Imperial Tobacco’s NZ arm lifts export sales to Australia; Philip Morris NZ boosts revenue

Imperial Tobacco’s NZ arm lifts export sales to Australia; Philip Morris NZ boosts revenue
By Suze Metherell April 15 (BusinessDesk) – Imperial Tobacco New Zealand, the nation’s second largest cigarette company, boosted annual sales after expanding its Wellington factory to supply the Australian market and taking on a 10 percent excise tax hike. Sales at the local arm of Imperial Tobacco, whose brands include Peter Jackson and Drum loose tobacco, rose 9.6 percent to $432 million in the year ended Sept. 30, according to the company’s annual report. Profit fell 12 percent to $19.8 million. Imperial has spent $50 million to increase...