BAT Invests in New Categories Amid Declining Tobacco Sales

Dec.09.2022
BAT Invests in New Categories Amid Declining Tobacco Sales
BAT, one of the world's largest tobacco suppliers, is increasing investment in new products such as e-cigarettes.

British American Tobacco (BAT) is one of the world's largest cigarette suppliers, and with the decline of the tobacco industry, it has doubled its investments in new product categories like e-cigarettes.


The revenue of this London-based publicly traded company has grown in the past few months, despite the fact that the public in Europe and the United States tend to quit smoking.


The COVID-19 pandemic on both sides of the Atlantic has accelerated the shift towards quitting smoking. The bosses of major tobacco companies, known as BAT, now expect global tobacco sales to remain at around 2% for the entire year.


The company stated that they had initially believed that sales would continue to decline, but the resurgence of Covid-19 in emerging markets has resulted in an increase in tobacco sales.


The company stated that the revenue growth for British American Tobacco in the second quarter is between 2% and 4%, as they did not disclose a specific number prior to the upcoming financial update.


The CEO, Jack Bowles, stated that the company will continue investing in its new category as they seek to reduce operational losses.


We anticipate an increase in contributions from all new categories and regions by 2022. We have confidence in achieving our target of £5 billion in revenue and profit by 2025," he stated in a release.


In the US, industry sales are still facing pressure due to sustained macroeconomic factors and the post-Covid normalization of consumer patterns. To offset early signs of accelerated industry price cuts in the second half of the year, we recently initiated a commercial plan across specific brands, channels, and states.


Despite the increasing inflation rate in our supply chain, we anticipate a strong improvement in our adjusted operating profit margin. This will be achieved through robust pricing, the scale of our brand, and increasingly focused marketing investments. By the end of 2022, our three-year Quantum program is expected to save over £1.5 billion in costs annually.


2FIRSTS will continue to provide coverage on this topic, with further updates available on the 2FIRSTS APP. Scan the QR code below to download the app.


This document has been generated through artificial intelligence translation and is provided solely for the purposes of industry discourse and learning. Please note that the intellectual property rights of the content belong to the original media source or author. Owing to certain limitations in the translation process, there may be discrepancies between the translated text and the original content. We recommend referring to the original source for complete accuracy. In case of any inaccuracies, we invite you to reach out to us with corrections. If you believe any content has infringed upon your rights, please contact us immediately for its removal.

Michigan Governor budget to seek major tax hikes on tobacco, vaping and gaming to address Medicaid gap
Michigan Governor budget to seek major tax hikes on tobacco, vaping and gaming to address Medicaid gap
Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget includes significant tax hikes on tobacco and gaming to address a projected $1.8 billion shortfall in Michigan’s Medicaid funding, the report said. The plan calls for raising the per-pack cigarette tax from $2 to $3 and increasing the wholesale tax on other tobacco products from 32% to 57%.
Feb.12 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Fourth Circuit weighs federal preemption challenge to North Carolina’s vape sales restrictions
Fourth Circuit weighs federal preemption challenge to North Carolina’s vape sales restrictions
Vape manufacturers and sellers urged the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit to find that the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) preempts North Carolina’s new law restricting the sale of certain e-cigarette/ENDS products.
Feb.03 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Oklahoma DOC to allow inmates to buy nicotine vapes and pouches in 2026
Oklahoma DOC to allow inmates to buy nicotine vapes and pouches in 2026
Oklahoma’s Department of Corrections says it will begin allowing inmates to buy single-use nicotine vapes and nicotine pouches through prison canteens in 2026, framing the move as a strategy to reduce contraband-driven debts and prison violence. Officials say inmates will be barred from using personal nicotine products, the devices will be disposable and non-cartridge-based, and the program will be self-funded through inmate purchases rather than taxpayer money.
Feb.05 by 2FIRSTS.ai
NASCAR adds nicotine pouch sponsor Grizzly as official partner; zone renews RCR deal for 2026
NASCAR adds nicotine pouch sponsor Grizzly as official partner; zone renews RCR deal for 2026
NASCAR Holdings has struck a partnership with Grizzly, a nicotine pouch brand under Reynolds American, making it an official sponsor across NASCAR and its track portfolio, with financial terms undisclosed. Separately, zone, a nicotine pouch brand owned by Imperial Brands’ U.S. subsidiary ITG Brands, renewed its relationship with Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and will continue sponsoring Kyle Busch’s No. 8 car during the 2026 season.
Jan.26
Philip Morris Japan Launches New TEREA “Stellar Pearl,” Featuring Mint and Yellow Citrus Notes
Philip Morris Japan Launches New TEREA “Stellar Pearl,” Featuring Mint and Yellow Citrus Notes
Philip Morris Japan announced the launch of a new TEREA heated tobacco stick for the IQOS ILUMA series, “TEREA Stellar Pearl,” featuring a crushable capsule mint profile. The product will go on sale in Japan through offline retail channels from Jan. 19 and will be rolled out on the company’s official e-commerce store from Jan. 29, priced at 580 yen (about $3.6) per pack.
Jan.14 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Five Inner West Sydney shops shut for 90 days after 780,000 illicit cigarettes and 2,200 illegal vapes seized
Five Inner West Sydney shops shut for 90 days after 780,000 illicit cigarettes and 2,200 illegal vapes seized
NSW Health has shut down five Inner West Sydney stores for 90 days after a major seizure of illicit cigarettes and illegal vapes, with two additional premises in Northern NSW also served closure notices. The action forms part of a broader crackdown that has seen 66 stores closed since new laws took effect in late 2025, with NSW Health warning further enforcement — including prosecution — may follow.
Feb.09 by 2FIRSTS.ai