West (cigarette)

File:West brand.jpg

West cigarettes

West is a German tobacco brand owned by the British company Imperial Tobacco.

The cigarettes are available in most European Union countries except the UK and Ireland. The brand is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.

History

West was introduced to the German market in 1981 and was only available in tobacco goods shops. It was introduced with advertising stating West was a "quality marque at a fair price" on the German market. Since approximately 1987 West became available in supermarkets and cigarette vending machines. West is the second-strongest cigarette brand in Germany. It is available in the United States and distributed by Commonwealth Brands.

Sponsorship

Mika Hakkinen in a 1999 McLaren sponsored by West.

West sponsored small German Formula One team Zakspeed from 1985 to 1989, and Sito Pons' Motogp team between 2000 and 2002. It was the principal sponsor of the McLaren Formula One team (as West McLaren Mercedes), from 1997 to July 2005,and Slovak Extraliga from 1997 to 2001. West terminated its relationship with McLaren due to a European Union ban on tobacco advertising. West also sponsors numerous amateur cage fighters.

Brands and Varieties

From the German Wikipedia

The following products are represented in the West assortment:

• West talk, a cigarette, whose smoke contains 10 mg tar, 0.9 mg nicotine as well as 10 mg Carbon monoxide.

• West Silver, formerly under west Light contains 7 mg tar, 0.6 mg nicotine as well as 7 mg Carbon monoxide).
• West Blue, a cigarette, whose smoke contains 4 mg tar, 0.4 mg nicotine as well as 4 mg Carbon monoxide.
• West Rich Blue, a cigarette, whose smoke contains 8 mg tar, 0.7 mg nicotine as well as 8 mg Carbon monoxide.
• West ICE, a spearmint flavored menthol cigarette, has 7 mg tar, 0.6 mg nicotine as well as 7 mg Carbon monoxide). Part of the flavor materials are added not to the tobacco, but to the filter.

External links

• West homepage