Embassy is a British brand of cigarettes, currently owned and manufactured by Imperial Tobacco.
History
Embassy was launched in 1914 by W.D. & H.O. Wills and was relaunched as a coupon brand in 1962. When the Embassy brand was created, as a rebranding of Strand, more effort was put into developing and launching it than any other previous cigarette brand. Embassy Filter was introduced in 1962 and was Britain's top-selling brand from 1964 until 1970, when it was overtaken by Player's No. 6. It had a 24% of the market in 1968. In 2001, Embassy No. 1 had a 3.1% share of the UK licit cigarette market, and an estimated 4.8% share of the illicit market. In 2004, Embassy accounted for 24% of the premium segment of the UK market. Two-time snooker world championAlex Higgins sued the makers of Embassy in 1999, claiming that the encouragement from the sponsors to smoke Embassy cigarettes, and the free cigarettes given to players, had contributed to his contracting throat cancer. Embassy's price of a packet of 20 cigarettes is currently £9.54 RRP. Embassy also has a sister brand, named Embassy Regal. In 2019, the Embassy Number 1 Red changed blend, the price has reduced, and the taste has changed. The Embassy Regal has remained the same. In April 2014, the last factory that still produced cigarettes in Nottingham, United Kingdom which also produced the Embassy cigarettes, was closed and production was moved to a foreign country such as Germany or Poland. In December 2014, Imperial Tobacco celebrated the 100 year existence of the Embassy brand. Rebecca Cottee, brand manager – factory manufactured cigarettes, at Imperial Tobacco said: "As one of our most iconic brands Embassy is and continues to be an intrinsic part of Imperial Tobacco’s heritage. For a brand like Embassy to survive for 100 years is a great achievement, particularly as the category has seen so many newcomers over the last 50 years. Premium priced cigarettes continue to be strong sellers within the category. It’s vital that independent retailers ensure constant availability of leading brands, such as Embassy, as many tobacco shoppers will leave a store and go elsewhere without making any purchase if their preferred brand is not available.". Various promotional material was made to sponsor Embassy cigarettes, such as magazine advertisements. A slogan used was "Inhale to your heart's content!"
Sponsorships
Formula 1
In 1973, Embassy became the title sponsor of the new Embassy Racing With Graham HillFormula Onemotor racing team, founded by two-time World ChampionGraham Hill. Hill was also the team's lead driver for its first two years, but Embassy Hill did not enjoy success, securing only three points-scoring finishes in three years of racing. In 1975, Hill, his driver Tony Brise and four other members of the team died in an aircraft accident. The team was closed afterwards. Embassy sponsored a private-entry Shadow Racing car for Graham Hill who ran his car under the Embassy Hill banner in 1973.
