West Indian Tobacco - 120 Years Anniversary

Founded by John Phillips in 1896, our journey began in a small factory with a team of only 15 employees, at 4 Fraser Street, Port of Spain.

By the turn of the 20th century, in 1904, the business grew in stature to become The West Indian Tobacco Company Limited (WITCO) – relocating to its current home at Champs Fleurs in 1948

Driven by an unwavering dedication to meeting the needs of consumers and our community, WITCO has embraced many opportunities for expansion, deepening its roots and relationships in Trinidad and Tobago.

With a focus on reducing our impact, in 2012 WITCO developed the Environmental Sustainability Programme, aimed at reducing our carbon footprint while promoting sustainable manufacturing practices.

At WITCO, we have always believed in the value of culture and supporting the arts. This is deeply integrated into our Company’s heritage, as proven in our historic 59-year partnership with the Desperadoes Steel Orchestra. The band remains a beacon in the local steelpan community with 21 competition victories, which includes 12 wins at the National Steelband Panorama competition

As we continue to evolve as a company, we have made strides towards Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) by providing alternatives that limit exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and access to tobacco products by youth. This move is emboldened by our vaping brand VUSE, which was launched in 2024.

At WITCO, each anniversary is not just a celebration of what we have achieved, but also a grand opportunity to recommit to our values in a changing world. We thank our employees, partners and customers for being an integral part of our journey.

Here’s to the many uncharted paths, celebrations and milestones ahead.

A Message from our Managing Director (A.g.)