Habanos SA
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Habanos SA is the arm of the Cuban state tobacco monopoly, Cubatabaco, that controls the promotion, distribution, and exportation of Cuban cigars and other tobacco products worldwide. In addition, Habanos owns the trademarks for every brand of Cuban-made exported cigars and cigarettes in the various countries they are marketed in and is also responsible for franchising the La Casa del Habano chain of cigar stores. To control distribution and protect against counterfeiting, Habanos imports to only one company in each country (such as Hunter & Frankau for Great Britain and Gibralter, 5th Avenue Cigars for Germany, Intertabak for Switzerland, Pacific Cigar Co. for most of the Pacific Rim, etc.). The only nation to which Habanos doesn't sell cigars is the United States of America, which has had a trade embargo against Cuba since 1962.
In 2000, the Franco-Spanish tobacco giant Altadis purchased 50% of Habanos. Many have speculated that their influence has led to Habanos' drastic restructuring of their cigar lines and size offerings, the adoption of marketing practices and production methods more in-line with cigar companies that market in the US, and the increasing profundity of "special release" and "limited edition" cigars. Many have also speculated that Altadis might be ramping Habanos up for eventually trade with the US, anticipating the end of the embargo.
