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Tag: distribution

  • Natura Cigar Co. Tabs City of Palms as U.S. Distributor

    Natura Cigar Co. Tabs City of Palms as U.S. Distributor

    Dominican cigar maker Natura Cigar Co. appointed City of Palms Distribution as its new U.S. distributor, marking a key step in the brand’s international growth strategy. The agreement follows several weeks of discussions and is expected to strengthen Natura’s footprint in the American market while laying the groundwork for broader global expansion, said Dary Munoz, the company’s international sales director, in a press release.

    According to Halfwheel, Natura Cigars was founded in 2020 by Jacob Yfrach, and has a unique tobacco-growing operation in Constanza, Dominican Republic, a high-altitude, cool-climate region that allows for an extended growing season. The company emphasizes slow, temperature-controlled aging to preserve sugars and oils in its tobacco. City of Palms, based in Fort Myers, Florida, distributes nearly two dozen cigar brands.

  • Withheld Funds Crippling Philippine Tobacco Farmers

    Withheld Funds Crippling Philippine Tobacco Farmers

    Billions of pesos (1 peso currently equals 0.017 USD) in tobacco excise tax shares earmarked for Philippine tobacco-growing provinces from 2023 to 2025 remain unreleased, triggering mounting frustration among industry leaders and farmers in the Ilocos region, according to the Philippine Star. Long regarded as the “Solid North” that underpinned President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s electoral support, tobacco farmers now warn that the government’s failure to remit funds mandated under Republic Act 7171 threatens rural livelihoods amid rising production costs. Industry representatives said the prolonged delay has crippled critical programs intended to support farmer self-reliance and local development.

    Former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson, author of RA 7171, said that despite the signing of the P6.79-trillion ($115.4 billion) 2026 national budget, excise tax shares from the previous three years remain unpaid. He warned that the withholding of funds has created service gaps that undermine socio-economic stability in tobacco-producing areas, preventing local government units from addressing urgent needs and advancing infrastructure and agricultural projects. Singson emphasized that tobacco remains a pillar of the national economy and that the law was designed to provide local government units with consistent, predictable resources.

    Singson expressed cautious optimism that the appointment of Acting Budget Secretary Rolando Toledo could help resolve compliance bottlenecks delaying the releases. He urged the national government to honor its commitments, calling for the funds to be released within 30 days to avert further hardship. Pointing to Ilocos Sur’s plans to expand irrigation, road networks, and tourism infrastructure, he described it as ironic that excise tax shares vital to these initiatives remain withheld, despite the province being recognized by the Commission on Audit as the country’s richest.

  • Singapore Busts Major Vape Smuggling Syndicate Linked to Malaysia

    Singapore Busts Major Vape Smuggling Syndicate Linked to Malaysia

    Singapore authorities announced the dismantling of a large-scale vape smuggling syndicate operating between Malaysia and Singapore, arresting 12 suspects and seizing over 64,000 vaping devices worth nearly RM2 million ($460,000). The suspects—11 men and one woman aged 25 to 35—were detained on October 16 during a joint operation led by the Singapore Police Force with support from the Criminal Investigation Department, Police Intelligence Department, and Special Operations Command.

    Police said the syndicate was responsible for importing and distributing vapes to local buyers. The arrests took place at a car park where the group was allegedly distributing devices. Follow-up raids uncovered two storage facilities containing the illegal goods, alongside cash, multiple mobile devices, and eight vehicles used in the smuggling operation.

    All 12 suspects were charged in court for offenses under Singapore’s Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act 1993, which prohibits the import, sale, and distribution of vapes. Four face conspiracy charges, while eight are charged with possession for sale. Offenders can be fined up to S$10,000 ($2,300) or jailed for six months for a first offense, with harsher penalties for repeat violations.

  • Joya de Nicaragua to Take Over U.S. Distribution from Drew Estate

    Joya de Nicaragua to Take Over U.S. Distribution from Drew Estate

    Joya de Nicaragua will begin handling its own U.S. distribution starting January 1, 2026, ending its 17-year partnership with Drew Estate, the company said in a press release. Since 2008, Drew Estate’s national sales team has sold Joya’s cigars across the country.

    Dr. Alejandro Martínez Cuenca, chairman of Joya de Nicaragua, said the change reflects “taking ownership of the path ahead” while maintaining strong ties with Drew Estate, according to Halfwheel. Jonathan Drew, co-founder of Drew Estate, expressed admiration for Joya and emphasized that the companies’ friendship will continue despite the transition.

  • AMCON Posts 2Q Losses

    AMCON Posts 2Q Losses

    AMCON Distributing Company, an Omaha, Nebraska-based convenience and foodservice distributor, announced fully diluted loss per share of $2.58 on a net loss available to common shareholders of $1.6 million for its second fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2025. The wholesale distribution segment reported revenues of $607.6 million and operating income of $2.8 million.

    AMCON, with its subsidiaries Team Sledd and Henry’s Foods, is a leading distributor of consumer products, including tobacco, nicotine, beverages, candy, and groceries. It serves Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

    “The convenience retailing sector which we serve continues to experience a challenging operating environment with consumer behavior and discretionary spending lagging,” said Christopher H. Atayan, AMCON’s Chairman and CEO. “At the same time, the cost structures for convenience distributors have been impacted by the cumulative impact of inflation over a multi-year period. These inflationary pressures have resulted in higher operating expenses in areas such as product costs, labor and employee benefits, equipment, and insurance, and in additional consolidation across our entire industry.”