Brands to be deleted by Habanos

[Simon Bolivar]

So many have have heard this already but this is now official as I saw it in Mr Frank's shop in Antwerp yesterday.
'Due Product rationalization, the following brands will be deleted (presumably when current stocks expire).
Cuaba
Dippy's
Fonseca
La Flor de Cano
Sanit Luis Rey
Sancho Panza
San Cristobel
Quai d' Orsay
& saddest & most surprising to me Vegas Robaina.
Now PJ, the question is, is this why Mr H. Robaina left Cubatobbaco as reported in your post.

Mr Frank wasn't surprised & said the whole group would make less than 2% of his total sales. Of course he doesn't have access in Belgium, to some of these but even so.
What will you be stocking up on before they disappear forever?

[Simon G]

Wow – shocking news tbh. I guess those who have firm faves of these will have to stock up before they're gone...

Wowzers.

[Joss]

The only one I am particularly attached to is Sancho Panza, really enjoy the non plus. Im surprised at Cuaba, a unique cigar and highly regarded.

[PeeJay]

I'd only miss San Cristobal

[parnaby]

They are all at the bottom of my list, no big loss for me really.
Variety is part of what makes this hobby enjoyable for me though, so it is a shame to lose so many.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tomothebuilder]

Saint Luis Rey a big blow. Need to find a stock of Regios quickly!

[Johnny Thunder]

Is this something that happens on occasion within the Cuban cigar industry, or is it a first?

[Matt Wall]

Surprised about SLR tbh


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[cj121]

Simon, H Robaina left Cubanacan (Nicaraguan) that's why I moved the discussion to 'New World'
I imagine he left Cubatobacco (if involved at any point, I wouldn't have a clue) a long time ago.

Re deletions, this is going to obviously result in Cuba making more of less IYKWIM. With the likelihood of an increased market in the good ol U.S. of A, it makes fiscal sense to slim down the range but up the numbers produced. I wonder if the deletions would have been the same if there was no potential embargo lift?

Mind you, your man Mr Frank reflects what could be a global picture of demand. Why would Habanos want to cater to their clientele who like variety? That'd be weird We're a captive consumer in some ways

[Stevieboy]

Oh dear.... That's some list!
Time to stock up on:

Sancho Panza Belicosos
SLR Serie A
VR Famosos
SC La Fuerza

[TheMonk]

I seriously doubt that's gonna happen, TBH. Can't really see Habanos discontinuing several marcas at once.

[butternutsquashpie]

Did anyone else see this thread closed up? Or was that just me?
I ain't afraid of no ghosts.

Cuaba
La Flor de Cano
Sanit Luis Rey
San Cristobel
& saddest & most surprising to me Vegas Robaina.
Mr Frank wasn't surprised & said the whole group would make less than 2% of his total sales. Of course he doesn't have access in Belgium, to some of these but even so.

Cuaba Shocks me enough. I hear (I think a while back from CaptainQuintero) that the Divinos make up a lot of small cigar sales in France, Germany, and Spain. The cheapness of the divinos and the size has always made them a great winter smoke for me. Everything else can go to hell, though. (except maybe those Diademas which is the last of those in HSA's line. maybe they'll bring back another Punch Diademas for regionals. that'd be nice).
La Flor de Cano RMS 2012 box coded LFdC Selectos was the only thing I liked from them. It tasted like tomato cornucopia. I think i have at 3 boxes of these... Oh! And the UK Gran Cano and the petit robusto. Those were great cigars, too.
SLR/SC Those Hermoso 4s and smaller were great cigars. Sad to see them go... But not that sad.
I'm just more glad that El Rey del Mundo isn't leaving yet.

Vegas Robaina is the biggest disappointment. But you're right about the Robaina leaving Cubatabac - that's probably one of the biggest influences that you can probably make. Shame...

Unfortunately you're right about the "2% of sales" thing. It looks like Cuba will be focusing on the brands that everyone knows/ "loves" which is RyJ, MC, and Cohiba. That's a real shame as these little niche brands had great change of palate tastes. It also doesn't help that all these marcas have small cigars which are not really that coveted anymore.

[Smallclub]

Vendor's bullshit, again. Happens every year. I guarantee that Cuaba is here to stay; not sure about Flor de Cano, though…

[jerryr]

Just bought a new box of SP Non Plus maybe I should get another and possibly some SC La Fuerza as well

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

[butternutsquashpie]

Vendor's bullshit, again. Happens every year. I guarantee that Cuaba is here to stay; not sure about Flor de Cano, though…

Huh. Maybe it's just the vendor specifically that would stop stocking it, then?

Just bought a new box of SP Non Plus maybe I should get another

If I recall correctly, the Non Plus last year was 2011. They were listed as discontinued until our favourite "down under" cigar mates found a few mastercases of 2014 box coded Non Plus. That was a pretty big surprise a while back.
I also see Serbia with the 2015 Regional Edition Sancho Panza so perhaps it mights till be kicking. I'd love for them to bring back the Sanchos, though. Thems were gooduns.