Gallaher, 25% up in H1

British company Gallaher, one of the world’s leading players in the tobacco industry, has announced an increase of 25.6% in the volume of sales on the Romanian market in the first half, compared to figures registered in the same time last year. According to information from the group, Gallaher’s market share in Romania reached 3.4%, largely because of the positive results of its St George, Ronson and LD brands. Halfway through last year, the company’s market share stood at a mere 1.1%, whereas at the end of 2005, the local branch of the British producer reported a 3.2% share of the local market. The company has not revealed the volume or the value of sales on the Romanian market. Gallaher sells Saint George, LD, Smart, Ronson, State Line, Memphis, Sobranie and Hamlet brands on the local market. This spring, the company also launched the Sovereign cigarettes brand, positioned on the medium price segment, which currently accounts for over 50% of the total cigarettes market.