HB (cigarette)

HB is the brand name of cigarettes for British American Tobacco (BAT ), the world's second largest tobacco company. The name HB is derived from the name of the Dresden cigarette factory " mountain man ", which was bought in 1932 by BAT.

• 4.1 HB- male
• 4.2 Pressure works
• 4.3 Special Series on cigarette packs

Products

Under the brand label of " HB- family " the British American Tobacco Group today sells brands " Classic Blend " and " Aromatic Burley " the former Teer-/Kondensatwerte of 10 mg, nicotine has 0.8 mg and 10 mg carbon monoxide, temptation ( in the same order ), the values ​​6 mg, 0.5 mg and 7 mg. The brand " Classic Blend " was to acquire up to May 2009 as a standard pack of 17 cigarettes from vending machines and in retail outlets; since the summer of 2009 is the "small" packet from the vending machine in a standard size of 20 cigarettes in retail outlets with such of 19 cigarettes available. The other " Classic Blend " products ( Big pack with 24 cigarettes, 100 to May 2009, with 17 since 19 cigarettes and fine-cut tobacco than 40 g, 100 g or 170 g) are sold only through retail outlets. The latter also applies to the brand " Aromatic Burley ", which also just as a standard pack of 19 (up to May 2009: 17) cigarettes is sold.

Market share

Historical

In its year of origin, in 1955, the HB- cigarettes reached a market share of 0.4 %. This value was already increased to 5.6% in 1958 to 12.9% the following year. 1959 climbed the brand with a market share of 17 % for the first time the leading position among the German cigarette brands, which they could defend to 1984; 1975, HB- cigarettes even the best selling in Europe. Since 1985, the Marlboro rank undisputed number 1 of the German sales market.

Current situation

Today the HB- cigarettes family still belongs indeed to the most remote cigarette brands in Germany; but its market share dropped, for example, in the period from 2002 to 2007 from 4.7% to 3.5%. This development is partly related to the fact that the HB 's parent company BAT predominantly but not focused on international premium brands such as Lucky Strike or low price brands such as Pall Mall, in the advertising area on typical German as the HB- family. However, the HB- family is represented by its market share of 3.5 % remains in the top ten most sold cigarette brands in Germany.

History

HB- cigarettes were first placed on the market in 1955. The brand was advertised initially with the saying " A filter cigarette that tastes ". This was an innovation in the German market, on which could filter cigarettes at the time of introduction of HB- cigarettes just to achieve a market share of 7.2 %; by the introduction of HB, the process was significantly accelerated towards the filter cigarette. The HB- cigarettes spread quickly on the German market and were also due to their simplistic design, on which the brand still builds up (see picture) as a young and dynamic and thus attractive for young people.

Less for young and dynamic people as simple to profit there was British American Tobacco as it in the seventies, the international trade embargo against Rhodesia evaded and there HB brought to market. It was an investment that should pay off. Even in the mid nineties - Rhodesia had long been independent and was now called Zimbabwe - it was Marlboro not been able to place on the local market in the country, which was still dominated by HB.

Advertising and Marketing

HB- male

The HB- male is a cartoon character, with the BAT applied the HB- cigarettes. Bruno, the unofficial name of the HB- male, is one of the most well-known advertising figures in the history of German television advertising.

The advertising films in cinema and television with Bruno ran always according to the same scheme: There are everyday situations presented, in which always went wrong something that Bruno is terribly upset, with a strange speech raged ( it was Arabic, which is back with a double or, according to was the increasing excitement, played at a higher speed ) and literally " blew up ". The then following slogan - spoken from the off with soothing voice - was: "Stop, my friend! Who is going to go straight into the air? Griffins prefer to HB " and Bruno floated as" HB King " cheerful and relaxed back to the ground, accompanied by the voice:" Then everything goes by itself " The cigarette was thus promoted as a problem solver and relaxer, a concept that today many products applies.

Commercials with Bruno were produced from 1957 to 1984, after the ban on advertising cigarettes on TV (1974 ) but shown only in the movies. In the 1960s, it brought the HB- male on an awareness level of 96 % of the audience. At that time, HB was the most famous cigarette brand in Germany.

Creator of this character who was initially drawn even in black and white, was the animation director Roland potters.

Printing

In 1977, the series was justified " HB- image atlases ". The as " HB- Illustrated Atlas " published travel guide series in DIN A4 format dealt with destinations in Germany and around the world. The series has been operating since January 2010 new design as " dumont Illustrated Atlas ".

A nature magazine, edited the themed a countryside area from the European area in each band: From 1979 with outdoors (DM 6.50 Price 1979). It was discontinued in 1987.

1983 were added to the HB- art guide, in which several regions and artificial landscapes in Germany and Europe were presented in words and pictures. The series lasted until 1997.

All series appeared in the based on the name of the brand of cigarettes HB- publishing and distribution company in Hamburg.

Special series on cigarette packs

As the industry standard, published and appear in the HB brand from time to time non-standard design cigarette with special motives, which should make the customer curious and brand loyalty. So it was at the HB example, in the early 90 's, the "Undercover " special series, in which the cigarette packs were completely black, in 2004 the "Growing - Regions" special series, through which the consumer tobacco growing areas were presented as well as - suitable for European Football Championship 2008 - the "We are Party Land " series, for which the cigarette in the German national colors kept black-red- gold and with one of the sayings "We are Party Land ," "We are party country," "We are cheers country "or" We are pleasure land " were provided.

Swell

• Cigarette brand