Merger of CGars and Belgium-based La Casa del Tobacco

[ha_banos]

https://ministryofcigars.com/big-merge-in-european-tobacco-retail/

News from our world. Big merger in the Cigar retail business!

[Dorsetman]

Will this produce benefits for actual customers, we can but hope

[mcdee]

Will this produce benefits for actual customers, we can but hope

If you mean more reasonable UK prices that better reflect the cost of Cuban cigars elsewhere, I doubt it. As you say, we can but hope.

[Moley]

No chance will we get cheaper sticks but maybe a better selection in the future

[sheppsea]

I can't see how this will affect customer, either negatively or positively, I suspect the new organisation will be an umbrella organisation and CGars and LCdH will largely operate separately. I certainly don't expect to see prices fall (maybe more REs crossing borders, but I can't see anymore than that, I couldn't even find it mentioned on the CGars website

[simwells]

Kind of surprised that those companies combined would have that low a turnover, cigar market is definitely smaller than I would have guessed


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[ha_banos]

Yeah. I've been struggling to understand the impact to customers. But then I'm not a business man. It's interesting due to the H&F arrangement. Availability of non UK regionals? How could that work. Does this shake up the monopoly? Who knows. Lots of hints at international expansion.

[simwells]

Yeah. I've been struggling to understand the impact to customers. But then I'm not a business man. It's interesting due to the H&F arrangement. Availability of non UK regionals? How could that work. Does this shake up the monopoly? Who knows. Lots of hints at international expansion.

Guess it may mean access to non U.K. REs at U.K. prices and vice versa. Think Belgium win over us there!


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[Simon Bolivar]

Interesting find Banos, can't say it will affect me - as I don't expect to be a Belgian resident for much longer but I guess it means Mitch is doing well?

[Simon Bolivar]

Well it looks to me as Dominique bought Mitch out. It's her name on the company & London, not Orchant. He is now Chief Commercial Officer

"Both La Casa del Tabaco, as well as C.Gars Ltd, are heavyweights in the cigar industry. With leaders that proved themselves in the industry over some time. The name Dominique London is the combination of Dominique Gyselinck and the British capital. Gyselinck, COO of La Casa Del Tabaco, was the first woman to be voted Habanos Man of the Year. London is the cigar capital of the world, where Dominique London opened their flagship store in January in St James’s Street, the premier cigar location in London.

“Dominique London is going to expand to other countries. Opportunities for further expansion are endless”, says Dominique Gyselinck COO of Dominique London and La Casa Del Tabaco. “The existing range of luxury cigar boutiques is very fragmented everywhere. Moreover, despite COVID-19 and Brexit, the aficionados market continues to experience strong growth.” Online sales of La Casa Del Tabaco and C.Gars are booming. Sales figures are also rising spectacularly year after year in new markets – with China leading the way. “This exclusive business is challenging. Continuous developments in IT, specific product knowledge, expertise, and access to the limited supplier circle require increasing investments”, concludes Dominique. “The consolidation of the market at home and abroad offers many opportunities for our international expansion.”

Mitchell Orchant, Managing Director of C.Gars Ltd and CCO of Dominique London and UK Silver Chaveta award winner for outstanding contribution to the UK cigar trade says “As one of the oldest retail cigar specialists in the UK established in 1817, Turmeaus Tobacconist, and our mail order division, C.Gars Ltd, are very excited about our merger with La Casa Del Tabaco of Belgium. Our team has worked tirelessly to create the best websites, retail shops, and vintage cigar auctions in the UK. The creation of Dominique London will provide the platform for further expansion both in the UK and internationally. I am delighted to serve on the board of directors with our highly experienced partners in Belgium.”

[Hookmaker]

Hmmm, interesting 🤔


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[jerryr]

Very interesting, I would say Mr Orchant is cashing in; without cashing out. Perfect exit strategy, couple of years and he’ll pull back and be retained as a consultant for a while.


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[Emaresee]

yup as above... CCO is the big hint. ... big fish eating smaller fish... and offering a earn out to keep his eye on the customer proposition - i.e. keep our business running and paying out while we integrate. that will cover B&M retail, online , auctions etc etc etc. make sure we havent bought a couple of brand names, websites and some rent agreements laced with stock.

good for Mitch... seems like a decent way to smoke off towards the sunset/ next business idea

[Haaltert]

Guess it may mean access to non U.K. REs at U.K. prices and vice versa. Think Belgium win over us there!


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Belgians will certainly not win over this.

Even now already, Dominique is not intrested in the Belgian customers. The selection in LCDH Knokke physically is just nada, niente, zero, nichts compared with what they have in their warehouse for international customers.

Oh damn, I was typing an entire letter about this, but just realized we aren’t supposed to discuss so I’ll end here.

I hope this info is still allowed if not pls let me know and I’ll delete.

But I can assure you this merger is not in favour of Belgian cigar smokers


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[oskihen]

Belgians will certainly not win over this.

Even now already, Dominique is not intrested in the Belgian customers. The selection in LCDH Knokke physically is just nada, niente, zero, nichts compared with what they have in their warehouse for international customers.

Oh damn, I was typing an entire letter about this, but just realized we aren’t supposed to discuss so I’ll end here.

I hope this info is still allowed if not pls let me know and I’ll delete.

But I can assure you this merger is not in favour of Belgian cigar smokers


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Sadly i suppose this is still the situation. No stock at all in the actual shop 😒

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