If Bulgarian state-owned tobacco products producer Bulgartabac Holding was not privatised, it would remain Philip Morris’s main rival, according to Philip Morris managing director for Bulgaria and Romania Richard Morgan.

On August 2 2007, Philip Morris launched its Bond Street brand on the Bulgarian market, the company said, as quoted by Bulgaria’s Focus news agency.

Philip Morris has been on the Bulgarian market for a year and already had a 6.8 per cent market share, focusing on the “slims” segment. It recently expanded its range by starting to sell the Assos Slims brand.

Morgan said that private tobacco producers usually took a share of state-owned companies.

Philip Morris representatives said that the problem of cigarette smuggling in Bulgaria was causing losses for the country and producers.