Fortuna (cigarette)

File:Fortuna cigarettes (Spain) - front.jpg

Fortuna was first introduced in 1974 in Spain by Tabacalera, a Spanish tobacco conglomerate that is now half of the Altadis corporation. When Fortuna was launched in 1974, the market was dominated by black tobacco and the few international brands of blonde (light) cigarettes that were very expensive for the Spanish smoker. As a response to this, Tabacalera launched Fortuna cigarettes which were a type of blonde tobacco with a filter. With Fortuna came the first American blonde-flavored cigarette and in its first six months almost 700 million cigarettes were sold. Ten years later, it spread internationally, first in France, and then in countries like Italy, Morocco, and the United States. For more than thirty years, Fortuna has been sold in Spain on the blonde cigarette market.{{cite web|url=http://www.altadis.com/sobre-altadis-productos.php|title=Descubre nuestro gran abanico de marcas - Altadis - Imperial Tobacco España|website=Altadis.com|access-date=1 January 2018}} The tobacco mixture used in Fortuna cigarettes is of a Virginia type.

In April 2008, Altadis changed the pack design to a "new and modernized look" and reduced the number of its big pack cigarettes from 25 to 24, with the aim of setting a round price (which was €3,00 at the time). Altadis's primary rival is Philip Morris International.{{cite web |date=2 April 2008 |title=Fortuna renueva imagen y reduce a 24 cigarrillos su cajetilla - Noticia - Gran Consumo - MarketingNews.es |url=http://www.marketingnews.es/gran-consumo/noticia/1040349028005/fortuna-renueva-imagen-reduce-24.1.html |url-status=dead |website=www.marketingnews.es |access-date=30 March 2018 |archive-date=31 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180331040210/http://www.marketingnews.es/gran-consumo/noticia/1040349028005/fortuna-renueva-imagen-reduce-24.1.html }}

In 2013, Fortuna was the fourth best-selling brand in Spain with more than 184,000,000 packs sold.{{cite news|access-date=2018-03-30|title=Las 10 marcas de cigarro más mortales |url=http://mimaravatio.com/las-10-marcas-de-cigarro-mas-mortales/|newspaper=MiMaravatío.com|date=26 June 2015}}

In 2015, the taxes of Fortuna, Ducados, and Nobel were once again increased from €4.40 to €4.45; an increase of 5 cents.{{cite web|url=http://www.elmundo.es/economia/2015/01/23/54c202f3e2704e33618b456e.html|title=Ducados, Fortuna y Nobel también se encarecen y suben 5 céntimos|date=23 January 2015 }}

In December 2016, Altadis raised the price of their Fortuna, Ducados, and Nobel brands by 10 cents, while opting to keep their Fortuna soft pack brand at €4,45.{{cite news|url=https://elpais.com/economia/2016/12/21/actualidad/1482339021_302166.html|title=Altadis sube 10 céntimos el precio de los cigarrillos Fortuna, Nobel y Ducados|last=EP|newspaper=El País |date=21 December 2016|via=elpais.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.es/economia/abci-altadis-eleva-10-centimos-precio-marcas-cigarrillos-ducados-fortuna-y-nobel-201612210850_noticia.html|title=Altadis eleva 10 céntimos el precio de sus marcas de cigarrillos Ducados, Fortuna y Nobel|date=21 December 2016 }}

Tabacalera and Altadis made various poster and magazine advertisements in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s to promote the Fortuna brand.{{cite web|url=https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORTUNA-CIGARETTE-TOBACCO-TABAC-TABACO-AD-PUBLICITE-ANUNCIO-SPANISH-2183-/321590305916|title=FORTUNA CIGARETTE TOBACCO TABAC TABACO - AD PUBLICITE ANUNCIO - SPANISH - 2183 - eBay|website=eBay}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fortuna-cigarette-tobacco-tabac-smoking-AD-publicite-advert-English-2184-/230936631950|title=Fortuna cigarette tobacco tabac smoking-AD publicite advert-English - 2184 - eBay|website=eBay}}{{cite web|url=https://www.todocoleccion.net/coleccionismo-revistas-periodicos/recorte-anuncio-tabaco-cigarrillos-fortuna~x44461431|title=RECORTE anuncio tabaco cigarrillos fortuna|website=todocoleccion.net}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ebay.es/itm/CLIPPING-RECORTE-ANUNCIO-TABACO-CIGARRILLOs-fortuna-/282238887958|title=CLIPPING RECORTE ANUNCIO TABACO CIGARRILLOs fortuna - eBay|website=eBay}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ebay.es/itm/CLIPPING-RECORTE-ANUNCIO-TABACO-CIGARRILLOs-fortuna-/282274575170|title=CLIPPING RECORTE ANUNCIO TABACO CIGARRILLOs fortuna - eBay|website=eBay}}{{cite web|url=https://www.todocoleccion.net/carteles-publicitario/cartel-publicitario-tabaco-fortuna-envio-gratis~x24196801|title=CARTEL PUBLICITARIO TABACO FORTUNA.. ENVIO GRATIS¡¡¡|website=todocoleccion.net}}{{cite web|url=https://www.todocoleccion.net/coleccionismo/publicidad-prensa-1985-fortuna-cigarrillos-tabaco~x28849501|title=PUBLICIDAD PRENSA 1985 - FORTUNA - CIGARRILLOS TABACO|website=todocoleccion.net}}{{cite web|url=http://www.el-trastero.eu/caddie/fortuna199102-p-19386.html|title=Calendario de bolsillo-Publicidad Tabaco-Fortuna-1991-02|website=www.el-trastero.eu}}{{cite web|url=https://www.todocoleccion.net/postales/postal-024924-publicidad-fortuna-para-liar~x55581373|title=Postal 024924 : Publicidad Fortuna para liar|website=todocoleccion.net|access-date=2018-03-30|archive-date=2018-03-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180331040116/https://www.todocoleccion.net/postales/postal-024924-publicidad-fortuna-para-liar~x55581373|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.todocoleccion.net/calendarios-antiguos/calendario-publicidad-fortuna-tabaco-1991-cal1035~x17710387|title=CALENDARIO PUBLICIDAD FORTUNA, TABACO, 1991, CAL1035|website=todocoleccion.net}}{{cite web|url=https://www.todocoleccion.net/calendarios-antiguos/calendario-fournier-publicidad-tabaco-fortuna-sulf-1988-original-cal6922~x33444552|title=CALENDARIO FOURNIER, PUBLICIDAD TABACO FORTUNA, SULF, 1988, ORIGINAL, CAL6922|website=todocoleccion.net}}{{cite web|url=https://www.todocoleccion.net/calendarios-antiguos/calendario-fournier-publicidad-tabaco-fortuna-barco-vela-1988-original-cal6921~x33444566|title=CALENDARIO FOURNIER, PUBLICIDAD TABACO FORTUNA, BARCO VELA, 1988, ORIGINAL, CAL6921|website=todocoleccion.net}}

Besides poster and magazine adverts, a few TV adverts were also made. Some were made for Spain, but also for other countries such as Venezuela.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_CdP2wcuII |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/z_CdP2wcuII |archive-date=2021-12-14 |url-status=live|title=ANUNCIO TABACO FORTUNA|last=625rayas|date=13 November 2010|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMdyqgYHtwA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200512125925/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMdyqgYHtwA&gl=US&hl=en |archive-date=2020-05-12 |url-status=dead|title=Comerciales de cigarro Fortuna|last=Chucho Lopez|date=5 December 2013|via=YouTube}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ESdyaBzoyk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/3ESdyaBzoyk |archive-date=2021-12-14 |url-status=live|title=Anuncio de tabaco|last=MARIO CUEVAS|date=12 January 2009|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8R4iYjnIG8I |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/8R4iYjnIG8I |archive-date=2021-12-14 |url-status=live|title=Comercial del Yesquero Fortuna (Venezuela)|last=miguelier|date=1 March 2007|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

A few telephone cards have also been made, featuring Fortuna adverting on them.{{cite web|url=https://colnect.com/es/phonecards/phonecard/12030-Tabaco_Fortuna-Tobaco-Telef%C3%B3nica-Espa%C3%B1a|title=Tarjeta telefónica: Tabaco Fortuna (Telefónica, España) (Tobaco) Mar:P-155|website=Colnect}}{{cite web|url=http://www.el-coleccionista.es/tarjetas-telefonicas/tarjeta-telefonica-fortuna|title=Tarjeta Telefónica Fortuna en El Coleccionista|website=www.el-coleccionista.es}}

Other memorabilia that Tabacalera made during the time, includes lighters, calendars, and game cars, featuring Fortuna advertising.{{cite web|url=https://www.todocoleccion.net/coleccionismo-mecheros/mechero-brio-publicidad-cigarrillos-fortuna~x86186228|title=MECHERO BRIO, PUBLICIDAD CIGARRILLOS FORTUNA|website=todocoleccion.net|access-date=2018-03-30|archive-date=2018-03-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180331040113/https://www.todocoleccion.net/coleccionismo-mecheros/mechero-brio-publicidad-cigarrillos-fortuna~x86186228|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.todocoleccion.net/coleccionismo-mecheros/mechero-encendedor-publicidad-fortuna-cajetilla-cigarrillos~x78208237|title=MECHERO ENCENDEDOR PUBLICIDAD FORTUNA CAJETILLA CIGARRILLOS|website=todocoleccion.net}}{{cite web|url=https://www.todocoleccion.net/barajas-cartas/baraja-poker-comas-publicidad-tabaco-cigarrillos-fortuna~x58951625|title=BARAJA POKER COMAS. PUBLICIDAD TABACO CIGARRILLOS FORTUNA|website=todocoleccion.net}}

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|footer=The 2003 Fortuna Yamaha YZR-M1, driven by Carlos Checa (pictured top) and the 2006 Fortuna Honda RC211V, driven by Marco Melandri with alternative livery

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Fortuna was a sponsor of various teams within the Grand Prix motorcycle racing classes. In races where anti-tobacco laws were in place (such as France and Germany) the Fortuna name was replaced with the "Spain's N°1" logo.

Fortuna sponsored the Pons Racing team in the 500cc class in 1995 and 1996.{{cite web|url=https://www.motorsport.com/team/pons-racing/history/|title=Team profile: Pons Racing: history|access-date=2018-03-30|archive-date=2018-03-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330212650/https://www.motorsport.com/team/pons-racing/history/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.kaz32.com/kazgallery/nsr9601-e.html|title=Fortuna HONDA PONS NSR500'96|website=www.kaz32.com|access-date=2018-03-30|archive-date=2007-08-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070820194548/http://www.kaz32.com/kazgallery/nsr9601-e.html|url-status=dead}}

Fortuna sponsored the Gresini Racing team in the MotoGP class in 2002 and 2006.{{cite web|url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2005/11/13/gresini-excited-by-fortuna-honda-team/139680|title=Gresini excited by Fortuna Honda team|first=Dorna|last=Sports|website=www.motogp.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/78304/1/gresini-confirms-michelin-fortuna-exit|title=Gresini confirms Michelin, Fortuna exit.|date=30 October 2006 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/gresini-honda-loses-fortuna-cigarette-sponsorship/|title=Gresini Honda Loses Fortuna Cigarette Sponsorship|website=www.roadracingworld.com|date=30 October 2006 }}

Fortuna sponsored the official Yamaha MotoGP team in the MotoGP class, along with Gauloises, from 2003 until 2005.{{cite web|url=http://www.mcnews.com.au/gauloises-fortuna-yamaha-feature/|title=Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Feature - MCNews.com.au|date=25 December 2004}}{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/71682/1/fortuna-yamaha-launch-at-jerez|title=Fortuna Yamaha launch at Jerez.|date=20 February 2003 }}

Fortuna sponsored the satellite Yamaha MotoGP Tech 3 team in the MotoGP class from 2003 until 2005.{{cite web|url=https://www.cycleworld.com/herve-poncharal-yamaha-tech3-motogp-interview|title=Hervé Poncharal Yamaha Tech3 MotoGP Interview}}

Fortuna sponsored the Gresini Racing team in the 250cc class in 2002 and 2003.{{cite web|url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2002/03/13/official-entry-list-for-250cc-world-championship/133075|title=Official entry list for 250cc World Championship|first=Dorna|last=Sports|website=www.motogp.com}}

Fortuna sponsored the Honda team in the 250cc class in 2004 and 2005.{{cite web|url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2004/03/03/fortuna-honda-make-official-presentation-in-madrid/135859|title=Fortuna Honda make official presentation in Madrid|first=Dorna|last=Sports|website=www.motogp.com}}

Fortuna sponsored the Aprilia Racing team in the 250cc class in 2006 and 2007.{{cite web|url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2006/01/18/fortuna-aprilia-to-set-to-work-next-week/139907|title=Fortuna Aprilia to set to work next week|first=Dorna|last=Sports|website=www.motogp.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2006/09/08/fortuna-aprilia-duo-head-early-250cc-leaderboard/141646|title=Fortuna Aprilia duo head early 250cc leaderboard|first=Dorna|last=Sports|website=www.motogp.com}}

Fortuna sponsored the Brun Motorsport team in the 1980s.{{cite web|url=https://automotorfargio.wordpress.com/2015/10/29/quando-le-corse-fumavano/|title=Quando le corse fumavano|date=29 October 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.armchairracer.com.au/cars/slot-it/slot-it-ca03f-porsche-962c-lh-17-fortuna-2nd-le-mans-1986|title=SLOT.IT CA03F - Porsche 962C LH #17 'FORTUNA' 2nd Le Mans 1986 [CA03F] - $69.00 : Armchair Racer, Slot Cars, Scalextric, Ninco, Fly, Carrera|first=The Zen Cart® Team and|last=others|website=www.armchairracer.com.au}}{{cite web|url=http://picssr.com/photos/figsbury/page75?nsid=46302220@N04|title=Figsbury's most recent Flickr photos - Picssr|website=picssr.com}}

Fortuna is mainly sold in Spain, but was or still is sold in Morocco, Italy, France, Austria, Poland, Romania, Russia, Venezuela, and Brazil.{{cite web|url=http://www.cigarettespedia.com/index.php/BrandFortuna.|title=BrandFortuna. - Cigarettes Pedia|website=Cigarettespedia.com|access-date=1 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.zigsam.at/B_Fortuna.htm|title=Fortuna|website=Zigsam.at|access-date=1 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cigarety.by/brand.php?n=10&l=5&w=FORTUNA&p=0|title=Brands|website=Cigarety.by|access-date=1 January 2018}} In the United States, Fortuna cigarettes are manufactured by Commonwealth Brands in Reidsville, North Carolina.{{Citation needed|date=January 2018}}

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Category:Altadis brands

Category:Products introduced in 1974

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