1 of 6
Acetate filter production at Filtrona Filter GmbH in Hamburg, 1960. Photo credit: Filtrona
2 of 6
Hertz Flavors’ first factory outside of Germany opened in Indonesia in November 2022. Photo credit: Hertz Flavors
3 of 6
JTI headquarters in Geneva, 2005. Photo credit: JTI
4 of 6
The original Dibrell Bros. factory, circa 1870s. Photo credit: Pyxus
5 of 6
Erected during the Japanese occupation period in 1912, this beautiful neo-renaissance style building serves as TTL’s head office to this day. Photo credit: TTL
6 of 6
Hertz & Selck staff posing for a group photo, Hamburg, 1949. Photo credit: Hertz & Selck
Anniversaries are not only cause for celebration but also reflect the industry’s resilience.
Regardless of industry, companies are rightfully proud when they reach milestone anniversaries. After all, these markers go to show that the firm in question is on the correct track, has earned respect within the business community, and perhaps has even attained the coveted status of industry leader. The tobacco sector is no different. Some companies may come and go, but there always will also be those that through expertise, product quality, and outstanding services persist for decades, sometimes even a century and longer. This article pays tribute to select companies that are celebrating this year, but to demonstrate that longevity is a rule rather than an exception in the tobacco industry, we also take a little outlook into the future by including some outfits that are gearing up for their very own milestones in the next couple of years.
2024
Filtrona - 170 years of excellence
Incredibly, Filtrona, today regarded as one of the leading and most innovative specialty filter manufacturers on the planet, had very humble beginnings. The globe-spanning business was founded in 1854 under the name “Bunzl” as a modest single-shop haberdashery in Bratislava, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. By the 1920s, Bunzl had expanded considerably. As the decade drew to a close, it added filters of all sorts to its trading portfolio. A dedicated filter production facility was eventually opened in Jarrow, UK, in 1948. By the 1950s, the company had established a presence in the US, with Asia following in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1979, the company adopted the name Filtrona. However, in order to better reflect its diversification into industrial components, including tapes, the firm in 2013 decided to rebrand as Essentra PLC. In November 2022, the successful filters and tapes divisions were acquired by a new owner, Centaury Management Ltd., who decided to revert to the Filtrona name. Today, Filtrona operates 11 manufacturing plants around the world, 3 innovation centers, 1 accredited laboratory, as well as the “Center of Excellence,” which is focused on sustainability.
“Filtrona has come a long way, thanks to the trust of our customers whom we have been supporting with our special filter solutions. Our rich heritage is synonymous with quality, reliability, innovation, and partnership. … As an innovator leading the industry to change, we are excited about the future and will continue to drive sustainable transformations and support our customers to become future-ready.”
– Robert Pye, c.e.o., Filtrona
Hertz Flavors and FLAVORIQ - Turning 70 and 10, a dual anniversary
It was in 1954 that Alfred N. Hertz founded his company – today’s Hertz Flavors - in Hamburg, Germany, with the ambition to support clients with tailor-made taste solutions. Quickly gaining its customers’ trust, the company embarked on an international expansion drive in 1980 under Christian Hertz, Alfred’s son and successor. With the original Hamburg factory reaching capacity, a second facility was built in 2000 in the nearby town of Reinbek. Joining the company in 2013, Christian’s son Philipp Hertz recognized a need for diversifying into e-flavors, e-liquids, and new generation products (NGP). As a result, FLAVORIQ was founded only a year later in Dubai, UAE.
To keep up with demand and improve services for international customers, Hertz Flavors in 2017 constructed its very first overseas production facility in Surabaya, Indonesia. In 2023, Hertz Flavors and FLAVORIQ were consolidated under a new holding entity, Arethia Group. Business activities were expanded into the f&b sector as well by adding a brand and product division, Senovia, managed out of Zürich, Switzerland. Simultaneously, an innovation center was inaugurated in Dubai, while construction of a brand-new state-of-the-art facility as Arethia’s future headquarters is slated for completion in 2025. The company has consistently grown at 10% p.a. for the past decade, with its 3 factories having a combined annual capacity of over 3.000 tons of flavor products, supplying more than 70 countries.
“As we celebrate Hertz Flavors’ 70th anniversary and FLAVORIQ’s 10th, I am proud of our team’s relentless commitment to excellence. These milestones reflect our past successes and set a firm foundation for our future ambitions. The trust of our customers and our long-standing partnerships have been essential in establishing us as industry leaders in flavor creation. Our rich heritage, spanning seven decades and three Hertz family generations, has driven us to… redefine industry standards. As we look forward, our culture of innovation and collaboration will continue to drive our growth and keep us at the forefront of the industry.”
– Philipp Hertz, managing director, Hertz Flavors & FLAVORIQ
Japan Tobacco International - 25 years of bringing Japanese business acumen to the world
In 1999, amidst an increasingly difficult environment at home, Japan Tobacco (JT) expanded its international tobacco business by acquiring the non-US tobacco business of RJR Nabisco Inc., which effectively marked the establishment of Japan Tobacco International (JTI). In the ensuing quarter of a century, Geneva-headquartered JTI in fast succession acquired numerous further tobacco companies and brands around the world, including the US$15 billion acquisition of Gallaher, an FTSE 100 tobacco business, in 2007. Subsequent expansions included Gryson NV, a Belgium fine-cut maker, in 2012; Al Nakhla Tobacco Company S.A.E. (Egypt, 2013); the Natural American Spirit business outside the US (2016); Mighty Corporation (Philippines, 2017); and the tobacco business of the Akij Group (Bangladesh, 2018), just to mention a few. In 2009, JTI embarked on vertical internationalization into the tobacco leaf supply chain by establishing JTI Leaf Services for the procurement and processing of US leaf tobacco and acquiring tobacco leaf operations in Africa and Brazil. In 2015, JTI acquired Logic, a leading US e-cigarette brand, along with the intellectual property rights for the Ploom tobacco vaporization device. Thanks to its careful and sensible expansion strategy, JTI firmly has cemented its place among the world’s five largest tobacco companies. This solid footing was augmented in 2022, when parent company JT combined the domestic and international tobacco businesses under one operating model.
“JTI’s 25-year history is a story of growth, fueled by our commitment to put adult consumers at the heart of everything we do. Since 1999, we have expanded our global footprint, refined our tobacco business model, and strengthened brands like Winston – which also is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year –so that today our products are available in over 130 markets worldwide. Our progress is the result of successfully blending Japan Tobacco’s rich heritage with a razor-sharp focus on innovation and operational excellence. But our story does not end here. By creating fulfilling moments for our consumers, supporting the needs of our 46,000 employees, and embracing sustainable environmental and social change, we are determined to shape a better future for all.”
– Lucine Ovumyan, senior vice-president of corporate affairs and communications. JTI.
2025
Alliance One International - Supplying the world’s best leaf for 20 years
Renowned leaf supplier Alliance One International (AOI) may be turning “only” 20 years in 2025, but the company’s roots actually reach back to 1873, when the Dibrell brothers founded a merchandising firm in the US. In 1995, Dibrell Brothers Inc. merged with Monk-Austin to form DIMON. As 2005 tagged along, DIMON itself merged with Standard Commercial, marking the birthday of present-day AOI. Over the ensuing years, the company continuously developed and updated its operations, including, in 2011, the introduction of a grower management system (GMS) that allowed the firm to trace its tobaccos from seed to market-ready product; and, in 2012, the launch of its agricultural labor practices program. The year 2018 saw the company changing its corporate name from Alliance One International, Inc. to Pyxus International, Inc., while expanding into new business categories, including e-liquids. Just one year later, AOI globalized its r&d center in Passo do Sobrado, Brazil, while in 2021 Alliance One Turkey was founded as a hub for oriental leaf research. The year 2024 brought on two important development milestones, with AOI North America entering into an agreement with RJR to manage its recon sheet facility in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, plus AOI opening its seed industrialization unit at its Passo do Sobrado r&d center.
“As I reflect on the formation and history of Alliance One, … we brought together two companies and their cultures to create a new culture, environment and group of people that has persevered for almost 20 years, … [with a] dedication towards [forging] strong customer relationships, identifying and executing solutions for our stakeholders and enthusiastically pursuing opportunities. … Going forward, I have no doubt that our next generation of employees will build upon that foundation, driving us forward as they continue to define success for years to come.”
– Pieter Sikkel, c.e.o., Pyxus International, Inc.
Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corporation - Still going strong after almost 130 years
Few national tobacco companies can look back at a history as turbulent as that of today’s Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corporation (TTL). When Japan annexed the island of Formosa (modern Taiwan) in 1895 following the First Sino-Japanese War, a monopoly on opium, salt, and camphor was established. Tobacco was added to the list in 1905, liquor in 1922, matches in 1942 and, finally, petroleum in 1943. After the island’s return to China in 1945, the Taiwan Provincial Monopoly Bureau was founded, with the number of monopolized goods being reduced to four: tobacco, liquor, camphor, and matches. In 1947, this was further reduced to tobacco, liquor, and camphor under the newly reformed Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Monopoly, with camphor eventually being removed from the list in 1968. Yet another reorganization into the Taiwan Tobacco and Wine Board took place in January 1988. As the millennium drew to a close, the government decided to abolish the monopoly for tobacco and liquor products, liberalizing the market for both. The Board was privatized and its name changed to Taiwan Tobacco & Liquor Corporation on July 1, 2002. Although TTL faced increasingly strong competition following the domestic market liberalization, it has admirably stood its ground, not only providing high quality products and services at home but also having successfully strengthened its overseas presence.
“Driven by quality, profitability and sustainability along-side prioritizing environmental protection and social responsibility, we proudly retain the esteemed position as the largest and most historical tobacco production and marketing company in Taiwan. We have not only served as a cornerstone of the nation’s economy but have also shouldered the responsibility of promoting government policies. … Looking ahead, we remain committed to excellence, innovation, and meeting evolving consumer needs, both domestically and abroad. As we deepen our roots in Taiwan and expand globally, we’re poised for continued success in the years to come.”
– Karen Yang, vice president, Taiwan Tobacco & Liquor Corporation
2026
Hertz & Selck - Nearly 95 years of people-focused products and services
It was the year 1931 when Hamburg natives Alfred Hertz and Carl Selck partnered and laid the foundation for one of today’s leading tobacco flavor suppliers, though initially their company traded in volatile oils, fruit concentrates, and dried fruits for the food industry. It wasn’t until 1957, under the leadership of Alfred Hertz’s grandnephew and successor Günther Hertz, when, owing to a boom in American blend cigarettes, tobacco flavors were added to the portfolio. By 1966, tobacco flavors accounted for a staggering 90% of Hertz & Selck’s annual turnover, though the company also continued supplying other industries as well. Business was good. So good in fact that Hertz & Selck moved into a considerably larger production facility and administrative office in 2012, which also greatly increased production capacity. After all, the still family-owned business had matured into one of the most successful suppliers of premium aromas and flavors worldwide, catering to 300 clients and exporting to more than 60 countries. The firm’s 90th anniversary in 2021 saw the introduction of a new company logo and corporate identity, positioned to highlight Hertz & Selck’s internationality. In 2001, Günther Hertz’s son (and, thus, company co-founder Alfred Hertz’s great-grandnephew) Jan Hertz took over the business from his father. Retiring in 2023, he handed the reins to Bianca Hinrichsen, making her Hertz & Selck’s very first female managing director.
“We take pride that in our more than 90 years (and going on 100), people always have been at the center of everything we do, both in terms of interactions within the team as well as in curating our clients. It’s a guiding principle that has accompanied us throughout our company history, and which we shall continue to value highly in the years to come.”
– Bianca Hinrichsen, managing director, Hertz & Selck GmbH & Co.