Jump to full article: Richmond (VA) Times-Dispatch, 2009-07-26
Author: JOHN HOKE TIMES-DISPATCH COLUMNIST
Intro: Big changes are coming to the tobacco industry, and we've ramped up our coverage in the Richmond Times-Dispatch to keep you informed.
Tobacco has long been a focus of our coverage -- the business has been a key component of Virginia's economy since soon after its founding at Jamestown. Now more than ever, Richmond is at the heart of the industry.
We are home to the nation's No. 1 cigarette-maker, Philip Morris USA, and its parent company, Altria Group Inc. Philip Morris operates one of the largest cigarette plants in the world in South Richmond. Altogether, Altria employs more than 5,000 in the Richmond area.
Myriad other tobacco-related businesses big and small populate the region, from venerable tobacco broker Universal Corp. to more recent arrival Swedish Match North America.
The health consequences of smoking continue to be widely debated, with long-sought legislation to ban smoking in restaurants finally making it through the General Assembly this year.
Jump to full article » |