TPE 2012: Cigar Industry Needs United Front

Friday, February 03 2012

By Melissa Kress | Convenience Store News Online

LAS VEGAS -- Several tobacco categories have already come under the microscope of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the general consensus seems to be that cigars' turn is coming. Insiders caution that the cigar industry needs to come together as a whole now, before the FDA acts.

"The politics of tobacco is the politics of diversion. We are too easy of a target. We set ourselves up for that because we never fought back," said Glynn Loope, executive director of Cigar Rights of America (CRA).

Speaking at a premium cigar panel at Tobacco Plus Expo 2012, Loope added that this is the most exciting time politically for tobacco, and he said industry players need to band together and stand up for themselves. One way to do that, he said, is to follow the lead of the alcoholic beverage industry.

Jim Young, president of Davidoff USA, seconded that. He joined the company just five months ago, officially taking the helm in September and leaving Guinness USA where he also served as president. Fresh from its aborted sponsorship of the Orange Bowl, Davidoff USA has earmarked the money it would have spent on that sponsorship to support CRA and get the cigar industry's message out to lawmakers. 

Ms. Kress's article continues at csnews.com...