BAT and Gallaher shift cigarette production to Poland

British American Tobacco's (BAT) plant in Augustów has recently taken over production quotas from several manufacturing facilities in Western Europe, including Belgium where the plant was closed down. A similar step was now made by Britain's Gallaher, which has been developing its factory in the outskirts of Łódź for two years now. Gallaher yesterday informed the British bourse about a planned cut in employment in its plants in Great Britain and Austria by around 250 people. The company, which produces such brands as Benson & Hedges and Silk Cut, also plans to restructure its production lines in Northern Ireland and Wales and will close two plants in Austria. As a result, it will increase production and employment in Poland and Rumania where production costs are much lower. (Puls Biznesu, p. 7) A.K.