Memphis (cigarette)

Memphis was launched on the 1st of March 1897 by the KAISERLICH KÖNIGLICHE TABAK-REGIE. There has always been confusion about the date of establishment of the brand. From the 1980s until 2003 you can find various documents from Austria Tabak where they declare the introduction year of Memphis with 1897, but in 2005 they launched a new line called Memphis 1896 - and from there on they print "Since 1896" on the Memphis packs.[2] Austria Tabak can trace its roots back to 1784, the year that the tobacco monopoly "Osterreichische Tabakregie" was formed.[3] The name symbolized the origin of the tobaccos used from Egypt. Since 1989, the brand has been the market leader in Austria. However, Altria's Marlboro became the most popular brand in Austria, beating Memphis and Austria Tabak with a market share of 35.5 percent versus 34.5 percent. In 2000, about one third of all the smoked cigarettes in Austria was one of the Memphis variety. In 2010, Austria Tabak with Memphis only had a share of 14.2 percent.[1]

In 2011, the Austria Tabak factory in Hainburg an der Donau closed its doors as the production was moved in a foreign country. The reason for this, is because the number of smokers had declined over the years and smuggling, production costs and ancillary wage costs had increased.[1]

Various advertising posters were made to promote Memphis cigarettes throughout the 20th, as well as the 21st century.[2][4]

Memphis is mainly sold in Austria, but also is or was sold in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Hungary, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Greece, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Russia, China, Philippines and Paraguay.[3][2]

• Cigarette
• Tobacco smoking