La Aurora Brings Distribution In House
After being distributed by Miami Cigar & Co. for more than three decades, La Aurora is taking over its own distribution next year. Effective April 1, La Aurora’s portfolio of Dominican cigars will be marketed and sold throughout the United States via its new entity, La Aurora USA LLC. This marks the first time in La Aurora’s nearly 120-year-history that it hasn’t used a third-party company to handle American distribution.
Ed McKenna, formerly of Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) and Bacardi, has been appointed chief executive officer of La Aurora USA LLC, while John Ferrigan, formerly of Breakthru Beverage Group and STG, has been named the company’s national sales director.
La Aurora is owned by Guillermo León, who assumed control of the company when he purchased the Dominican factory from his family in 2011. Operating since 1903, La Aurora is the oldest handmade cigar factory in the Dominican Republic. The company is known for brands such as the La Aurora 100 Años and La Aurora Preferidos, an extensive line of perfectos offered in different wrapper types and blends.
“We would like to thank Guillermo, Michelle and the entire La Aurora Team for over 30 years of amazing memories. What began as a business relationship, has evolved into family, and for that we are grateful,” said Jason Wood, vice president of sales and marketing for Miami Cigar & Co. “We look forward to the continued success of the La Aurora brand and are excited to see what the future has in store for them.”
