In my opinion, nothing. DE has been sourcing their tobacco separately from Swisher.
Drew Estate bought by Swisher
- Thread starter jebloom22
- Start date
Yes, me. In mid-September, and I got pretty beat up over it too..
I've read this a couple of times and not sure that it conveys how this is good for DE or its consumers:
From their press release at swisher.com: http://pr.swisher.com/press.html?age-verified=1
Swisher International Announces Purchase Agreement to Acquire Drew Estate
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Oct. 20, 2014) -- Swisher International Inc. and Drew Estate Tobacco Company disclosed today that they have entered into a definitive purchase agreement whereby Swisher International will acquire Drew Estate in its entirety. Drew Estate will continue to operate under its current management team as a subsidiary of Swisher.
"We began under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass in Brooklyn, N.Y. with a laser focus on The Rebirth of Cigars. Friends, retailers, and consumers connected with our passion and authenticity, supporting us at each stage of our growth. We are eternally grateful to all of those who have helped build Drew Estate, and look forward to advancing the Drew Estate legacy with a great partner, stated Jonathan Drew, Co-founder of Drew Estate, from Hopkinsville, Kentucky.
Drew Estate Co-founder Marvin Samel added, "This is a dream come true. From the moment we met the team at Swisher and began speaking of a possible acquisition, it was clear that, as a family business, they understood the culture we have created and completely supported our desire to keep our family at Drew Estate intact. The team we have built in Miami and Nicaragua represents the heart and soul of The Rebirth of Cigars and will continue to drive that vision into the future. In fact, we're just getting started.
Michael Cellucci, President of Drew Estate, said, "We are excited to join the distinguished team at Swisher. After spending the past few months interacting with the Swisher team, we have come to understand their commitment to the cigar and OTP categories, as well as the premium cigar segment. After the transaction closes, we will continue to run our business as we have in the past, and will be able to leverage the resources of Swisher to continue our growth with a renewed focus on our commitment to quality products and people two of the core principles of the Drew Estate belief system.
As a global leader in the cigar and OTP categories, Swisher prides itself on developing, manufacturing, and distributing the most innovative and high quality tobacco products available. I see those same principles in Drew Estate, said Peter Ghiloni, President and CEO of Swisher International. The products produced by Drew Estate and its distribution partners Joya De Nicaragua, Royal Agio Cigars, and Tsuge pipes are top-quality market leaders in their respective segments. The creativity, passion and innovation of Drew Estate employees and management are a perfect match for Swisher, and we look forward to welcoming them to our family.
The transaction is expected to close during the 4th quarter of 2014. Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.
About Drew Estate Inc.
Founded in New York City in 1996, Drew Estate has become one of the fastest growing tobacco companies in the world. Under its mantra The Rebirth of Cigars, Drew Estate has led the boutique cigar movement by innovating new elements to the tobacco industry with unique tobaccos and blending styles that have attracted new and old cigar enthusiasts. In its Gran Fabrica Drew Estate, the Nicaraguan headquarters, Drew Estate produces a variety of brands such as ACID, Herrera Estelí, Kentucky Fired Cured, Liga Privada, MUWAT, Natural, Nica Rustica, Nirvana Cameroon Selection, Tabak Especial, UnderCrown, and Java by Drew Estate. Website: http://www.drewestate.com
About Swisher International
Swisher International, Inc. is a leading tobacco manufacturer whose cigars, filtered cigars and smokeless tobacco brands include the largest-selling cigar brand in the worldSwisher Sweets, as well as King Edward, Optimo, BlackStone, Pom-Pom, and Santa Fe cigars; Mail Pouch, Chattanooga Chew, Starr, Bowie and Lancaster chewing tobaccos, Silver Creek, Kayak and Redwood moist snuff, and Navy and Railroad Mills dry snuff; as well as Kismet, Casino Gold HRS, and Nirvana Cameroon Selection Premium Cigars thru its Royal Gold Premium Cigars division. Swisher products are exported to over 80 countries. Swisher International, Inc. is headquartered in Jacksonville, FL and also has manufacturing facilities in Wheeling, WV and Santiago, Dom. Rep. Website: http://www.swisher.com
Media Contacts:
Joe Augustus
Sr. Vice President - Global Affairs
Swisher International
904-486-5788
jaugustus@swisher.com
Michael Cellucci
President
Drew Estate
786-581-1800
mcellucci@drewestate.com
From their press release at swisher.com: http://pr.swisher.com/press.html?age-verified=1
Swisher International Announces Purchase Agreement to Acquire Drew Estate
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Oct. 20, 2014) -- Swisher International Inc. and Drew Estate Tobacco Company disclosed today that they have entered into a definitive purchase agreement whereby Swisher International will acquire Drew Estate in its entirety. Drew Estate will continue to operate under its current management team as a subsidiary of Swisher.
"We began under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass in Brooklyn, N.Y. with a laser focus on The Rebirth of Cigars. Friends, retailers, and consumers connected with our passion and authenticity, supporting us at each stage of our growth. We are eternally grateful to all of those who have helped build Drew Estate, and look forward to advancing the Drew Estate legacy with a great partner, stated Jonathan Drew, Co-founder of Drew Estate, from Hopkinsville, Kentucky.
Drew Estate Co-founder Marvin Samel added, "This is a dream come true. From the moment we met the team at Swisher and began speaking of a possible acquisition, it was clear that, as a family business, they understood the culture we have created and completely supported our desire to keep our family at Drew Estate intact. The team we have built in Miami and Nicaragua represents the heart and soul of The Rebirth of Cigars and will continue to drive that vision into the future. In fact, we're just getting started.
Michael Cellucci, President of Drew Estate, said, "We are excited to join the distinguished team at Swisher. After spending the past few months interacting with the Swisher team, we have come to understand their commitment to the cigar and OTP categories, as well as the premium cigar segment. After the transaction closes, we will continue to run our business as we have in the past, and will be able to leverage the resources of Swisher to continue our growth with a renewed focus on our commitment to quality products and people two of the core principles of the Drew Estate belief system.
As a global leader in the cigar and OTP categories, Swisher prides itself on developing, manufacturing, and distributing the most innovative and high quality tobacco products available. I see those same principles in Drew Estate, said Peter Ghiloni, President and CEO of Swisher International. The products produced by Drew Estate and its distribution partners Joya De Nicaragua, Royal Agio Cigars, and Tsuge pipes are top-quality market leaders in their respective segments. The creativity, passion and innovation of Drew Estate employees and management are a perfect match for Swisher, and we look forward to welcoming them to our family.
The transaction is expected to close during the 4th quarter of 2014. Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.
About Drew Estate Inc.
Founded in New York City in 1996, Drew Estate has become one of the fastest growing tobacco companies in the world. Under its mantra The Rebirth of Cigars, Drew Estate has led the boutique cigar movement by innovating new elements to the tobacco industry with unique tobaccos and blending styles that have attracted new and old cigar enthusiasts. In its Gran Fabrica Drew Estate, the Nicaraguan headquarters, Drew Estate produces a variety of brands such as ACID, Herrera Estelí, Kentucky Fired Cured, Liga Privada, MUWAT, Natural, Nica Rustica, Nirvana Cameroon Selection, Tabak Especial, UnderCrown, and Java by Drew Estate. Website: http://www.drewestate.com
About Swisher International
Swisher International, Inc. is a leading tobacco manufacturer whose cigars, filtered cigars and smokeless tobacco brands include the largest-selling cigar brand in the worldSwisher Sweets, as well as King Edward, Optimo, BlackStone, Pom-Pom, and Santa Fe cigars; Mail Pouch, Chattanooga Chew, Starr, Bowie and Lancaster chewing tobaccos, Silver Creek, Kayak and Redwood moist snuff, and Navy and Railroad Mills dry snuff; as well as Kismet, Casino Gold HRS, and Nirvana Cameroon Selection Premium Cigars thru its Royal Gold Premium Cigars division. Swisher products are exported to over 80 countries. Swisher International, Inc. is headquartered in Jacksonville, FL and also has manufacturing facilities in Wheeling, WV and Santiago, Dom. Rep. Website: http://www.swisher.com
Media Contacts:
Joe Augustus
Sr. Vice President - Global Affairs
Swisher International
904-486-5788
jaugustus@swisher.com
Michael Cellucci
President
Drew Estate
786-581-1800
mcellucci@drewestate.com
You know that I'm looking forward to this!
I apologize
It could be a Budweiser Goose Island deal. Quality doesn't have to take a hit from this. It's more about blends and ability to get the tobacco than anything else. I still think Willy can do what he wants to produce stuff that's decent.
But my palate has moved away anyhow.
But my palate has moved away anyhow.
This sucks
Agentskull
BoM Feb 14
E. I commend you on this and tip my hat to you sir
AlohaStyle
BoM Sept '12 & Aug '13
I totally agree Dave. I understand he was under obligation to not say anything about the pending sale, but he should've stayed quiet about it rather than make comments to people/groups just days ago which eluded to the fact that it was just a BS rumor. I have no problem with the sale as I know JD is a hard working guy and deserves what he gets, but IMO, he lost some respect from a lot of people who thought he was a no BS, straight forward type of guy. Shouldn't have made any comments on the rumor IMO.
Limes and lemons... DE actually made a good stick or two whereas Goose Island always laid eggs.
But I know what you mean... then I think most are looking at this like Blue Moon pre/post Coors.
StogieNinja
Derek | BoM June 2014
This is about it:
"After the transaction closes, we will continue to run our business as we have in the past, and will be able to leverage the resources of Swisher to continue our growth with a renewed focus on our commitment to quality products and people two of the core principles of the Drew Estate belief system.
I posted this earlier as well, but JD posted on the CATS FB page that this will allow the DE team to "concentrate on our passions and talents of making premium cigars with a 100% conceptual lens." The idea of the DE guys being able to leave behind the legal and business BS and focus solely on new concepts is a promising thing, if in fact that's how this all shakes out.
StogieNinja
Derek | BoM June 2014
This. I like JD, and that time we herfed with him made it clear how passionate he is both about cigars in general, and his fans. He deserves every penny he gets from the sale, and if I were him I would sell too. I don't even fault him for denying the rumors, but it was the extent of the denial that caused the loss of respect. Bringing up grief over a deceased friend to push the believability of the denial was way over the line.
AlohaStyle
BoM Sept '12 & Aug '13
Factually wrong? How the heck do you know what those 2 sources told him?? I agree that it would be stupid for Swisher to immediately and want to stop producing the Acid line, but don't pretend you know what is fact about what his sources told him. It's very possible and probable, that Swisher Execs have had discussions about the future of the Drew Estate lines and what the proposed FDA rules could do to Acid cigars. It's also very probable that Swisher Execs have talked about their long term strategy of the Acid line, especially if there is a worst-case scenario of FDA rulings making the Acid line near impossible to sell.
Just like JD personally claimed DE selling to Swisher was wrong just a couple weeks ago, you have no idea what Swisher's long term plans are for Acid.
So don't claim the almighty knowing, don't be mad that another blogger has information and contacts you don't.
http://www.news10.net/story/news/crime/2014/05/01/feds-seize-millions-in-cash-cars-and-art-from-major-cigar-executive/8550545/
Juat the kind of nonsense DE needs is people to own them are idiots like the Swisher Sweets executive in the article.
Juat the kind of nonsense DE needs is people to own them are idiots like the Swisher Sweets executive in the article.
BrooksW
BoM June '09
His two (unidentified) sources were correct about the sale, no doubt. Of course, he had to pull the post because it was "not fully correct" according to him.
My point is that Swisher purchased DE in large part FOR the Acid line and what it brings to its company, so it makes no sense to shut it down. Regardless of what the FDA does, Swisher is a global company, and will have no problems selling Acid in any number of countries, even if they are outlawed in America.
Unlike the sale of DE to Swisher, there is no one in the industry that will tell you that stopping production of Acid makes any sense in any universe we are a part of.