LONDON, October 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
In a video interview with financial broadcaster
http://www.cantos.com, Imperial Tobacco Chief Executive
Alison Cooper discusses the
company's full-year results, revealing that revenues grew by 4% for
the year. She highlights the strength of performance from the four
key strategic brands - Davidoff, Gauloises, JPS and West -
with revenues up 13% on the back of 7% volume growth.
While she acknowledges the EU market is 'tough', the current
environment presents an opportunity for Imperial Tobacco.
"If I take Spain as an example,
we grew profits by 6% this year. That is absolutely about
getting the consumer understanding right, applying that
understanding in cigarettes, in fine cut and cigar, where we're
growing share, and combined with our pricing strategies and our
customer engagement that's really what's supporting the growth in
that market and realising opportunities in other EU markets in 2012
and looking forward."
She also engages with the regulation issue and underlines that
there is sometimes a disconnect between perception and reality.
"If you take something like display bans, over the last decade
only two markets a year have actually introduced a display ban
across the globe. If you then look at plain packaging, where
the legislative hurdles are a lot higher, that's going to be a lot
slower in terms of its progress globally."
Looking forward she reiterates the company's focus on its
strategy and commitment to growth.
In an accompanying interview Robert Dyrbus, Finance Director,
gives some detail around the impairment charge which was announced
in the results, gives an update on the net debt situation and
reiterates Imperial Tobacco's commitment to shareholder
returns.
The interview and transcript are available now at
http://bit.ly/TSd9uq.
MerchantCantos produces in-depth interviews, documentaries and
webcasts with senior company executives. If you would like to
contact us, please email prnsupport@merchantcantos.com or phone
44-207-936-1352.
SOURCE Imperial Tobacco PLC