Altria Officially Says Hello to Richmond

Altria, the parent company of Philip Morris USA, officially started operating in Henrico on Monday.

Altria bid farewell Friday to New York City and joins its Henrico County-based subsidiary, Philip Morris USA, the nation’s largest cigarette maker, in Virginia.

The move was expected, having been announced as a next step after Altria spun off its international cigarette division. Philip Morris International became a stand-alone unit Friday.

The relocation won’t bring many employees to the Richmond area — company officials have said only a small number made the move from New York. Philip Morris USA had 5,630 full-time equivalent employees in the Richmond area as of Jan. 1.

But the move helps keep the Richmond area on an even keel in the number of Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies that have headquarters here.

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