History

Bentoel Group is a holding company of several companies engaged in cigarette industry known as Bentoel. Bentoel establishment can be traced back to 1930 when the founder  Ong Hok Liong established cigarette home industry under the name of “Strootjes Fabriek Ong Hok Liong”. This home industry changed name into N.V Pertjetakan Hien An in 1951 and four years later changed name into PT Perusahaan Rokok Tjap Bentoel.

In the late 60’s Bentoel was the first cigarette company to produce machine-rolled cigarette (SKM) with filter in Indonesia. Bentoel was also the pioneer in using plastic wrapping for its cigarette pack, which then this innovation became the national standard of cigarette industry. During the 70’s and 80’s Bentoel was a fast growing company and one of the major player of domestic cigarette industry.

Recognition comes from Philip Morris for Bentoel as reliable cigarette manufacturer and distributor, actualized in the form of business cooperation between Philip Morris and Bentoel for more than 20 years since 1984. During that period, Bentoel was granted the exclusive right to produce Marlboro cigarette and as the sole distributor for all Philip Morris products in Indonesia. This exclusive right to produce Marlboro cigarette ended in 1998 and the distributorship cooperation ended in 2005.

Bentoel evolved through a long history, this process is recorded in the range of documentation vagaries of business at the Museum Bentoel. The site is open for public since 1994 and is managed as a medium of learning of history and culture. The museum is intended to inspire people to grow in spirit and refused to give up in any circumstances..

In 1991, the shareholders of Bentoel requested Rajawali Group to take over the management of Bentoel to sort out the financial problems faced by Bentoel. The new management of Bentoel restructured Company’s debt in 1997 by way of transferring all assets and liabilities to PT. Bentoel Prima where the Company has majority ownership. At the completion of restructuring process, the new management of Bentoel conducted reorganization in all areas and prepare strategic plans for the development and improving performance of Bentoel.

On June 17, 2009 BAT International, based in London, acquired Bentoel Group. The transformation process is then merged BAT Indonesia and Bentoel Group into one entity in Indonesia. As is known BAT has been involved in cigarette industry more than 100 years precisely since 1902. Indonesia factory has established in 1917, precisely in Cirebon. On his journey BAT Indonesia have done many acquisitions of companies such as Rothmans of Pall Indonesia, Koperasi Kareb which later became known as PT Java Tobacco and several other companies. Starting on January 1, 2010, Bentoel Group officially became a member of British American Tobacco International.