Tobacco Asia

60 tobaccoasia Issue 2, 2026 March / April By Timothy S. Donahue The c.e.o. of Universal Corporation, Preston D. Wigner, told current and potential investors that the company's century-old tobacco platform continues to generate strong, reliable cash flows — and that Universal is now building what he described as the second engine for the next era: a growing food-ingredients segment designed to scale into a meaningful earnings contributor. Speaking January 13 at the ICR Conference 2026 in Orlando, Florida, Wigner, who also serves as chairman and president of Universal, said the company is executing a three-pillar strat- egy: maximize and optimize tobacco, grow its ingredients segment, and strengthen Universal for the next 100 years. "It's an exciting time to be at Universal," Wigner said, noting that he is a relatively new c.e.o., having become Universal's boss in October 2024. He described a business at the center of global agricultural supply chains — a "vital link" between growers and customers — and confirmed that Universal's scale, sustainability systems, and financial strength give it room to expand in both tobacco and ingredients. "The majority of what we buy is contracted through farmers — 200,000-plus farmers around the world," he said. "We process and sell that to our large portfolio of companies. That business has generated strong and consistent cash flows for us over the years ." Vital link Wigner opened with the company's core identity. He said Universal is a supply chain specialist operating between farmers and global buyers, built for complexity and consistency. "In simple terms, we're the vital link between international farmers and suppliers and international customers," he said. Universal connects farmers "to a global marketplace" and customers to the agricultural products they need to meet evolving consumer expectations. The model matters most in the tobacco segment, where Wigner emphasized a point in- vestors often overlook: tobacco leaf is neither interchangeable nor one-size-fits-all. "Tobacco is not a commodity; it's a varietal," he said. "What's grown in the US is different than what's grown in Zimbabwe or Brazil." Universal C.E.O. Pitches 'Next 100 Years' Plan Leaf technician from the Universal Leaf Tabacos operation assisting a farmer in the Southern Brazil region. Credit: Universal Corporation "In simple terms, we're the vital link between international farmers and suppliers and international customers," — Preston D. Wigner, Universal Corp.

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