History

Exposed to [tobacco] from birth, the brand that Zino Davidoff would create, Davidoff would grow from [humble] beginnings to form a prominent [luxury] goods business.

Born in the [Ukraine], Zino was the son (one of four) to the [Jewish] [tobacconist] Henri Davidoff. The family left the Ukraine when Zino was only 5 to avoid [persecution] due to the [anti-Semitism] rampant within their [homeland]. They originally settled in [Geneva] where Henri Davidoff founded his [tobacco] store in 1912.

Zino had become fascinated by the family business at a young age, and once he had completed school he traveled to [Latin America] to learn about the [cultivation] and [production] of tobacco first hand in the fields and factories of [Argentina], [Brazil] and [Cuba].

Davidoff took control of his father's store in 1930 and created what would become essential equipment to [cigar] smokers worldwide - the desktop [humidor]. The device recreated the [conditions] that the finest cigars in the world are manufactured to create a fresher, more pleasant smoke for longer.

In an effort to expand his business beyond his adopted [homeland], Davidoff introduced Hoyo de Monterrey Châteaux cigars in honor of [Bordeaux] wines in 1947. This move gave the business a leading [market share] in France, with the brand's quality rapidly growing in reputation.

Davidoff was established as a cigar [brand] in its own right in 1969, after 2 years of negotiation between Davidoff and [Cubatabaco]. Produced in the El Laguito factory in [Havana] the brand soon captured the attention of [smokers] becoming popular overnight within Geneva.

The business was acquired by the Oettinger Group in 1970, which extensively [marketed] the brand overseas and increased distribution into new markets to cope with demand. Despite the changes, Davidoff continued to maintain control over the [operations] of the company, instilling the [customer service] attitude that to this day drives everything the company does. A popular [anecdote] regarding this attention to detail:

A customer walks into the Davidoff store in Geneva and asks for a pack of matches. A clerk, busy with a customer, ignores the man until he can summon Zino for assistance. “Mr. Davidoff,” says the clerk, “can you get this man some matches? I have a very important customer who is buying 2,000 cigars.” Zino proceeds to greet the customer, and get him his matches. After he leaves, Zino says to the clerk, “Always remember to treat every customer equally. You didn’t realize this, but the man who came in for the matches bought 10,000 cigars yesterday.”

Along with the brand's line of cigars, Davidoff established itself as a supplier of [premium] [pipes] and [pipe tobacco] using only the finest [briar] and trades [craftsmen] to produce each item. In 1985 the brand further expanded itself in partnership with Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH (which is now owned by [Imperial Tobacco]) to produce a line of premium cigarettes.

The years of success for the Cuban cigar line masked almost constant [disputes] between Davidoff and Cubatabaco regarding the quality and the ownership rights on the trademark. The most public display of these issues was the burning of over 100000 cigars by Zino Davidoff which he declared unfit to sell. It came as no suprise in 1991 where the line was discontinued to be replaced by cigars manufactured in the [Dominican Republic].

Zino Davidoff died in 1994, yet his business has continued to be a success, attaining an [iconic] status in the tobacco industry, and despite the [negative] view of the public towards cigarettes, has managed to successfully use the Davidoff [trademark] on a line of humidors, [watch]es, [necktie]s, [wallet]s, [briefcase]s, [pen]s, [coffee] and [cologne].

The brand also released a [cognac] in 2005, designed to carry on Davidoff's goal of complete [luxury], and to be a perfect companion to the brand's cigars.

Today, under the continuing control of the Oettinger Group, Davidoff has grown into a [global] brand that is synonymous with luxury and prestige with a wide range of products to appeal to any [consumers] taste and over 450 approved merchants.

Tobacco Products

Cigars

Series Aniversario
Series Classic
Series Grand Cru
Series Mille
Series Special
Series Millennium Blend

Cigarillos

Mini Cigarillos Silver
Mini Cigarillos
Demi-Tasse
Club Cigarillos
Long Pantellas
Exquisitos

Cigarettes

Classic
Mild
Lights
Magnum
Menthol

Pipe Tobacco

Royalty Mixture
English Mixture
Scottish Mixture
Danish Mixture
Flake Medallions
Red Mixture
Green Mixture
Blue Mixture

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davidoff

http://www.davidoff.com/

http://www.liquorsnob.com/archives/2006/12/cognac_davidoff_classic_review.php

http://www.smokeshopmag.com/0699/cover.htm

http://havanajournal.com/culture/entry/davidoff_history_of_cuba_cigars/

http://www.smokemag.com/0698/pipes/feature.htm

Davidoff (thing)