Enrique Seijas returns to Prime Time – and this time he will join us for Special Edition. We’ll catch up on all of happenings with Matilde Cigars. Plus Bear and Coop discuss the launch of CigarAction.org and Kretak’s acquisition of Foundry Tobacco Company. Coop reports back from La Zona Palooza 2018. Finally, given this episode […]
Foundry Tobacco Company, a subsidiary brand under General Cigar Company, has been acquired by Kretek International, the parent company of Ventura Cigar. The acquisition puts Foundry back under the stewardship of the man who launched the brand for General Cigar, Ventura Cigar Company General Manager Michael Giannini. Under the transaction, the brands of Foundry will […]
The two main things I’ve noticed since Regis Broesma has taken over as President of General Cigar are better delineation in its brands and a better connection with its customers. I think to some extent, General had been hampered by brand overlap, but this year, General did an excellent job of better defining the brands. Some of the highlights included: Macanudo holding […]
Last week came word of the hiring of Sean Williams as the Brand Ambassador for one of General Cigar Company’s most prestigious brands, Cohiba. The news came as a big surprise to many in the cigar industry, but to this author, it’s clear it’s part of a bigger story at General – one of change. It is a change that continues to evolve, but […]
Foundry Tobacco Company is once again bringing new life to an old brand. Today the subsidiary under General Cigar announced it is bringing back a re-imaged version of the legendary Jamaican brand, the Temple Hall Estates Collection. The new Temple Hall Estates Collection becomes the third major installment of the FTC Heritage Series – […]
At the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show, Foundry Tobacco Company showcased a new offering called Time Flies. Foundry is a boutique-style subsidiary under General Cigar that was established in 2012. Time Flies is one of two recent projects by General Cigar that was blended by A.J. Fernandez. One of the big stories from the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show was that […]
On September 22, 2016, it was confirmed that Michael Giannini, Creative Director and Director of Innovation had departed General Cigar Company. Over the past decade, Giannini one can make the argument that Giannini became the face of General Cigar. Giannini brought a dynamic, flamboyant, and unconventional approach to the cigar business. Whether you agreed or disagreed with […]
The Michael Giannini era at General Cigar Company has come to a close. Giannini, the dynamic personality who served as the company’s Creative Director and Director of Innovation has departed the company. Word of Giannini’s split with General Cigar surfaced earlier this week. Last night, both General Cigar and Giannini confirmed the split to Cigar […]
“There are so many beats in your chest and only so many words in your head”. That is what General Cigar’s Michael Giannini said to me this year at the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show when it came to this year’s theme for Foundry Tobacco Company’s releases. It was this theme that led him and Foundry […]
Wasn’t this supposed to be the year where product was just going to come out of the woodwork? While General was right at the top of the amount of new releases, there actually seemed to be a little less than in previous years. The booth seemed to be slightly smaller as well – continuing a […]
