The Dunhill name

Letter to Editor, The Courier, 15 October 2001

Sir, - We refer to the article headed ‘Residents fear Dunhill will bring few benefits’ which appeared in the October 11 issue of your newspaper.

In that article, you incorrectly associate the Dunhill cigarette brand with the luxury goods brand, Alfred Dunhill Limited which sponsors the Dunhill Links Championship golf tournament. We trust this letter will clarify the position.

Alfred Dunhill Limited is a subsidiary within the Richemont luxury group of companies alongside other luxury brands such as Cartier, Montblanc, Vacheron Constantin, Baume & Mercier and Van Cleef & Arpels. The business was established in 1893 when a range of high-quality goods (including clothing, leather products and luggage) for the carriage and motor trade - then itself a luxury business - was produced. We began our business with luxury goods.

In over a century trading, the Dunhill and Alfred Dunhill names have achieved a premier reputation for a wide range of products including watches, jewellery, lighters, writing instruments, fashion accessories, leather goods and tailored products. Other luxury products produced under these names include eye-wear, fragrance and whisky.

Alfred Dunhill does not manufacture tobacco products and does not own the Dunhill name for tobacco. The company’s business is dedicated to luxury goods. You should be aware that, in the context of anti-tobacco advertising legislation worldwide, our advertising and sponsorship activities are not restricted by any legislation.

You will understand that any erroneous association with the Dunhill cigarette brand is potentially damaging to the Alfred Dunhill name and we should be grateful if you would, therefore, print this clarification.

Alfred Dunhill Limited, Knightsbridge, London

Omitting any reference to how it all began - read the response

And now for some interesting statements, photographs and facts:

Richemont results for the year to 31 March 2003 - extract

Sales  euro 3 651 m  (-5% on 2002)
Operating profit  euro 259 m  (- 46% on 2002)
Net profit (parent and subsidiaries, including dunhill)  euro 156 m  (- 53% on 2002)
Net profit (share of 'associated' company i.e. BAT)  euro 486 m  (- 2% on 2002)
Net profit (the Group)  euro 642 m  (- 22% on 2002)

In other words, 75% of 2003 net profit derived from 'associated' tobacco interests.

Richemont had, until quite recently, been taking steps to 'reduce' their tobacco holdings, but now Richemont chairman says won't sell BAT 'profit driving' stake.

Read more about the tobacco connection in Richemont News

Alfred Dunhill has failed to make a profit for several years, and it has been forced to trim operations - Richemont luxurious downturn. The company is rather dependent on 'tobacco rich' parent Richemont at the moment.

And consider these Alfred Dunhill 'associations' with tobacco, past and present :-

The Mixture 965 tobacco tin nomenclature was changed, circa 1994, to:

'Made in the UK in association with Dunhill Tobacco of London'

Dunhill Tobacco of London (a close neighbour of Alfred Dunhill Ltd) is now the holder of most of the, very many, original Alfred Dunhill tobacco trademarks - including some which were temporarily in the hands of Rothmans, the makers of Dunhill branded cigarettes.

According to records held at Companies House, Dunhill Tobacco of London consider their ultimate parent company to be British American Tobacco (BAT) - the new owners of Rothmans.

Alfred Dunhill Ltd today plays down its association with tobacco. "We're a bit embarassed about it" stated chairman Richard Dunhill, grandson of Alfred - read the article here.