[1] After several acquisitions, it is now known as Japan Tobacco International (JTI),[2] which manages flagship brands such as Benson & Hedges, Camel, Glamour, LD, Mevius, Natural American Spirit, Silk Cut, Sobranie, and Winston.

While the use of tobacco products was growing in popularity, the American Civil War afforded the fledgling company an opportunity that brought enormous financial success leading to Macdonald Brothers, emerging the preeminent tobacco company in the field in Canada.

MacDonald Tobacco further processed it into a finished product, then selling to the northern U.S. tobacco-starved market.

During this period, William Macdonald bought out his brother's stock position.

Walter Stewart, now president, replaced pipe tobacco with "roll your own" cigarettes.