The Premium Cigar Association has announced it has entered into a collaborative relationship with the Boutique Cigar Association of America (BCAA). As a part of the relationship, the Boutique Cigar Association of America will now be a part of the Premium Cigar Association Trade Show in 2023.

The BCAA was founded in 2016 as an association of small cigar companies across the United States, with the mission to promote and support small, family-owned cigar businesses that manufacture fewer than one million cigars per year. At the end of 2020, the BCAA announced it would give up its non-profit status and would have more of a social platform emphasis. The BCAA also puts on its own annual festival and this year it will be held in Martinsville, Indiana.

In a press release by the PCA, Armen Caprielian, co-owner of DAV Cigars and President of the BCAA Board of Directors, commented, “The vision of this partnership is to bring together the newness and enthusiasm of the BCAA’s young, small cigar companies and the breadth of wisdom and experience of the PCA’s well-established membership. Through sharing our knowledge, resources, and experiences, we all are poised to present a unified front in promoting our industry, advocating for sensible regulation that preserves our common tobacco heritage, and ensuring a vibrant future for manufacturers, retailers, and consumers.”

Dr. Gaby Kafie, founder, and current Treasurer of the BCAA  who was in attendance at the 2022 PCA Trade Show said, “too many small companies go unrecognized or fail to join the mission to fight federal regulations” which are causing challenges at all levels of the cigar industry. The vision of the BCAA is ‘to bring all the boutique cigar companies together as one unified voice—well-informed, educated, and ready to act’. Now is the time to join forces with the PCA and focus all our energy on ensuring that our industry thrives and flourishes now and in the future. We are mindful of all who have come before us in the cigar industry; we are grateful to all those who stand shoulder to shoulder with us now; and we are excited to continue to make significant contributions toward achieving a brighter future.”

Greg Zimmerman, President of the PCA, said. “Being united in our pursuit to protect premium cigars and pipe tobacco is critical as we move forward through this changing regulatory environment,” said Zimmerman. “With our recent litigation successes, we now have a unique moment as an industry and having the BCAA alongside us will only enhance our voice and our efficacy.”

Finally, PCA Executive Director Scott Peace said, “The PCA annual convention and trade show is the world’s largest gathering for the premium cigar and pipe industry. Adding a strong BCAA component to the trade show will absolutely enhance our offering to retailers to discover great new brands to offer their customers while providing our world-class stage for these brands to launch and grow.”