Altadis USA Prepping for Post Embargo?

[El Presidente]

Altadis U.S.A. Forms Premium Cigar Division

http://www.tobacco.csnews.com/top-story-al...vision-502.html

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Altadis U.S.A. has made some restructuring changes to bring the U.S. cigaroperations into line with the overall organizational structure of its parent company, Imperial Tobacco.

In a move to strengthen U.S. business opportunities, and to maximize market capabilities and its worldwide brand portfolio, the company has established a new Premium Cigar Division within the United States. Javier Estades has been appointed to the new position of General Manager Premium Cigars U.S.A. In this role he will report to Fernando Dominguez, Premium Cigar Director Worldwide, Imperial Tobacco Group. Estades previously served as sales and marketing director for Europe and International Markets.

In further changes, Jim Colucci, executive vice president sales and marketing, announced his retirement from Altadis U.S.A. effective July 31. He will work with Estades and Dominguez "to ensure a smooth transition until his retirement," Altadis U.S.A. said in a release.

The company manufactures and markets such brands as Montecristo, H. Upmann, Romeo y Juliet, Trinidad, Vega Fina, Onyx Reserve, Don Diego, Saint Luis Rey and Gispert.

[Colt45]

I would have thought they already had a plan in place ready to implement.

On a side note, I'm going to be curious to see how U.S. cigar smokers (who don't already partake) react to - let's call it "inconsistency"

- and how much patience they'll show.

[warren516]

When the embargo is lifted and Cuban Cigars can be legally sold in the United States, what is going to happen to the non-cuban made cigars that Pres. has listed?

[edameff]

I am emotionally torn about the embargo being lifted (if it actually will happen). We currently have inconsistency with our smokes, regardless of what Habanos SA claims the demand here in the US will far outweigh the volume of "Quality" product that is being made in Cuba. Now if the Padrons, and other true tobacco farmers get there and grow their own product then it will be great...problem is this will take years before enough tobacco can be grown and aged. Also with demand going up I feel the prices will explode (at least for a while) as the "forbidden fruit" is available. I think this will level out after a year or two, but we better stock up for that. On the flip side, I have dreamed of going to Cuba for longer than I can remember, however in my profession if I am caught, that can cost me my job so I only dream until it is legal. Prez...please keep a close eye on this for us and let us know...I want to be first to book my flight and share a cigar with you.

[anacostiakat]

I would have thought they already had a plan in place ready to implement.

On a side note, I'm going to be curious to see how U.S. cigar smokers (who don't already partake) react to - let's call it "inconsistency"

- and how much patience they'll show.

Good point! I think this will be quite interesting as well. Life is a compromise.

[canadianbeaver]

I wonder what they will call the division for the USA non-premium cigars that are left? D-R* Enterprises?

*Dog-rocket

CB

[PigFish]

By the time the embargo gets lifted only the US Oligarchy will be smoking cigars anyway! By that time the US currency will be trash and we will be more interested eating grubs than smoking cigars!!! The way we are going the currency for the Congo will be preferred to the dollar and tobacco will be have been outlawed, Cuba will have had a constitution based on liberty and the US will be apart of the 3rd world!

In the grand scheme I don't give a **** about the embargo! -Piggy

[snickers99]

In the grand scheme I don't give a **** about the embargo! -Piggy

Amen! The embargo is but one of the glaring embarrassments in US foreign policy. I have always thought it had more to do with claims to property and assets seized after the revolution. I don't imagine it'll be lifted anytime soon since big money is at issue.

[sblevit]

The day the embargo is lifted is the day I put in my order for $20K of CCs because after that it's all going to be downhill for a while and that $20K ought to get me though the bad period.

[Wiley]

Back in the old days Cuba had plenty of crop for not only their own factories, but also cigars rolled in Key West, Tampa, etc. If I recall correctly, the number of cigars smoked was orders of magnitude greater than now. I'm very skeptical of claims that demand will exceed supply.

[jedipastor]

On a side note, I'm going to be curious to see how U.S. cigar smokers (who don't already partake) react to - let's call it "inconsistency"

- and how much patience they'll show.

Not much patience, I think. After the initial drive to buy them, many will turn away from inconistancy or simply because they've been so built-up in people's minds. But then when the quality inevitably plummets (they'll be getting all the stuff Rob sends back, after all, lol), many hardcore cigars smokers will give up on them.

EVERYONE in the US and their Dad will try them initially (Americans want to try anything that's supposed to be awesome, even if they don't know what the heck they're doing ... businessmen and lawyers will NEED to have a humidor of Cubans in their office to offer clients, etc. etc.) ... demand will be so large as to dry up all available supply initially. Cuba will then react by pumping out as much quantity as they can to meet demand, and consequently quality will be absolutely abysmal, and Cuban cigars will suck balls for 10 years.

I really think the end of the US embargo will mean the death of the Cuban cigar for a decent number of years ... IF, that is, the Castros are still in charge at the time. If the Cubans are allowed to privatize their own tobacco businesses again, of course things will change for the better.