In an unusual move that has attracted some criticism, India’s Uttar Pradesh state government has slashed the VAT on cigarettes and cigars from 50 percent to 25 percent. According to a report in the latest issue of the BBM Bommidala Group newsletter, the decision to reduce VAT was taken at a meeting of the state [...]
Royal Agio Cigars has appointed Asia Marketing Services as its agent for the Asia Pacific region. Asia Marketing Services will be responsible for coordinating the sales and marketing efforts of the Agio Cigars brands in the Asia Pacific domestic and travel retail markets. “This strategic partnership with Asia Marketing Services will enable us to continue growing [...]
The U.S. unit of one of the major players in the world of European-style, machine-made cigars is expanding its presence on the premium side of the business. Villiger Cigars North America, the U.S. arm of Villiger Söhne AG of Pfeffikon, Switzerland, has expanded its small but growing stable of handmade cigar brands, according to a story [...]
Cigar makers are trying to snuff out an effort by the Food and Drug Administration to regulate their products for the first time. The FDA said in its regulatory agenda for the year that it would propose rules in April to expand federal oversight of tobacco products under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. The [...]
The Switzerland-based cigar producer, Oettinger Davidoff Group, will be represented in Austria by its own subsidiary beginning in May, Davidoff of Geneva Austria GmbH, according to an APA Economic News Service story. Austria is the 10th biggest market for the group, which is said to have a presence in 150 countries and to employ 3,700 [...]
ATD Machinery of the Netherlands has become an independent company, ATD Machinery BV, as of Jan. 1, 2013. Previously the technical department of Agio Cigars, ATD has over the years evolved into a full-fledged supplier of machinery to the global cigar industry. To learn more about the newly independent ATD Machinery, visit www.atdmachinery.nl.
Tobacco industry veteran E. “Archie” Mishkin passed away on Oct. 30, 2012. Mishkin was 94 and had lived in Ketchum, Idaho, USA, since his retirement in 1985. After serving in the U.S. army during World War II, Mishkin worked as an accountant in New York City and Havana, Cuba. While in Cuba he became a [...]
