FRENCH TOBACCO

Evening Star, Issue 19745, 21 December 1927, Page 4

FRENCH TOBACCO

GOVERNMENT PHOPOIY SHOPKEEPER S’ DIFFICULTIES. A new tobacco shop of the most up-to-date and luxurious type has been opened in Paris. It is a sign of the modernisation of the French tobacco trade, for not long ago the smoker could satisfy his needs only in the dingy little bistros, where the sale of tobacco contended with that of drink and postage stamps, where cigarettes were handed out in screws of paper, and change was always unobtainable. There are tew independent tobacco shops in Paris. The trade is a strict Government monopoly; the profits aro fixed at 6 to 9 per cent., and it is difficult to make a living by the sale of tobacco only. Indeed, it is impossible in the more expensive quarters, where rents arc high and appearance must be kept up. The Champs Elysees Tabac, which has opened the now shop, could count on a dead loss if it were not for the sales of expensive smokers’ luxuries—long, elaborate cigarette holders, ash trays, cigar and cigarette boxes cigar cutters and cases. Ever since the new shops began to open the tobacco dealers have been at war with the regie over this question. They argue that the better class of shop cannot keep open on a profit of 9 per ccrft., and point for proof to the fact that many tobacco shops have been closed and sold at Strasburg and Madhouse since the French Administration took them over. Yet the Government does not quite refuse to move. After the war an effort was made to improve the earnings of the State monopoly by improving the quality and appearance of its goods and increasing their variety. In France 200.000 tons of tobacco .are grown, and 10.000 in Algeria. France imports every year 100,000 tons of Virginia leaf and 5,000 tons from the Near East, together with a little Havana leaf and about 5j000,000 ready-made cigars. British pipe tobacco and cigarettes are also imported, but the cheap cigars prevent the pipe habit from spreading much. Of all this trade 90 per cent, still passes eventually through the little debits. The new shop in the Champs Elysees, with its modern expensive decoration —grey and natural walnut panelling and light filtered through cubistic troughs of frosted glass—will need .a big turnover to make it a success*