The History of CTC

According to “THE GUIDE TO BRITISH HONDURAS” and “THE CLARION” of 4th April, 1918, Belize's first cigarette factory was established by one Mr. John Chambasis, who had imported some “Modern Cigarette Making Machines” and was established in the lower floor of the then Colonial Association Band Hall on Albert Street next to James Brodie and Company’s main store in Belize City. The company employed some 20 ‘operators’. Subsequently, in, or around 1932, Mr. Constantino Maestre purchased the business and relocated it to the first floor of the Dragten building at 160 North Front Street. This company was first named Maestre's and Company. Among the first brands of cigarettes launched by the company was "COLONIAL", an American blend, along with “ALLIES” and“SUPRIMOS” among others. "COLONIAL" was a 62 mm, non-filter cigarette that has been altered and improved and holds its popularity to this day. Maestre employed only nine people at that time to run the factory.

As the demand for cigarettes increased, investments were made in new machinery and the factory was relocated to the first floor of the Maestre's family house at 6 Fort Street in the Fort George area. In 1959, the business was transferred to its present location, 42 Cleghorn Street.

In 1962, Consolidated Development Corporation, an American public company of Bedford, Indiana, bought out the Maestre family's interest in the company. The company envisaged the need to improve and update the company's machinery and invested BZ$120,000 in new machinery. The factory was then capable of manufacturing regular, king size filter tip and king size mentholated filter tip cigarettes in sufficient quantities to supply the entire demand for cigarettes in Belize.

Prior to the takeover by the Consolidated Development Corporation very little had been done to explore the possibilities of growing tobacco in this country. During 1964 Maestre's Industries Limited (MIL) had invested more than BZ$60,000.00 in an experimental tobacco plantation through its subsidiary, Caribbean Tobacco Company Ltd. (CTC). In the early 1970's attempts to grow tobacco in the northern and western districts of Belize were not successful. The failure in this venture was mainly because the climate in Belize was not suitable for the growth of tobacco.

In 1977, CTC became a wholly owned subsidiary of Investors Business Services Limited. Since then, CTC brands have achieved market dominance in Belize due to competitive pricing and consistent quality standards. CTC is a private limited company incorporated in Belize.