Tobacco company Imperial to close cigar factory

Imperial Tobacco announced plans today to close its cigar factory in Bristol, England and cut 285 jobs from its UK business.

The company, which has made tobacco products in Bristol since 1901, will transfer cigar production to Spain with the loss of 75 jobs. Its Nottingham plant, which produces cigarettes for the UK and Irish markets, will be restructured with the loss of 210 jobs.

Across Europe it is cutting 2,440 jobs as part of a restructuring following the £10bn (€12.7bn) acquisition of Altadis, the Franco-Spanish tobacco company.

The overhaul, which will be implemented over the next three years, will result in the closure of six factories within its portfolio of 58 sites.

Imperial Tobacco, the world’s fourth largest tobacco company, employs 1,700 people in the UK. It said it would keep its headquarters in Bristol, with a reorganisation of central support functions set to create 25 jobs.