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InterTabac 2019 Draws Record 13,800 Visitors
InterTabac 2019 Draws Record 13,800 Visitors
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»CONTRIBUTED REPORT
Photos: Wolfgang Helm/Messe Dortmund
InterTabac, the world’s largest trade fair for tobacco products and smoking accessories, was again the most important meeting place for national and international representatives of the tobacco industry, retail and wholesale sectors this year from 20 to 22 September and boasted about 40,000 sqm of exhibition space in the halls of the Dortmund Exhibition Centre.
Besides numerous German visitors from the key target groups and sectors—including classic tobacconists petrol stations, and kiosk retailers—internationality was again an important feature of the trade fair. About 42 per cent of the visitors came from abroad: The visitors’ home countries included the USA, China, Chile and South Africa. European home countries were primarily Spain, Italy, France, The Netherlands and Turkey.
Almost 58 per cent of the visitors came from Germany. “German participants primarily included classic tobacconists, explained Sabine Loos, CEO of Westfalenhallen Unternehmensgruppe GmbH. “The interest in new topics and trends and the personal exchange of information prevailed as usual. That is not surprising because only InterTabac gives retailers and wholesalers the opportunity of exploring and testing the product width and depth and making contacts with established and new customers.”
Thomas Schäfer, Managing Director of the Tobacco Trade Association of North Rhine Westphalia added that, “Year after year, InterTabac expands its reputation as the world’s flagship trade fair of the tobacco industry and as the meeting place of the tobacco family. And that applies again this year. The trade must overcome many challenges in the future. The condensed overview of all tobacco product and ancillary product segments as given by InterTabac at the Dortmund location is therefore incredibly important for wholesalers and retailers in today’s world.”
Classic segments continue to be a central element. Fans of classic tobacco products and pipes and cigars got their money’s worth. Exhibitors in Halls 4 to 7 showcased additive-free cigarettes, high-quality pipes, and interesting up-market products from small cigar manufacturing businesses.
The satisfaction of the tobacco retail trade with InterTabac 2019 was underlined by Steffen Kahnt, Director of the German Association of Tobacconists. “InterTabac has once again given the retail sector an overview of all segments of the national and international tobacco world. It continues to be an indispensable dialogue, information and order placement platform, especially for tobacconists. This central meeting place gives a comprehensive overview, especially of the classic cigar, cigarette and pipe segments, to make the retailers’ product portfolios viable for the future,” SteffenKahnt said.
Photos: Wolfgang Helm/Messe Dortmund
Photos: Wolfgang Helm/Messe Dortmund
NGP Segment Popular Again
Building upon growing momentum in previous years, there was great interest in Next Generation Products (NGP), which this year filled the entire Westfalenhalle event arena and Halls 1 and 2 of the Dortmund Exhibition Centre. Trade visitors purused the latest e-cigarette hardware, tested innovations in the vape segment, and sampled popular smokeless products such as chewing tobacco. “The NGP segment continues to show a positive development and that was also evident from this year’s InterTabac trade fair,” noted Loos.
A similar situation could be seen on the shisha stands in Hall 8 and a part of Hall 6. “The pleasure of smoking shisha as a new pastime is very popular. The exhibitors took this trend into account and showcased their diverse product range that fulfils all wishes of the consumers,” said Loos.
New Events Expand InterTabac
The premiere of the new diverse accompanying programme that supported this year’s trade fair was very well received by the guests. Sabine Loos explained the background of the new offer: “Thanks to the accompanying programme, InterTabac is now much more than an important order placement platform. It sets new standards for the national and international exchange of trade information. Accordingly, visitors can ideally prepare and pave the way for future business activities here.”
One of the many exciting lectures was futuristic: Dr Felix Stehle from the Technical University of Dortmund gave an overview of the “Generation of a nicotine-free, nontransgenic tobacco plant” topic. With the aid of state-ofthe-art scientific methods, researchers succeeded in modifying the genes of a tobacco plant in such a way that its leaves no longer contain any nicotine. These results open up the opportunity for the tobacco industry to produce nicotine-free cigarettes. The “Cigar & Rum Pairing” event where international premium rum brands were paired with Nicaraguan cigars to give the participants a very exciting taste experience was very popular.
Improved Services for Fair Visitors
Besides the innovative accompanying programme, new services also made the trade fair even more attractive, including a choice of exclusive hotel packages and an improved shuttle service to nearby airports and last but not least the new modern, functional and light-flooded 4,500 sqm North Entrance.
Interested exhibitors and trade visitors can already note the date in their diary for next year’s InterTabac and InterSupply. The two trade fairs will take place from 18 to 20 September 2020 – of course again in the halls of the Dortmund Exhibition Centre. TPI
Nicaraguan cigar maker Joya de Nicaragua launched its new limited production “ambassador” cigar, Número Uno, limited to only 1,500 boxes a year for the global market.
Joya de Nicaragua
2019 Cigar Trophy Winners
Cigar Trophy
The Cigar Trophy Awards are one of only a few honors in the industry that are determined by consumer voting, first by nominating candidates in five different categories (Best Brand, Best Cigar, Best Value, Best Accessory, and Best Lounge), then voting for a winner among the top five finalists within each category. In addition, four additional awards are selected by staff members. The 2019 awards were presented by Cigar Journal Magazine on Friday, 20th September, at the Westfalenhallen Dortmund Conference Center.
BEST CIGAR BRAND
Cuba: Cohiba
Dominican Republic: A. Fuente
Honduras: Plasencia Cosecha 146
Nicaragua: Perdomo Habano Bourbon Barrel Aged
BEST CIGAR
Cuba: Cohiba Siglo VI
Dominican Rep.: Davidoff Winston Churchill The Late Hour Churchill
Honduras: Eiroa The First 20 Years 54 × 6
Nicaragua: My Father La Opulencia Toro
U.S.A.: Tatuaje 15th Anniversary Habano Rosado Belicoso Fino
BEST VALUE
Cuba: Saint Luis Rey
Dominican Republic: E.P. Carrillo Encore
Honduras: Villa Zamorano
Nicaragua: A.J. Fernandez New World Cameroon
BEST CIGAR ACCESSORY
Boveda
BEST CIGAR LOUNGE
Kempinski Cigar Lounge by Zechbauer
CHARITY & COMMUNITY
Toast Across America
OUTSTANDING ART
DeArt Italian Fine Furniture
AMBASSADOR
Cigar Rights of Europe
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
Rocky Patel
