Embassy Filter was Britain's top-selling brand from 1964 until 1970, when it was overtaken by
Player's No. 6. At its peak, Embassy had 24% of the market in 1968,[2] with one of its slogans being"Inhale to your heart's content!"[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
In 2001, Embassy had a 3.1% share of the UK licit cigarette market, and an estimated 4.8% share of the illicit market (based on seizures).[11] In 2004, Embassy accounted for 24% of the
premium segment of the UK market.[12]
In April 2014, Embassy shifted production from Nottingham to Germany and Poland.[13]
In 2019, Embassy No. 1 Red changed its blend and cut prices. Embassy Regal remained the same.
Sponsorships
Formula 1
In 1973, Embassy became the title sponsor of the new Formula One team
Embassy Racing With Graham Hill, founded by two-time world champion
Graham Hill. Hill was also the team's lead driver for its first two years. However, Embassy Hill struggled, securing only three points-scoring finishes in three years of racing. In 1975, Hill, his driver
Tony Brise, and four other members of the team died in an
accident.
Rallycross
The first two pan-European
Rallycross series were sponsored by W.D. & H.O. Wills.
Snooker/darts
Embassy was the primary sponsor of the
World Snooker Championships from 1976 to 2005; it was also the sponsor of the
World Professional Darts Championship from 1978 until 2003, when the
UK government banned all tobacco sponsorship in sport. Snooker and Formula 1 were the only two sports given a two-year extension until 2005.[14][15][16][17] Two-time snooker world champion
Alex Higgins sued the makers of Embassy in 1999, claiming that the encouragement from the sponsors to smoke Embassy cigarettes and the free cigarettes given to players had contributed to him contracting
throat cancer.[18]
Beauty pageants
Embassy has also sponsored the
Miss Ghana beauty pageant.[19]