Gallaher enjoys 15% surge in pre-tax profits

Tobacco company Gallaher, which makes Benson & Hedges cigarettes, today reported a 15% surge in pre-tax profits for last year and said 2003 was on track to meet market expectations.

The group, which also makes the Silk Cut brand and Hamlet cigars, said sales in the year to December 31 had risen by 42% to 152.7 billion cigarettes, driven by strong growth across international operations.