|
|
|
| DAVIDOFF ACQUIRES CUSANO |
|
|
|
Page 1 of 2  Plus: Hav-A-Tampa plant to close in Florida.Los Angeles, June 24, 2009 – The Oettinger Davidoff Group, long synonymous with ultimate luxury, continued to lengthen its retail reach with the acquisition of DomRey Cigar, better known as Cusano Cigars, announced yesterday. Oettinger Davidoff, a privately-held firm, did not disclose any terms as per its usual practice, but it’s the third time – after Avo and The Griffin’s – that it has purchased a company or brands which were made at the Oettinger-owned Tabadom complex in Santiago, Dominican Republic, where its famed Davidoff brand is also made. It’s the company’s second major purchase in less than a year as it acquired Camacho Cigars in October 2008. (Oettinger Davidoff chief executive Reto Cina and DomRey president Michael Chiusano are pictured above.) The purchase of Cusano gives Davidoff 13 more brands in its overall stable, which is quickly nearing the roster size of U.S. market behemoths General Cigar and Altadis U.S.A. By adding the Cusano 18, Cusano 59 Rare Cameroon, Cusano Corojo ‘97, Cusano Flavored, Cusano Habano LXI, Cusano bundled lines (four brands: CC, M1, MC, P1), Cuvee, Perfect Cut and the Dutch-made Agio and Panter cigarillo lines, the Stamford, Connecticut-based Davidoff of Geneva now has control of 49 U.S.-marketed brands: Davidoff of Geneva: 15 Camacho Cigars: 21 Cusano Cigars: 13 The key to the transaction is Cusano’s success in placement of products at the lower end of the cigar-sales spectrum, in convenience stores, tobacco outlet stores and similar locations. Its excellent bundled cigar lines – its Cusano CC line earned a grade of A- in our tasting – and the Perfect Cut machine-made brand have wide distribution in places where Davidoff products are never seen. The 48-year-old Michael Chiusano’s relentless travel on behalf of his brands, along with that of his staff – including his brother Joe – created the reach that interested Davidoff. “We are gaining access to several new distribution channels in the USA,” noted Oettinger Davidoff chief executive Reto Cina, “including the so-called C-stores through subsidiary CTS Concepts LLC and tobacco outlet chains through DomRey Cigar, Inc.” He called Chiusano “an innovative thinker” and confirmed that he and Joe would continue as president of Cusano Cigars. |
| < Following Column | Previous Column > |
|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Did you know?
“After popularizing so many Havana brands, Dunhill had its own brand, made in Cuba, from 1970 to 1991.
