CAA Adds Two Venerable Cigar Companies
The Cigar Association of America (CAA) recently added two new members, La Aurora USA and Manifatture Sigaro Toscano. The former is an arm of the oldest cigarmaker in the Dominican Republic, the latter an old-school, Italian-based company. Each has both machine-made and handmade cigar operations, and both are considerably old, one founded more than 100 years ago, the other more than 200.
La Aurora USA, the U.S. distribution arm of La Aurora, joined the CAA in mid-February.
“As a manufacturer of both premium and mass-market cigars, La Aurora understands how important it is that every segment of the industry is represented,” said La Aurora USA CEO Ed McKenna. The company has made cigars since 1903 and is known for handmade brands that include La Aurora Preferidos and León Jimenes, and such machine-made brands as Principes and Caribbean Blend.
Manifatture Sigaro Toscano S.r.l. joined the CAA this week. The company makes Toscano cigars, which were first rolled in 1818. Toscanos are made from fire-cured Kentucky tobacco and have a distinctive shape. While most of them are machine made, the company also makes a few brands by hand, including Brenta.
CAA President Scott Pearce welcomed both companies to the organization.
The CAA is a national trade association representing manufacturers, distributors, importers, suppliers and supporting services in the cigar industry that traces its roots back to the 1890s. It also tabulates import numbers and other relevant information pertaining to the cigar industry. Its cigarmaking members include Swisher—the largest machine-made cigar company in the world—A.J. Fernandez, Cheyenne International, Davidoff, Djarum, General Cigar Co., ITG Brands, J.C. Newman Cigar Co., Scandinavian Tobacco Group and Tabacalera USA.
