open Letter from Ernesto Padilla about the split

[blessednxs65]

Got this link from a guy at the B&M who belongs to another Cigar board.

http://www.herfersparadise.net/portal/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=58001

[Angry Bill]

I wanna know what else is up! There has to be more!

[RigilKent]

very cool but yes there has to be more

[WhiteLightning]

......ahhhh the suspense.

[Angry Bill]

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying there was a fued between them, but it seems strange to end this one. I know Padilla grows all his own tobacco, stores it and knows what the blend is... But will it be the same or will it be better? Time will tell. As for knowing the truth, we will never know, as both sides are gentleman and won't speak ill of the other!

[indyrob]

I think if you really look at the bottom line about Pepin and Padilla you'll notice that Ernesto started Pepin out with a major line and I'm sure it was for chump change. Now Pepin commands a little bit more respect and money...so I think that if a contract was signed 2 years ago and it was at the end of said contract, it would've cost Ernesto a little more green to keep Pepin rolling the Padilla line.

[Jwrussell]

Also keep in mind that Pepin's factory in Miami is truly TINY. I'm sure Steve (Headbanger) will chime in here, but he was there last year and showed me some pictures when he was here in Tampa. When Padilla talks about the smallness of the Miami operation, he isn't exagerating, it truly is a little place. I mean, check out the web site and look at the picture under "About Us". That's it. Not the whole building, just that one store front. That's the factory. Also, I don't know the entire history and can't find the details, but 2 years sounds just about right for the intro of Pepin cigars as a real force. He now has 7 different offerings of cigars. If I were to guess, he probably had no where near that many offerings when he partnered with Padilla. There may simply not be enough room for Pepin to continue producing Padilla and still give their own brand the attention it needs.

[Rich K]

Whatever the reasons for the split, it's refreshing to see business partners/friends part ways without any malice. They're stand-up gentlemen.

[Greg]

Good points Rob and Jason!

I'd like to add that I feel Pepin put the Padilla brand on the map, and there might be just a little pride involved here with Padilla. After all, he did say,"I wanted to have more control over the premium cigars that Padilla manufactures year out" which I think means he doesn't want Pepin's name on the best cigars that Padilla makes.

[mpieniaz]

Well Padilla is saying they will open up a Padilla Miami factory quite soon. If it was this easy then Pepin could open another factory nearby and expand his Miami operations. So I am guessing Pepin wanted more cash and Padilla said no. It is unfortunate because Padilla was instrumental in catapulting Pepin to the King of the cigar world.