Free (cigarette)

{{Short description|Brazilian cigarette brand}}

{{Multiple issues|

{{Advert|date=April 2022}}

{{More citations needed|date=January 2018}}

}}

{{infobox brand

| name= Free

| logo= Free cigarette logo.png

| image=

| caption=

| type= Cigarette

| currentowner= Souza Cruz, a subsidiary of British American Tobacco

| producedby=

| origin= Brazil

| introduced= {{start date and age|1984}}

| discontinued= 2016

| related=

| markets= Brazil, United States, Mexico, Costa Rica

| previousowners=

| trademarkregistrations=

| ambassadors=

| tagline= "Free-A matter of common sense"

| website=

| footnotes = Carcinogenicity: IARC group 1

}}

Free was a Brazilian brand of cigarettes, owned and manufactured by Souza Cruz, a subsidiary of British American Tobacco. It was discontinued in 2016.

History

File:Free Lights (Light cigarette).jpg

The brand was launched in 1984 (one of the slogans: "Free-A matter of common sense"). Nowadays, it is one of the most purchased cigarettes in Brazil and, according to the company, it is the leader in the category of cigarettes with tar levels below 7 mg.{{Cite web |url=http://www.souzacruz.com.br/oneweb/sites/SOU_5RRP92.nsf/vwPagesWebLive/80256DAD006376DD80256D870056B20C?opendocument&DTC=&SID= |title=Souza Cruz - Marcas líderes |access-date=2017-12-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100214071334/http://www.souzacruz.com.br/OneWeb/sites/SOU_5RRP92.nsf/vwPagesWebLive/80256DAD006376DD80256D870056B20C?opendocument&DTC=&SID= |archive-date=2010-02-14 |url-status=dead }}

In 2009, the company reformulated the brand's packaging and launched a line of products on the basis of menthol, the family Mix (Fresh Mix, Citric Mix and Spicy Mix).{{cite web|url=http://www.mundodomarketing.com.br/4,10621,souza-cruz-lanca-novos-sabores-de-free-a-base-menthol.htm|title=Mundo do Marketing|website=Mundodomarketing.com.br|access-date=2 January 2018}}

Souza Cruz started in the following months a trademark migration process made for eight years with the now defunct Carlton, which gradually turned into Dunhill. This time, the global brand of Souza Cruz, which succeeded the Free was Kent.

By the end of 2016, Free also imprinted the logo of Kent. Within a year, the name Free was removed from the pack.

The brand was mainly sold in Brazil, but was also sold in the United States, Mexico and Costa Rica.{{cite web|url=http://www.cigarettespedia.com/index.php/BrandFree|title=BrandFree - Cigarettes Pedia|website=Cigarettespedia.com|access-date=2 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.zigsam.at/B_Free.htm|title=Free|website=Zigsam.at|access-date=2 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cigarety.by/brand.php?n=10&l=5&w=FREE+&p=0|title=Brands|website=Cigarety.by|access-date=2 January 2018}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}