Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/550331
How Can Sharing Knowledge Help Shape a Brighter Future? Through practical training in best agronomic practices on AOI model farms, Producers in India learn ways to improve the safety of their operation while maximizing quality, yield and net income. It's part of our commitment to unite the world under One Vision of action-oriented social responsibility. See Our Vision for Positive Change AOIsustainability.com ACTION-ORIENTED SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ACTION-ORIENTED SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY though available, still appear to primarily appeal to really wealthy consumers or those who've spent considerable time abroad. Welcome to the club, master! When it comes to machine-manufactured cigars, German company Arnold André GmbH & Co. KG is perhaps best known in Asia for its internationally successful brands Clubmaster and Handelsgold. "Clubmaster is our worldwide bestseller, in particular the [filterless] mini or mini filter versions," explained the company's president, Wiljo van Maren. "They come in tins and the taste varies from classical, full flavor tobacco taste to toned-down mellow and sweet flavors." He added that – as in almost all of the company's products – Club- master uses tobaccos from Indonesia, the Philippines, Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador, as well as some European tobaccos. For the flavored versions the firm uses genuine pipe tobac- cos, which are moister. Handelsgold likewise is very well established internationally and enjoys particularly brisk sales in Asia. Packed in cartons as well as tins, the brand offers large product va- riety, ranging from small cigarillos to large coronas. Using Indonesian, Cuban, Filipino, Brazilian, Ecuadorian, and European tobaccos, the flavor range is largely similar to that of Clubmaster. Other brands currently marketed by the company in Asia include Vasco da Gama, Independence, and Fellows. "We have strong positions [in Asia], in particular in Malaysia and Japan," said van Maren. "This has to do with the fact that our brands have been available in these countries for a long time combined with the strong distributors we are cooperating with in the region. Also, the size, taste, price, and product image all seem to fit [Asian consumers] perfectly," he said, adding that in both markets the company's brands are being sold through traditional tobacco channels such as convenience stores and to- bacco kiosks. But the company likewise saw very good sales in airport duty free shops in China and the rest of the region. Furthermore, it is becoming increasingly active in Cambo- dia, the Philippines, Thailand, India, and South Korea, and just recently even added Singapore to its already quite impressive Asian market portfolio. "All these markets have started selling our brands in the past five years," said van Maren, and adding that "we also have been present for more than 10 years in Taiwan now. The same goes for Macau and Hong Kong, where we have some domestic sales as well." Gertrude Stormink, export manager, Agio Cigars Agio Cigars' Balmoral panatelas Balmoral Corona tubo images courtesy of Royal Agio Cigars images courtesy of Royal Agio Cigars images courtesy of Royal Agio Cigars