Between July 23 and 26, 2024, Joshua Habursky, the Premium Cigar Association’s (PCA) Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director, visited Spain in partnership with The Cigar Academy (thecigaracademy.com). As part of our global outreach strategy, this visit aimed to strengthen relations with key businesses across the cigar industry’s major markets.
Madrid was the first stage of the visit, hosted by Ricardo Carioni, co-founder of The Cigar Academy, where they met with pioneer retailers, including José Carlos Rubio of Cava Barquillo and Pablo Montorio of Cava Magallanes, as well as S.T. Dupont’s country manager, Alfonso González, and cigar educator Armando Díaz. One of the highlights of the visit was the event organized by the Gastronomic Society (Sociedad Gastronómica Complutense), attended by the Board and members of the association, at the historic city of Alcalá de Henares, home of Cervantes and of the world’s oldest universities, Universidad Complutense (est. 1293).
The second stage of the visit, Barcelona, was co-hosted by Iván Montes, owner of Premium Brands, a leading Spanish cigar importer, and the owners of Montes Cigars. It included visits to top retailers such as Jordi Duaso of Estanc Duaso and Eduardo Navarro of Cava París.
The Spanish retailers expressed their desire to exchange experiences and learn from the multiple initiatives developed by the PCA in markets such as the United States and Canada. They especially want to engage with policymakers to defend the industry and consumers against regulations that aren’t fact-based or fit for purpose.
“The paramount importance of fostering a proactive engagement with authorities to convey the artisanal aspect, the consumer habits, and the science behind the premium cigar industry, warranting policies specifically tailored for cigars,” commented Habursky. “Unfortunately, in Spain and most global markets, many regulations are applied indiscriminately to all tobacco products, including cigarettes.”
Carioni added, “There’s a fundamental urgency for the global cigar community to join efforts. Above all, to educate policymakers and provide retailers, importers, associations, and citizens with the knowledge and tools to correct any regulatory incongruencies. It is essential to develop a framework that equally protects the vulnerable and ensures the survival and future of the premium cigar industry.”