CWNews
Drew Estate Responds to Joya de Nicaragua Deal
In response to questions by CW members on the "Smokin Post" of the forums at Cigar Weekly, Drew Estate president Steve Saka issued the following statement:"Of course there will be changes - to say
differently would be foolish. The reason we were chosen was to expand
the market share of this legendary brand and this will require some
changes. SAG is a great distributor and for us to exceed their
accomplishments will require us doing something different.
"
Saka stated there were no concrete plans yet, but that whatever changes made by Drew Estate, they would be in the marketing and distribution sectors of the business as per the deal. "What changes? We don't know - nothing has been decided, but I would suspect some packaging tweaks, some price tweaks, some advetising tweaks, some event tweaks, etc. Our task is to assist Joya de Nicaragua in making adjustments that will allow their brand to flourish in the marketplace and to provide sales and distribution to facilitate that end. You guys can debate what changes amongst yourselves, because I have nothing to add for now... "
He allayed member fears that blends would be changed. "However, there will be ABSOLUTELY no change in any of the existing cigar blends.
Nor will Drew Estate be involved in their tobacco selection, blending or manufacturing in any way. Dr. Martinez Cuenca is a master cigarmaker with an extremely knowledgeable hardcore tobacco/cigar team at work in his factory. Many have been there for 40+ years - in no way are we going to interfere in what they do or how they do it.
Nor will we change the image of JdN for marketing sake. Jdn is a legendary brand of significant historic lineage in our industry. It was the first Nicaraguan cigar, it was national cigar of the country, it was the first work of the great Juan Bermejo and Simon Camacho upon their fleeing Cuba, it is an ICON - our job is to share the story and the passion of the brand. "
Saka stated there were no concrete plans yet, but that whatever changes made by Drew Estate, they would be in the marketing and distribution sectors of the business as per the deal. "What changes? We don't know - nothing has been decided, but I would suspect some packaging tweaks, some price tweaks, some advetising tweaks, some event tweaks, etc. Our task is to assist Joya de Nicaragua in making adjustments that will allow their brand to flourish in the marketplace and to provide sales and distribution to facilitate that end. You guys can debate what changes amongst yourselves, because I have nothing to add for now... "
He allayed member fears that blends would be changed. "However, there will be ABSOLUTELY no change in any of the existing cigar blends.
Nor will Drew Estate be involved in their tobacco selection, blending or manufacturing in any way. Dr. Martinez Cuenca is a master cigarmaker with an extremely knowledgeable hardcore tobacco/cigar team at work in his factory. Many have been there for 40+ years - in no way are we going to interfere in what they do or how they do it.
Nor will we change the image of JdN for marketing sake. Jdn is a legendary brand of significant historic lineage in our industry. It was the first Nicaraguan cigar, it was national cigar of the country, it was the first work of the great Juan Bermejo and Simon Camacho upon their fleeing Cuba, it is an ICON - our job is to share the story and the passion of the brand. "