1847
Philip Morris a tobacconist and importer of fine cigars opened a shop on Bond St. in London, England; by 1854 Philip Morris sold
cigarettes. In 1902 the company was incorporated in New York City.
1908
PM trademarked Marlboro Cigarettes; in 1924 PM marketed the Marlboro brand as a women’s cigarette, “mild as May.”
1929
In order to manufacture their own cigarettes, PM purchased a factory in Richmond, Virginia.
1932
PM hired little Johnny Roventini to play the role of
the bell hop; his “Call for Philip Moreees” was an instant advertising and
public relations hit.
1950
Phillip Morris cigarettes sponsored the I Love Lucy show, which debuted the King size version of the brand
Philip Morris.
1954
Pm acquired Benson & Hedges ,the maker of filter-tipParliament cigarettes, an exclusive brand from New York
City.
1954
PM repositioned the Marlboro brand as a men's cigarette.
1966
PM released 100mm Benson & Hedges brand, which relied heavily on television advertising, using a humorous theme and a snappy jingle.
1967
PM restructured the company, creating Philip Morris Incorporated with three operating
companies: Philip Morris Domestic, Philip Morris International and Philip Morris Industrial.
The following year Philip Morris Domestic changed to Philip Morris U.S.A.
1968
PM introduced Virginia Slims, the first women’s brand that made its mark by
sponsoring tennis tournaments for ladies with the celebrity endorsement of the great Billie
Jean King.
1970
PM acquired Miller Brewing Company.
1972
PM introduced Marlboro Lights to capitalize on the growing segment of smokers concerned about
their health.
1976
PM invested a small fortune in the premier of the Merit brand, the first single digit tar cigarette at 9mg per cigarette. And in 1980 PM
introduced Cambridge cigarettes as a very low tar and nicotine cigarette.
1985
PM acquired General Foods. In 1988 PM purchased Kraft Foods, merged Kraft with General Foods, creating a new holding
company called Kraft General Foods, Inc., which eventually was renamed Kraft foods, Inc. in 1995.
1988
PM marketed a de-nicotined cigarette called Next before cancelling the project in 1992.
1993
PM lowered the price of Marlboros to compete against the growing segment of low cost cigarettes, changing the price
structure of the industry.
2000
PM acquired Nabisco Holding and merged it with Kraft Foods, Inc.
2003
PM changed its name to Altria Group, Inc. with Philip Morris U.S.A. and Philip Morris International as subsidiaries to make
and distribute cigarettes.
2007
Altria spun off its shares of Kraft Foods and Philip Morris International. By December Altria acquired
John Middleton Cigars. In 2009 Altria purchased US Smokeless Tobacco,
including the subsidiary of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates.
2010
Pm released Marlboro Snus, a smokeless, spitlesstobacco in the U.S.A.
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