Benson & Hedges cigarettes are a British cigarette brand owned by the American conglomerate Altria. Benson & Hedges cigarettes are manufactured worldwide by various companies such as Rothmans, Benson Hedges, Phillip Morris USA, British American Tobacco, or Japan Tobacco, depending on the region. In the UK they are registered at Old Bond Street in London and were made in Lisnafillan, Ballymena, Northern Ireland before production was moved to Eastern Europe. in 2017. They are predominantly made from Virginia tobacco.
In some countries where Philip Morris does not own the Benson & Hedges cigarettes, such as the Philippines, a cigarette variant of the North American Benson Hedges brand is sold under the Philip Morris brand using similar packaging.
Benson Hedges was founded in London in 1873 by Richard Benson and William Hedges when Benson and Hedges Ltd. Alfred Paget Hedges succeeded his father in business in 1885. The same year that Richard Benson left the business. Branches of Benson Hedges Ltd opened in the 1900s. in the USA and Canada. In 1928, the American branch became independent and was bought by Philip Morris in 1958. Benson Hedges Ltd in the UK was acquired by the Gallaher Group in 1955.
A was issued a royal warrant to a British company in 1878, after a required five years of supply for the royal family. This brand of Benson & Hedges cigarettes was preferred by King George VI, who became famous for his heavy smoking. The Royal Warrant was canceled in 1999 due to “lack of demand in royal houses”. The warrant seal, which used to be on the box’s hinged lid, has been removed.
Australian Touring Car Championship. Benson Hedges sponsored Tony Longhurst’s team in the 1980s and early 1990s in Australian Touring Car Racing.
Benson & Hedges cigarettes were a major sponsor of iD Dunedin Fashion Week in New Zealand from the 1940s to 1995. Prior to this, however, Benson Hedges had sponsored fashion week by giving away tickets in a package resembling a golden cigarette box, encouraging women to smoke their brand on the runway, and allowing women to choose from a variety of novelties and cigarettes accessories.