British American Tobacco (BAT) is one of the companies developing production in Poland. In the last years, it has already shifted to its Augustow plant production from plants being closed in Belgium and the UK. That’s not all.
“Production in Dutch Zevenaar is being closed. Our Augustow plant will mainly take it over. That’s why we are going to invest several dozens million euros there”, Krzysztof Andruszkiewicz representing BAT Polska said.
Augustow facility has been chosen one of two strategic production centers in the European Union (the other one is located in Germany).
Altadis, another cigarette producer, sells 50 percent of its capacity abroad. “PB” has learnt in the town hall in Radom that Altadis has recently applied for documents to build a plant. It has not filed an application to receive building permit, though. The company does not confirm the plans to develop its Radom facility. The decision will most probably depend on the potential acquisition of Altadis by Imperial Tobacco. An offer was submitted two weeks ago. Both companies have their plants in Warsaw. Mariola Krzyzaniak, the spokeswoman of the Polish unit of Imperial, said that the company sells 40 percent of its production abroad.
Philip Morris, Poland’s biggest tobacco producer, exports only 20 percent of its production. It will probably change soon as the Krakow plant of the company is one of the most modern in Europe.