Player's cigarettes are made in Canada by Imperial Tobacco Canada, the Montreal-based subsidiary of British American Tobacco (BAT). White Birch Post stocks Player's and related John Player labels, and this guide explains where the name comes from and why the corporate history is easy to mix up.
Who makes Player's today?
Imperial Tobacco Canada manufactures and markets Player's in Canada. It's the country's largest tobacco company, and it has been wholly owned by British American Tobacco since the early 2000s.
Player's sits in the same Canadian portfolio as:
- Du Maurier
- John Player Special
- Pall Mall
- Matinée and Vogue
- The Canadian version of Marlboro
For a brand-by-brand map of all three major Canadian makers, see who makes Canada's cigarette brands.
Where does the Player's name come from?
The name comes from John Player & Sons of Nottingham, England. John Player was a nineteenth-century Nottingham tobacconist, and the business his family built became one of Britain's most recognised cigarette makers. In 1901, John Player & Sons merged with a dozen other British firms to form the Imperial Tobacco Company of Great Britain and Ireland.
How did Player's end up in Canada?
The Imperial Tobacco Company of Canada was set up in Montreal in the early 1900s and made Player's here for the Canadian market. Older Canadian packs from the mid-twentieth century were printed "Manufactured by Imperial Tobacco Co. of Canada, Limited, Montreal, Canada — successor to John Player & Sons, England." Over the following decades, the Canadian business went its own way, and it eventually became part of British American Tobacco.
Is Imperial Tobacco Canada the same as Imperial Brands?
No, and this is the most common point of confusion. Despite the shared "Imperial" name:
- Imperial Tobacco Canada is owned by British American Tobacco.
- Imperial Brands (formerly Imperial Tobacco Group) is a separate UK company that owns the Player's and John Player Special names in the UK.
In markets outside the UK, including Canada, the Player's names are handled through BAT. So the Player's sold in Canada and the Player's sold in Britain come from different corporate families, even though they share an origin in Nottingham.
What's the difference between Player's and John Player Special?
They're separate labels from the same Canadian maker. Both carry the John Player name and both are made by Imperial Tobacco Canada, but they're sold as distinct brands with their own product lines. John Player Special became widely recognised internationally through motorsport sponsorship in the 1970s and 1980s.
We also carry John Players Plus, another label that uses the John Player name. You'll find all of them on their own product pages, along with Player's.
Was Player's involved in sponsorship?
Yes, historically. For years the Player's name was closely tied to motorsport in Canada, including open-wheel racing teams and events. Like du Maurier's arts and golf sponsorships, that ended when federal restrictions on tobacco sponsorship took effect. Tobacco brands in Canada can no longer sponsor events or advertise in the ways they once did.
What formats are Player's sold in?
Player's follows the standard Canadian formats:
- Regular and king size. Regular cigarettes run roughly 70 to 73 mm, king size roughly 83 to 85 mm. Our article on king size vs regular cigarettes explains the difference.
- Packs of 20 and 25. Canadian law sets a minimum of 20 cigarettes per pack. See cigarette pack sizes in Canada.
- Cartons of 200. Ten packs of 20 or eight packs of 25.
Current options are listed on each product page.
Why do Player's packs look like every other brand?
Plain packaging has been the law in Canada since 2019. Every pack uses the same drab brown colour, the brand name in a standard font, and large graphic health warnings. The old sailor emblem and brand colours are no longer allowed on Canadian packs. Health warnings have also been phased onto individual cigarettes since 2023. Our explainer on Canada's cigarette packaging rules has the details.
How does Player's compare with du Maurier?
They're stablemates. Player's and du Maurier are both made by Imperial Tobacco Canada, so the comparison is about history and branding rather than different manufacturers. Our side-by-side of du Maurier vs John Player's vs Next sets out the maker, origin and formats of each. For the du Maurier story specifically, read who makes du Maurier.
Can I order Player's online in Ontario?
Yes, if you're 19 or older. White Birch Post delivers the same day in Greater Sudbury on orders placed before the daily cut-off, with ID checked at the door. Orders elsewhere in Canada, except Nunavut, ship by tracked Canada Post. See ordering tobacco online in Ontario for how age checks and shipping work.
The bottom line
Player's traces back to John Player & Sons of Nottingham, but in Canada it's made by Imperial Tobacco Canada, part of British American Tobacco, not by the UK's Imperial Brands. It's sold in regular and king size, packs and cartons, in standard plain packaging. Browse Player's, John Player Special and the rest of the lineup in our brand-name cigarettes section.
White Birch Post sells to adults 19 and over only. Smoking is harmful to your health. If you're thinking about cutting back or quitting, our responsible use page lists free Canadian support services.