The first victim of the british anti-tobacco law is a legendary low profile cigar. The factory that has been making Hamlet cigars for 100 years is to close. Hamlet cigars won iconic status with their adverts carrying the slogan “Happiness is a cigar called Hamlet”, The theme was: All your troubles will be forgotten with a Hamlet.
Japan Tobacco – which bought the company from Gallaher in April – said its Cardiff factory would shut in September 2009, with the loss of nearly 200 jobs. Its owners say cigar sales have been falling for some time, and the smoking ban has speeded up the decline. A spokesman blamed a 50% reduction in sales since 1999 for the closure.
Japan Tobacco is the world’s third-largest cigarette maker, is 50% owned by the Japanese government.
