ND1130116

Title: Imperial Tobacco Group Announces Commonwealth-Altadis Inc.

Description: The new company strengthens its competitive position with a total tobacco focus and a larger sales force.

Page Content:

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. ? Altadis U.S.A. Inc. and Commonwealth Brands Inc., both owned by Imperial Tobacco Group PLC, have come together to create a new sales and distribution company called Commonwealth-Altadis Inc. (CAI), offering consumers and customers a high quality range of brands and products.

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?Commonwealth-Altadis Inc. brings the outstanding sales and marketing teams of Altadis and Commonwealth together to provide greater sales coverage, a larger portfolio of products and a more comprehensive service to our customers,? said Graham Bolt, regional director Americas, in a press release.

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?The combination strengthens our competitive position and enables us to apply our total tobacco focus to our sales expansion strategy. Total tobacco means expertise across tobacco categories at a range of price points, providing unrivalled choice for consumers and customers. Our enhanced total tobacco portfolio includes great cigarette, cigar and fine cut tobacco brands and we?re very excited about driving the growth of our brands and products through a larger, integrated sales team,? he said.

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The relocation of Commonwealth?s Kentucky operations to Fort Lauderdale is already in process. The company?s Fort Lauderdale offices will be enlarged to house its headquarters, and sales and marketing management teams. Strategic resources from the two companies will be integrated to enhance Commonwealth-Altadis?s capabilities, support continued growth, and streamline processes to better service customers and retail partners.

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Paul Matthews, Head of Sales and Russ Mancuso, Head of National Accounts, will provide day-to-day leadership to the company?s sales operations. Together, they will lead a Commonwealth-Altadis combined sales force of more than 750. Signature brands sold by Commonwealth-Altadis include USA Gold, Fortuna and Sonoma cigarettes, Phillies, Dutch Masters, and Backwoods and White Cat cigars.?

Content Subject: Corporate

Formatted Article Date: November 30, 2011

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