Business

The Constitutional Court has ruled that the registration fees imposed on cigar importers and manufacturers are disproportionate. On May 8, 2026, the Constitutional Court of Estonia upheld the unconstitutionality of the regulatory fees levied on cigar manufacturers and importers—a decision that, had it not been issued, could have eliminated hundreds of cigar brands from the Estonian market. Under the EU-CEG

Son of the legendary Angel Oliva Sr., he had been vice-president of the Oliva Tobacco Company, one of the largest suppliers of premium tobacco leaves. The world of premium tobacco has lost a figure as respected as he was discreet. Angel Oliva Jr. passed away on April 30, 2026, at the age of 91, according to multiple sources. Born on

Tabacalera SLU has obtained temporary licenses from the American and British authorities, giving it additional time to remove Chen Zhi from its shareholding.   Tabacalera SLU has obtained temporary licenses to market its products in the United States and the United Kingdom, according to the Spanish website El Confidencial. The Madrid-based company, a co-shareholder of Habanos S.A., has also emerged

With the energy crisis unresolved and direct flights to Cuba becoming increasingly rare, the group has decided to relocate this week of meetings reserved for distributors to Spain.   Usually held in Havana, Habanos S.A.’s “marketing workshops” will take place this year in Spain during the week of June 29, according to several distributors. These meetings traditionally bring together Habanos

EXCLUSIVE INVESTIGATION — A French company bearing an NBA star’s initials has been running an illegal Cuban cigar distribution network, complete with fake credentials, a 22-page catalogue, and a shell structure designed to stay under the radar.    KS Export. K for Kevin, S for Séraphin. Behind these two initials lies a company registered in the Paris area, officially specializing

The Paris Court of Appeal has fined Netflix 250,000 euros for using archive footage of Formula 1 racing in its documentary about Michael Schumacher.   The Paris Court of Appeal has fined Netflix €250,000 for what it considers illegal tobacco advertising. The streaming giant was found guilty of posting the trailer for a documentary about Formula 1 driver Michael Schumacher

Sponsored by a Green Party MP, the bill is currently circulating in the halls of the French National Assembly. It could be debated as early as next month.   A draft bill aims to extend plain packaging to all tobacco and vaping products – including cigars. The text, drafted by Green Party MP Nicolas Thierry, is currently circulating in the

Cuban rum partners with Dominique London to offer Eminente Colección Privada. Two vintages available exclusively at Dominique London shops.   Eminente Colección Privada Dominique London Edition is an exclusive collection featuring two exceptional rums: a 12-year-old and a 25-year-old. The 12-year-old is described by the producer as follows: “Both rich and exquisitely smooth, paying homage to the art of blending

In a country where the cigar market is booming, the Swiss brand presented its first exclusive edition. “Visiting Ho Chi Minh City today, I was struck by its incredible dynamism. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting the Avanti Group boutiques, where everything is driven by passion, dedication, rigor and perfection. Since the start of our partnership in 2021, our sales have increased

Dominique Gyselinck considers this LCDH located in London’s West End to be his “most beautiful boutique”. It opened on March 25th. On the ground floor, the accessories corner and the large walk-in humidor (© Dominique London)   No fewer than four opening parties have taken place since the official opening of La Casa del Habano (LCDH) Pall Mall on March

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The Cuban franchise is located in the Fairmont Palace in Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva.   “This is the first La Casa del Habano (LCDH) franchise located in a 5-star hotel in Switzerland,” proudly announced Yann Mon Baron, who recently inaugurated the new establishment with his father, in the presence of representatives from Intertabak AG (the distributor of

The entire tobacco sector was nationalized in the early 1960s, leading to a wave of emigration and the birth of the Dominican, Nicaraguan and Honduran industries.   The Cuban government is ready to compensate Americans whose property was nationalized after the 1959 revolution, Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio told the U.S. news site Drop Site News. If an

The Cuban woman previously worked at Havana House, the Habanos exclusive distributor in Canada. She succeeds Enrique Babot.   Damarys Maldonado is the new co-CEO of Coprova, alongside Antoine Bathie. The Cuban national took up her position at the exclusive distributor of Cuban cigars in France in early 2026, succeeding Enrique Babot, who returned to Habanos S.A.’s headquarters in Havana

Several European Habanos distributors have had their bank accounts closed in recent weeks, according to our sources.   Although Chen Zhi is not officially sanctioned on the Continent, several European Habanos distributors have in recent weeks faced banking restrictions, including outright account closures. According to our sources, Laguito 1492 (Benelux) and Fifth Avenue (Germany, Austria, Poland) have had their bank

More than 11,000 hectares of tobacco will be harvested. This is better than last year but less than the initial target of 14,000 hectares.   The 2025-2026 tobacco season in Vuelta Abajo province has ended with 11,426 hectares planted, according to Cuban press reports citing officials from the state-owned company Tabacuba. This figure, a slight increase compared to the previous

The Italian government recognizes “a production tradition that for more than two centuries has combined territory, artisanal know-how and quality,” the group believes.   Toscano cigar has just been recognized as a “Historical Trademark” by the Italian Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy, Manifatture Sigaro Toscano (MST) announced in a press release. This distinction is reserved for brands used

Meanwhile, liquidation proceedings are underway in the British Virgin Islands to lead to a final dissociation of Chen Zhi.   Tabacalera SLU has filed for “pre-insolvency” (pre-concourso) in Spain, a step it describes as strictly preventative and intended to “protect the company’s day-to-day operations and ensure business continuity .” According to sources within the company’s communications team, this decision is