The St Petersburg-based tobacco maker Nevo-Tabak has won a government-staged tender for cigarette supplies to the Russian army, reports Vedomosti daily newspaper.

The company will supply 220.5 million cigarettes to the armed forces, the federal security service, the ministry of the interior and the emergency and the civil defense ministry in Q 1 and Q 2 of 2007. The facility with an annual capacity of 15 billion pieces made 9 billion cigarettes in 2004. The plant’s portfolio includes around 20 cigarette brands, focus being made on economy-price products. Earlier this year, Nevo-Tabak launched its first premium brand, Arcric, in co-operation with the American Cigarette Tobacco Company. (vt)