Pacific Cigarette Company

Pacific Cigarette Company (formerly Savanna Tobacco) is a tobacco processing and cigarette manufacturing company. The company was founded in 2002 by Adam Molai and it is the first cigarette manufacturing entity to be founded by a black African in Zimbabwe Pacific Cigarette Company is the manufacturer of Pacific, Branson, and Pegasus cigarette products. The company produces an average volume of 3 billion cigarette sticks a year. The company operates in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Malawi and D.R Congo.

History
Pacific Cigarette Company was founded in 2002 as Savanna Tobacco by Zimbabwean entrepreneur Adam Molai and Nick Havercroft. The company started by purchasing and processing tobacco stems for export to other cigarette factories in several countries. The company then purchased some manufacturing equipment then launched its first cigarette product called Pacific Blue in 2004. In 2005, Savanna Tobacco introduced two more Pacific product flavours, Pacific Storm and Pacific Mist then Pacific Breeze in 2006. In 2007, Savanna Tobacco introduced a second product called The Pegasus. In 2009 the company launched a third product called Branson. In the same year, Savanna Tobacco acquired 75 percent stake in Burley Marketing Zimbabwe after buying out some shareholders in the company. In 2017, Savanna Tobacco rebranded to Pacific Cigarette Company.

In 2018, Pacific partnered with China Tobacco Shaanxi (CTSIC), a subsidiary of the China National Tobacco Company in a manufacturing and licensing agreement for African markets.

Awards and recognition

 * Monde Selection – Brand of the year (Pacific Blue and Pacific Storm) 2006
 * Global Trade Leaders Club (Spain) - 22nd international award for business Excellence 2012
 * Zimbabwe Investment Authority – Manufacturer of the year 2013
 * Zimbabwe Investment Authority - Manufacturer of the year 2014
 * Helping Africa Project - Recognition for Fight against Malaria 2014 – 2015
 * Marketers Association of Zimbabwe - Customer Engagement Excellency of the year 2015
 * Zimdancehall Awards - Radio Creativity (Zimdancehall vs Sungura) 2016
 * NSSA and ZOSHC - Occupational Safety and Health company of the year 2021