STG to Rename Cafe Creme Cigarillos to Signature in U.K., Key European Markets BOREHAMWOOD, UK—Scandinavian
Tobacco Group UK announced a name change for
Personnel Changes » Corporación Habanos, S.A. has
the UK’s leading cigar brand from Café Crème to Signature, “aligning the name fur-
promoted Alberto Donar Cruz Rojas
ther to the positive consumer perceptions of the brand as authentic, premium and a
to Control and Sales Management
contemporary high-quality product.” STG faced the possi-
Director. Previously, Rojas served
bility the brand could be banned in France in 2017 due to
as Commercial
its flavor reference.
Specialist in the
Cafe Creme was launched in 1963 as the first-ever
same division,
miniature cigar in a tin and has achieved steady growth for
and brings more
over 50 years. It leads the UK market with 35.9% share
than three years
overall, and 67.8% share in the miniatures segment.
experience in the
The new Signature brand name will be rolling out in UK stores from February 2019
tobacco sector to
with a phased transition to ensure high awareness amongst retailers and consumers
his new position. Rojas
alike. This will include the launch of new transition packs from October which will feature an on-pack flash highlighting that the name will soon be changing to Signature. Each pack will also include an inlay inside the tin with additional details informing consumers of the name change and reassuring them the cigars will remain the same. New tins, featuring the same pack design used currently and showcasing the
Study: Fine Cut Buffers Market
Signature name, will then be brought to market in February, to allow ample time for
BRUSSELS— The
the transition to take place.
Tobacco Association (ESTA) announced
European Smoking
the release of a study commissioned
Oettinger Davidoff Tapped by Ventura Cigar to Distribute Psyko Seven in Switzerland BASEL—Ventura
Cigar Company announced that its Psyko Seven premium hand rolled
from London Economics on the fine-cut tobacco (FCT) excise taxation in the European Union. This study illustrates the key economic mechanisms of
cigars began arriving on European shores in October, making their European debut
fine-cut tobacco taxation by using the
at the Oettinger Davidoff Expo in Lucerne, Switzerland. The medium-bodied Psyko
examples of 4 meaningful FCT markets:
Seven series is produced at Oettinger Davidoff’s
Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands
Occidental Cigar Factory in the Dominican
and the United Kingdom.
Republic utilizing a complex blend of seven
The study is based on data com-
tobaccos, and Oettinger Davidoff will now distrib-
ing from publicly available sources
ute the product in Switzerland as it seeks to build
including national statistical agencies
additional growth into other European countries.
and the European Commission. The
“We think the European market is more than ready for the disruptive nature
2018 London Economics study reaf-
of the Psyko brand, and that it will do well here,” said Rick Charles, International
firms the key findings of the initial
Markets Manager of Ventura Cigars.
2015 study, underlining the buffer
Gerhard Anderlohr, General Manager, Davidoff of Geneva Switzerland, Oettinger
function of fine-cut tobacco. By pro-
Davidoff AG, added that, “There’s something really unique about the Psyko Seven
viding an affordable legal alternative
cigars. We’ve been impressed with their longstanding quality and success and are
to price-sensitive consumers when
pleased to work with Ventura Cigars to bring this brand into Swiss retailers.”
faced with prohibitive tobacco excise
The branding is notably attention-getting, with clean, white packaging that share
increases, fine-cut tobacco miti-
detailed product criteria. The Psyko Seven cigars include Psyko Seven Natural,
gates losses in government revenue
Psyko Seven Maduro, and Psyko Seven Connecticut, a relatively recent release, and
resulting from rises in illicit trade and
Maduro Psykorillos, conveniently sized for time-limited enjoyment.
non-domestic consumption.
Tobacco Products International
TPI 5
