British american tobacco

Background/aim: Argentina has one of the highest cigarette smoking rates among both men and women in the Americas and no legislated restrictions on tobacco industry advertising. The tobacco industry has traditionally expanded markets by targeting adolescents and young adults. The objective of this study was to determine whether and how the tobacco industry promotes cigarettes to adolescents in Argentina. Methods: We conducted a systematic search of tobacco industry documents available through the internet dated between 1995 and 2004 using standard search terms to identify marketing strategies in Argentina. A selected review of the four leading newspapers and nine magazines with reported high readership among adolescents was completed. The selected print media were searched for tobacco images and these were classified as advertisements if associated with a commercial product or as a story if not. Results: The tobacco industry used market segmentation as a strategy to target Argentinean consumers. British American Tobacco (BAT) undertook a young adult psychographic study and classified them as ‘‘progressives’’, ‘‘Jurassics’’ or ‘‘conservatives’’ and ‘‘crudos’’ or ‘‘spoiled brats’’. BAT marketed Lucky Strike to the ‘‘progressives’’ using Hollywood movies as a vehicle. The tobacco industry also targeted their national brands to the conservatives and linked these brands with ‘‘nationalistic values’’ in advertising campaigns. Philip Morris promoted Marlboro by sponsoring activities directed at young people and they launched the 10 cigarettes packet as a starter vehicle. Conclusions: The tobacco industry used psychographic segmentation of the population and developed advertising strategies focused on youth. Tobacco control researchers and advocates must be able to address these strategies in counter-marketing interventions.

A BAT Brasil , ex-Souza Cruz, está focada em “Construir um Amanhã Melhor”, reduzindo o impacto do seu negócio na saúde brasileira. Para a tarefa, a empresa avança com a contratação de uma nova CEO. No comando, a executiva vai prosseguir com uma estratégia voltada para a regulamentação de novas categorias de produtos e a inovação tecnológica da operação. 

O que a história de Igor Pontarolo, vice-prefeito da pequena Guamiranga (PR), revela sobre as mudanças na relação de compra e venda das folhas de tabaco no Brasil. Um mar de folhas verdes, até onde a vista alcança, retrata bem a lavoura da família Pontarolo. Ela destoa das plantações tradicionais, que normalmente ocupam propriedades rurais pequenas localizadas em terrenos acidentados. Segundo o vice-prefeito, sua plantação teria cerca 1,6 milhão de pés de fumo – o que, se for verdade, a transformaria em uma das maiores da região; quem sabe, até do país.  

Documento com a relação do TOP 10 de interferência da indústria do tabaco.