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Tag: cigars

  • Plasencia Cigars Tabs New CEO

    Plasencia Cigars Tabs New CEO

    Plasencia Cigars announced that Edward “Ed” Bello will become its chief executive officer effective April 1, at which time he will work with current CEO Jim Young for three months to ensure a smooth transition. Young will then continue as an advisor and board member.

    Most recently Bello was the CMO of Catalyst Spirits, a start-up brand incubator. Prior to that he spent nearly 15 years with Diageo in the alcoholic beverage industry and 13 years at Procter & Gamble.

    “I am delighted to join Plasencia Cigars and am excited to help the company fulfill the amazing future that the Plasencia brand clearly possesses. I am humbled that the Plasencia family place their trust in me to lead this effort and the amazing team already in place. I look forward to working closely with the family, with Jim and with the team to fulfill the promise that the Plasencia brand clearly holds.” 

    Since 1865, the Plasencia family has been making cigars and growing first-class tobacco, today harvesting more than 4,000 acres in Nicaragua and Honduras.

  • Ferio Tego Available in Canada

    Ferio Tego Available in Canada

    Ferio Tego announced that its products will now be available in Canada, partnering with Kretek International Canada for distribution.    

    “We have enjoyed working closely with the outstanding team at Kretek Canada,” said Brendon Scott, co-owner of Ferio Tego. “Canada has a robust premium cigar market with tremendous retailers and passionate consumers, and we’re excited to offer our brands in this market.”

    The initial launch will feature its Elegancia, Summa, Timeless Sterling, and Timeless Prestige lines, all manufactured in the Dominican Republic. Additional company offerings from Nicaragua and Honduras will be available later in 2025.

    “The complexity, style, and origins of our blends make them quite distinctive,” said Michael Herklots, co-owner of Ferio Tego. “Our neighbors in the north have sought out our blends over the years, so we’re pleased to finally deliver them to their local tobacconists with the help of Kretek Canada.”   

    This is the third international expansion for the company over the last two years following successful releases in Asia and the United Arab Emirates.

  • Oliva Cigars See Price Increase

    Oliva Cigars See Price Increase

    Oliva Cigars announced its wholesale prices will increase either 3% or 5% beginning January 15. The company said it would honor its previous 2024 prices on any orders placed before January 15, and cited inflation as the main reason for the increase. The vast majority of Oliva’s cigars will increase by 3%, however, Oliva Serie V Melanio and Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro will increase by 5%.

  • Cigar Group to Reach Out at Party Gatherings

    Cigar Group to Reach Out at Party Gatherings

    The Premium Cigar Association (PCA), in collaboration with the Cigar Association of America (CAA) and Drew Estate Cigars, will be holding outreach events in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 16, 2024, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. during the Republican National Convention, and in Chicago, Illinois, on August 20, 2024, also from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. during the Democratic National Convention.

    “This will be an exciting time for the Milwaukee area, and our small businesses are ready to greet convention attendees during this special event and throughout convention week. We look forward to partnering with the PCA, CAA, and Drew Estate to unite people,” said Paul Groh, owner of Metro Cigars and PCA Executive Board member.

    The upcoming events will take place at PCA member locations: Metro Cigars Germantown in Wisconsin and Up Down Cigar in Chicago. These events will gather elected officials, candidates, and political figures from all over the country. Each event aims to bring together more than 100 people for social discussions on important issues, all while enjoying premium cigars.

    “It is important that the premium cigar industry has a presence at these key political events, and it is exciting to host an event for both parties at PCA member locations to showcase the essence of specialty tobacco retailing,” says Joshua Habursky, interim executive director/head of Government Affairs for the PCA.

  • Chalkey to Boost PCA Government Affairs

    Chalkey to Boost PCA Government Affairs

    Credit: Thapana Studio

    The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) has hired Richard Chalkey as its new director of Coalitions and Policy. Chalkey brings over a decade of professional experience from work in government and the private sector, according to an emailed press release.

    “The Premium Cigar Association has worked with Richard since his time in the West Wing of the White House through Congress and we look forward to having him join our team,” stated PCA Deputy Executive Director Joshua Habursky. “It is rare to find someone in Washington who has worked in the House, Senate, and White House –especially someone who worked four years in a White House and in the West Wing. We are glad to have the perspective and network that Richard will bring.”

    Previously, Chalkey served as the associate director of the National Economic Council and as the associate director of the Office of Legislative Affairs in the Trump White House. During his four years of service at the White House, Chalkey managed policy rollouts for the directors of his departments and in coordination with White House Senior Staff and Cabinet Agencies.

    Most recently, Chalkey served as deputy chief of staff for Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina in the 117th and 118th Congress. Prior to the White House, Chalkey also served in the office of former U.S. Senator Mark Kirk and former Congressman Rodney Davis, both of Illinois.

    Chalkey holds a bachelor of science in Management – International Business and a bachelor of science in Marketing from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is a U.S. State Department Gilman Scholar for studying abroad at the University of Hong Kong and currently is a May 2024 expected executive MBA candidate for the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia.

  • Boost in Noncigarette Tobacco Use: U.K.

    Boost in Noncigarette Tobacco Use: U.K.

    Image: dusanpetkovic1

    The number of people in the U.K. who smoke pipes, shisha and cigars has increased fivefold over the past 10 years, according to The Guardian.

    Based on a study published in Nicotine and Tobacco Research, in 2023, there were 772,800 exclusive noncigarette tobacco users compared to 151,200 in 2013. The study is based on research by University College London academics who surveyed 1,700 adults a month between 2013 and 2023 on their smoking habits.

    Young adults showed the largest increase in use of noncigarette tobacco. Of the surveyed 18-year-olds, 3 percent used noncigarette tobacco while 1.1 percent of 65-year-olds used these products. Men and current vapers showed a higher prevalence of noncigarette tobacco use as well.

    Experts argue that use of noncigarette tobacco can be more harmful than smoking traditional cigarettes. The British Heart Foundation has stated that smoking a shisha pipe for 20 minutes to 80 minutes amounts to the same amount of smoke inhaled from more than 100 cigarettes. The organization also stated that tobacco-free shisha still produces dangerous toxins in the smoke.

    The increase in noncigarette tobacco use could be attributed to a belief that these forms of smoking are less harmful than traditional cigarettes or to financial reasons, according to the study.

    “Tobacco kills one person every five minutes in the U.K.,” said Ian Walker, executive director of policy at Cancer Research U.K. “Research like this shows that the issue of smoking isn’t just about cigarettes—all tobacco products are harmful and cause cancer, no matter what form they come in.

    “That’s why it’s crucial that the government’s age-of-sale legislation applies to all tobacco products. If implemented, this policy will be a vital step toward creating a smoke-free U.K., preventing future generations from ever becoming addicted to tobacco.”

    “This 10-year-long study captures the shift in trends of noncigarette tobacco use and paints a concerning picture,” said Sarah Jackson, lead author of the study. “Although rates of cigarette smoking have fallen, our data show there has been a sharp rise in use of other smoked tobacco products, particularly among young people.

    “It’s vital that smoking cessation services are adequately funded and available across the U.K. so that the around 772,800 people who use noncigarette tobacco products, and the millions who use cigarettes, are given the support they need to quit.”

  • Registration Opens for 2024 Habano Festival

    Registration Opens for 2024 Habano Festival

    Registration for the 2024 Habano Festival is now available through an online accreditation system at https://registrations.habanos.com. Those hopeful to attend can review all activities and make a payment online with a credit card.

    Typically, registration for the event happens in November of the previous year. This year, registration was delayed by approximately two months. No reason was given by Habanos for the delay.

    The registration period for the Habano Festival will be open from January 30th to February 12th or until the slots available are exhausted.

    “Once payment has been made, you will receive an email with a QR code which you may present it per activity, either on your phone or printed, along with the physical invitation given to you at Palco Hotel, Convention Center, Havana,” the release states. “Thank you for your interest; we look forward to seeing you at the most important Premium tobacco event in the world: the Habano Festival.”

    The events and costs are:

    • Welcome Evening — €530 ($574) — Event commemorating the 30th anniversary of Habanos S.A. to be held at Club Havana;
    • Visit to Plantations in the Pinar del Río region — €170 ($184)
    • International Seminar — €425 ($460);
    • Mid-week Evening — €745 ($807)— Event celebrating 50th anniversary of Quai D’Orsay brand to be held at the El Laguito Protocol Room;
    • Visit to Habanos Factories — €200 ($216);
    • Gala Evening — €1,325 ($1,436) — Dedicated to the 55th anniversary of the Trinidad brand to be held at Pabexpo.

    The exclusive cigar event is to be held in Havana from Feb. 26 – to March 1, 2024.

    Payments in Cuba can also be placed through Havanatur, according to Habanos. For further information, email Havanatur at eventos@havanatur.cu

    Habanos, S.A., the state-run distributor of global Cuban cigars, said in a release that its annual event is “in an international and exclusive atmosphere,” and it will include a wide-ranging program of activities combining the knowledge of the Habano and the exciting culture, including the ending final evening gala dinner and famed humidor auction.

    “In this XXIV Edition, the best specialists, distributors and aficionados will enjoy all the activities that, along with the best gastronomy and music, have made this famous event: visits to renowned Habanos factories, plantations, seminars with interesting lectures, exclusives pairings, contests and three very special nights where they will get a sneak preview of the latest Habanos, S.A. novelties,” the release states.

    Habanos, S.A. is already “working to make this event memorable for the expectations of aficionados with the passion and magic they have come to expect from each new edition.”

  • Oliva Launches ‘Year of the Dragon’ Cigar

    Oliva Launches ‘Year of the Dragon’ Cigar

    Nicaragua-based Oliva Cigars has partnered with China Duty Free Group (CDFG) to launch a limited-edition “Year of the Dragon” premium cigar line.

    The MSRP has been set at $35 per cigar or $350 per box of 10 cigars. Production is limited to 1,500 boxes, and they are expected to go on sale in mid-February.

    Each box features a dragon design, paying homage to the creature and the spirit of the Chinese New Year.

    Credit: Oliva

    The Year of the Dragon is a Churchhill produced in Oliva’s factory in Esteli, Nicaragua, and features an Ecuadorian Habano sun-grown wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan fillers.

    “We are thrilled to introduce the Oliva Year of the Dragon Churchill Cigar in celebration of the Chinese New Year in cooperation with CDFG,” Oliva Cigars Export Manager Thomas Gryson said in a press release. “This limited-edition collection is a true embodiment of our dedication to quality and craftsmanship.

    “We have carefully curated this offering to provide aficionados with a unique and culturally significant cigar experience, making it a must-have for collectors and enthusiasts alike.”

  • Major Tax Increase Introduced in Congress

    Major Tax Increase Introduced in Congress

    Credit: Roman R

    Last week, lawmakers in the U.S. introduced the CARE For Moms Act in Congress. That bill would increase healthcare for expecting and new mothers, while also exponentially increasing the taxes for vaping, roll-your-own, cigars and other tobacco products.

    The tobacco tax language in the CARE Act was copied and pasted out of the Tobacco Tax Equity Act, a bill that has been introduced as a rider in bills introduced in previous sessions of Congress but it failed to gain any traction, according to halfwheel.

    That could change after Sen. Ron Wyden and Sen. Dick Durbin have now introduced the Tobacco Tax Equity Act of 2023 in the Senate as a standalone bill, while Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi introduced the bill in the House of Representatives.

    The tobacco tax-related language includes:

    • New taxes for e-cigarettes;
    • Doubling the tax on roll-your-own tobacco;
    • A more than 16x increase on pipe tobacco;
    • Doubling the tax on small cigars;
    • A massive tax hike for premium cigars;

    For premium cigars, the language removes the existing federal excise tax of 52.75 percent, capped at 40.26 cents per cigar, and replaces it with a weight-based tax of $49.56 per pound.

    Because it’s a weight-based tax, the difference between the existing tax and the new taxes would vary depending on how heavy the cigar is. For cigars robusto or larger, it would likely more than triple the current federal tax rate.

  • Habanos Appoints First Woman as Co-President

    Habanos Appoints First Woman as Co-President

    Maritza Carrillo González (Credit: Habanos S.A.)

    Habanos S.A., the manufacturing and distribution arm of the Cuban cigar industry, has announced that Maritza Carrillo González has been appointed as its new co-president after being approved by Habanos shareholders.

    Carrillo’s promotion is “endorsed by the experience, knowledge and work she has been performing for several years in different positions within Habanos, S.A. and other entities related to Habanos,” according to a release.

    She is the first woman to serve as co-president of the company. She is rumored to be replacing Inocente Núñez Blanco as one of the company’s two co-presidents alongside fellow co-president Luis Sánchez-Harguindey Pardo de Vera.

    Carrillo holds a degree in International Economic Relations and has been linked to the world of Habanos since serving as a founding team member of the company.

    She has held various responsibilities in the commercial, marketing and business development divisions of Habanos.

    From 2006 to 2011, she served as marketing director and head of Havanesa stores at Empor, S.A. (the exclusive Habanos distributor in Portugal).

    In 2011, she was promoted to serve as business development director of the company.

    She later assumed the position of president of Comercial Iberoamericana S.A. (COIBA) based in Spain.

    In 2021, Carillo became general manager of Tabagest S.A., where served until her recent appointment as co-president of Habanos.

    The move comes as the company is preparing for the 23rd edition of the Habanos Festival taking place from Monday, Feb. 27th, to Friday, March 3rd. It is the premier event for the Cuban cigar industry.

    Habanos reported a turnover of $568 million in 2021, up 15 percent growth over the previous year.