Imperial Tobacco, the owner of the John Player, Golden Virginia and Davidoff tobacco brands, among others, is reportedly set to rename itself Imperial Brands, according to reports.
The Guardian reports that the company will change its name next year, fuelling speculation that it is looking to diversify outside of tobacco products.
As well as tobacco, Imperial Tobacco has a logistics business, Logista, and an e-cigarette operation.
“Imperial Brands better reflects the dynamic, brand-focused business that we are now," the company said in a statement.
“Our business is built around great consumer brands. Our growth and specialist brands are the key assets in our portfolio, and we continue to focus on building the contribution they make to our volume and revenue development."
It added that "physical changes will be minimal and largely confined to our Bristol head office and corporate website. There will not be a global rebranding.”
© 2015 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. To subscribe to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine, click here.
