Republic Tobacco
Encyclopedia
Republic Tobacco LP
is a multinational
wholesaler, distributor, and retailer of tobacco
, based in the Chicago suburb of Glenview
, Illinois
, United States
.
Republic Tobacco is wholly owned by Republic Group, which includes the manufacturer affiliates of Top Tobacco
, Republic Technologies (JOB
cigarette papers), Altesse GMBH (filter tubes), H.T.H. Tabak (cigarettes, snuff
, and tobacco), and Productos Technologicos Catalanes (smoking accessories), as well as Republic Tobacco, representing a combined sales and distribution presence in more than 90 countries http://www.tobaccoretailer.com/uploads/IndustryNews/2005/0502_industry_news2.asp.
The company was founded by Donald Levin. Levin began with a small smoke shop called Adams Apple (which still exists, although it is no longer owned by Levin). He then went into wholesale distribution and grew his company into the largest roll-your-own
tobacco company in the world.
In 1969, Levin became the U.S. distributor for JOB rolling papers. He built the brand and used the profits to purchase the TOP Tobacco Factory & Brands from R. J. Reynolds
in the early 1980s. He is rumored to have a copy of the check he wrote to RJR on his wall to this day.
Over the years, Levin oversaw his company's expansion, which eventually culminated in his purchase of some of the Bolloré
brands and assets in the tobacco business (the world's largest rolling paper factory and owner of JOB & OCB brands worldwide). In July 2009, he also bought from Bolloré Papeteries du Léman and Papeteries des Vosges, two French paper mills specialized in thin papers http://bollorethinpapers.com/?idMenu=33.
He also purchased the Chicago Wolves
sports team; produced many movies, including Maximum Overdrive
.
Limited partnership
A limited partnership is a form of partnership similar to a general partnership, except that in addition to one or more general partners , there are one or more limited partners . It is a partnership in which only one partner is required to be a general partner.The GPs are, in all major respects,...
is a multinational
Multinational corporation
A multi national corporation or enterprise , is a corporation or an enterprise that manages production or delivers services in more than one country. It can also be referred to as an international corporation...
wholesaler, distributor, and retailer of tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
, based in the Chicago suburb of Glenview
Glenview, Cook County, Illinois
Glenview is a suburban village located approximately north of downtown Chicago in Cook County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 41,847...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Republic Tobacco is wholly owned by Republic Group, which includes the manufacturer affiliates of Top Tobacco
TOP (rolling papers)
TOP is a brand of cigarette rolling papers distributed by Republic Tobacco of Glenview, Illinois. Republic Tobacco paid an undisclosed amount to acquire the brand from R. J. Reynolds in 1987....
, Republic Technologies (JOB
JOB (rolling papers)
JOB rolling papers are a popular brand of cigarette paper produced by Republic Tobacco in Perpignan, France. In 1838, a French craftsman named Jean Bardou came up with the idea for a booklet of rolling papers made of thin, pure rice paper...
cigarette papers), Altesse GMBH (filter tubes), H.T.H. Tabak (cigarettes, snuff
Snuff
Snuff is a product made from ground or pulverised tobacco leaves. It is an example of smokeless tobacco. It originated in the Americas and was in common use in Europe by the 17th century...
, and tobacco), and Productos Technologicos Catalanes (smoking accessories), as well as Republic Tobacco, representing a combined sales and distribution presence in more than 90 countries http://www.tobaccoretailer.com/uploads/IndustryNews/2005/0502_industry_news2.asp.
The company was founded by Donald Levin. Levin began with a small smoke shop called Adams Apple (which still exists, although it is no longer owned by Levin). He then went into wholesale distribution and grew his company into the largest roll-your-own
Roll-your-own
Roll-your-own cigarettes refer to a cigarette made from loose tobacco and rolling papers. Roll-your-own products are sold as a pouch of tobacco for rolling hand-rolled cigarettes, sometimes with the rolling papers provided in the pouch...
tobacco company in the world.
In 1969, Levin became the U.S. distributor for JOB rolling papers. He built the brand and used the profits to purchase the TOP Tobacco Factory & Brands from R. J. Reynolds
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
The R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company , based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and founded by R. J. Reynolds in 1875, is the second-largest tobacco company in the U.S. . RJR is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Reynolds American Inc...
in the early 1980s. He is rumored to have a copy of the check he wrote to RJR on his wall to this day.
Over the years, Levin oversaw his company's expansion, which eventually culminated in his purchase of some of the Bolloré
Bolloré
Bolloré is a French investment and industrial holding group headquartered in Puteaux, on the western outskirts of Paris, France. The company, a paper-energy-plantations-logistics conglomerate, employs 28,000 people around the world....
brands and assets in the tobacco business (the world's largest rolling paper factory and owner of JOB & OCB brands worldwide). In July 2009, he also bought from Bolloré Papeteries du Léman and Papeteries des Vosges, two French paper mills specialized in thin papers http://bollorethinpapers.com/?idMenu=33.
He also purchased the Chicago Wolves
Chicago Wolves
The Chicago Wolves are a professional hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois...
sports team; produced many movies, including Maximum Overdrive
Maximum Overdrive
Maximum Overdrive is a 1986 American action-horror-science fiction film written and directed by novelist Stephen King. The screenplay was inspired by and loosely based on King's short story, Trucks, which was included in King's first collection of short stories, Night Shift.Maximum Overdrive is...
.