Innovation, investment and high quality set to drive Davidoff cigar brands in Middle East – 23/11/09
Published: 22/11/09
Source: ©The Moodie Report
By Dermot Davitt
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The Davidoff Travel Humidor is among the key innovations the company has introduced to the channel
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MIDDLE EAST. Innovation, investment and quality will be key themes in the growth of Davidoff Cigars in the Middle East, according to Regional Manager Jean-Philippe Clermont.
Speaking to The Moodie Report on the eve of this week’s Middle East Duty Free Conference, Clermont said the quality of the Oettinger Davidoff Group’s products were a key factor in driving its expansion.
He said: “I am confident that more and more Middle Eastern customers and transiting passengers alike will understand the emphasis we put on quality. Cigar smoking is a relatively new hobby for many people here and it takes time to get a full understanding of the product, but we are very close to reaching our goal.”
He said that innovation in new products and packaging would also prove a key factor.
“Our latest Davidoff products - the duty free exclusive Travel Humidor and our 100% tobacco aromatic cigarillos -are good examples of our continuous commitment to create new smoking experiences and pleasures.”
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Camacho cigars: recent acquisition
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Investment in new brands is the third key factor in driving growth, he noted. “Last year we acquired the Camacho Company, which is one of the three largest Honduran tobacco growers. Selected cigars have just been launched in the Middle East area, offering a larger spectrum of tobacco blends to our customers. And it gives operators a wider range that caters to all needs in the premium cigar segment.”
Clermont said that Davidoff’s key brands (Davidoff, Winston Churchill, Zino Platinum, Zino Classic, Griffin's, Avo, Private Stock, Bundle Selection) have performed well even during the economic downturn.
“Middle East duty free sales have been affected like many other premium products during the first quarters but there are today many positive signs of strong recovery. Some duty free operators have even had constant and significant growth both in the GCC and Levant areas. Our long term partnership as well as our joint efforts with operators lead us to these successes.”
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Davidoff is targeting the cigarillo segment with its premium products
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Clermont said he was optimistic about the future for the category in the region. “In recent years we have seen some huge improvements for the cigar category that have put the Middle East on the global map. Today the category is generating significant revenue and more investments are expected. The response from customers has been tremendous.
"The market is entering a different phase now with customers willing to be surprised, looking for novelties and aiming to develop their own tastes. The market is maturing and offers us an endless number of new opportunities.”
MORE STORIES ON DAVIDOFF CIGARS
Davidoff celebrates 25 years of The Griffin’s – 02/11/09
Davidoff mourns Dr Ernst Schneider - 29/10/09
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