In February 1987, Jinan Cigarette Factory and the British Lucky Man Company jointly developed and launched the "General" brand cigarette, which became the highest retail price cigarette in China at that time.

In 1988, "General" cigarettes won the first prize of excellent new products in Shandong Province. In 1989, "General" cigarettes were rated as national flue-cured tobacco type high-quality products. In 2001, "General" cigarettes were rated as "2001 National Tobacco Industry Famous and Excellent Cigarettes" by the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, becoming one of the 36 famous and excellent cigarette brands in China and the only selected brand in Shandong Province. In 2004, "General" cigarettes were selected into the "Catalogue of 100 Cigarette Brands" of the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration. In 2005, "General" was recognized as a well-known trademark in China.