Ventura Cigars, the brand famous for the Archetype, PSyKo SEVEN, Project805 and Case Study cigars, has announced that it will operate as a standalone business unit and full subsidiary of Kretek International effective this month.
In the Kretek International press release, Patrick Hurd, Vice President of Sales for Kretek International, Inc. stated:
“We’re excited to bring a cigar division directly under our wing. Kretek will give Ventura Cigars the autonomy it needs to flourish, while providing some of the bigger picture infrastructure like staffing, warehousing, and distributing.
As a former General Manager for Ventura Cigars, I know that this newly applied focus will help them succeed as a serious player in the Cigar space.
Ventura Cigars has great products and a solid team, and I’m looking forward to being involved with bringing their portfolio to market in a better way.”
Ventura Cigars was originally formed as a division of Phillips & King, seven years ago, to introduce premium cigars and tobacco to the market. Under this reorganization Ventura Cigars will be able to focus on their premium tobacco sales channel while building their portfolio of proprietary brands.
Kretek International noted in the announcement:
For the last few years, Ventura Cigars has enjoyed the initial successes of their exclusive brands like Archetype, Case Study, and PSyKo Seven. Now able to fully utilize the horsepower of Kretek’s cross-functional resources, Ventura Cigars will be equipped to develop, manufacture, and market their products.
Michael Giannini, General Manager of Ventura Cigars also noted:
“We’re truly excited about this new phase. We’ve come a long way with Phillips and King, but as a standalone company, Ventura Cigars will be able to build out our brands and really put ourselves on the map as a big player in our industry.
Ventura Cigars has enjoyed much success under Phillips & King for the past 7 years. And now we’ve put the pieces in place to stand on our own and build upon the exceptional work that Phillips & King started. We’ve got the people, the products, and now a bigger infrastructure and focus. The future of Ventura Cigars is looking great, and I’m pleased to be a part of it.”
As a standalone business unit, Ventura Cigars plans on shifting to a direct-to-retail model, servicing premium tobacconists and are constructing a sales team dedicated to offering their products to this channel under the leadership of Barry Bennett, Ventura Cigars’ National Sales Manager.
Phillips & King will continue to play a vital role with Ventura Cigars as their largest distributor and will sell its brands to much of its customer base, along with the over 12,000 other products in their portfolio.
About Ventura Cigar Company
Ventura Cigar Company (VCC) is a unique cigar brand born in sunny Southern California that is on a mission to create memorable, complex cigar blends that excite the senses and reward discriminating palates. Their flagship Archetype, Case Study, Project805, and PSyKo SEVEN brands offer multiple award-winning blends that earned 90+ ratings in Cigar Aficionado, Cigar & Spirits, and Cigar Snob. And Archetype’s Axis Mundi won #13 Cigar of the Year for 2017 from Cigar Aficionado.
Ventura Cigar Company also distributes the 4th Generation and Comoy’s of London line of pipe tobacco products, extending its reach and tradition of offering top-quality tobacconist products. Pipes and blends under these brands are cultivated through generations of craftsmanship, making them longtime favorites of pipe tobacco enthusiasts.