There are certain brands that you go and visit at IPCPR year after year, and you watch them grow and evolve as a brand. At the same time, you are amazed how much time passes when you first encounter them at IPCPR. One of them is Fratello Cigars. Company owner and founder Omar de Frias […]
As we headed into IPCPR Season this past spring, if there was one company I was most curious about in anticipation of the trade show, it was Royal Agio Cigars. The company is a giant in Europe, and over the past year has been positioning itself to make a big move in the U.S. market. […]
It’s the third trade show for Rene Castaneda as President of Villiger Cigars North America. In the past two years, Castaneda has presided over one of the great turnarounds in the U.S. premium cigar market. At the end of 2015, Villiger North America was at a cross-road in the U.S. market. The U.S. operation was not profitable […]
The Quesada booth had a different feel this year. While company President Manuel Quesada was there with his daughters Patricia and Raquel, there were some new faces as well. This is a company that had undergone a lot of internal changes over the past year, starting with the departure of General Manager Terence Reilly and […]
Each and every year, C.L.E. Cigar Company is one of the busiest booths at the IPCPR Trade Show. 2018 was no exception, and while there wasn’t a plethora of new releases, there was no slowdown of activity. This year the company showcased its C.L.E., EIROA, and Asylum brands as well as Patoro Cigars, the Dominican […]
There is always something exciting to see at the General Cigar booth. I draw an analogy that it’s like going to Macy’s Department Store at Christmas time. The presentation is excellent and the cigars are always intriguing. In past years, we have seen General Cigar go heavier with one brand as opposed to another. The […]
Santa Clara Cigars is a premium cigar wholesale retailer that is a part of Tabacalera USA. They offer a large selection of premium handmade cigars to the retail community for a large amount of brands. They also carry several exclusive offerings from leading manufacturers that are typically made available to Tabacalera USA’s Casa de Montecristo […]
It was a different name and a different approach for the company formally known as Casa Fernandez at this year’s IPCPR. The company unveiled its new name Aganorsa Leaf. At the same time, the company started to implement its new branding and showcased a couple of new releases. Aganorsa is an acronym for Agricola Ganadera […]
Two years ago, E.P. Carrillo overhauled its entire portfolio. This saw most of the existing lines undergo either packaging and/or blend changes as well as the additions of some new lines. The past two years have been quieter compared to 2016, but the company has had no problem showcasing some newer offerings. This year E.P. […]
When it comes to the IPCPR, the Trade Show is a little different for Andre Farkas and Viaje Cigar Company than others. For the most part, Viaje’s business model is built on small batch releases that are sent to its retailers on (almost a) monthly basis. As a result, the trade show isn’t a place […]
