% of market share in Nazi Germany. In 1939, Philipp F. Reemtsma was promoted leader of the Fachuntergruppe Zigarettenindustrie part of the National Socialist economy and known as Wehrwirtschaftsführer from Göring.

After the war, Reemtsma was re-instated as a successful business, as it was before the Nazi period.

In 1980, the German coffee producing company Tchibo bought the majority of Reemtsma. The shares were sold in 2002 to Imperial Tobacco.