Cigar manufacturer, J. Cortès, led by Fred Vandermarliere who is the current CEO, has purchased the Oliva family’s leaf operations and three tobacco farms in Nicaragua in a move which further consolidates its hand-rolled cigar operation in the country.

 

The three new farms – Pre Industria, Terranova and El Manguito (in the meantime renamed to ‘Manguido’, after the father of the current J. Cortès CEO), all in the Condega region – add to the existing fields J. Cortès bought from the family following an acquisition in 2016. The Oliva family decided on the most recent sale following the passing of patriarch, Gilberto Oliva in December 2017.

 

“We are focusing in travel retail on our premium hand-made cigars Oliva and Nub from Nicaragua and are satisfied with the performance and the listings at the airports,” said Thomas Gryson, Export Manager & Travel Retail Coordinator for J. Cortès in a recent interview with TRBusiness. [A full interview with Gryson, inside the TRBusiness Tobacco Report will appear in the February issue of the magazine.]

 

Oliva Cigars officially opened its Nicaraguan Tabolisa 1 facility at an inauguration ceremony in Esteli, Nicaragua, in December.

 

SUSTAINABLE FARMING PROMISE

“The crop will be mainly filler tobacco, with plans to eventually grow binder and wrapper too,” said J. Cortès.

“The Vandermarliere family has pledged to uphold standards of sustainable farming – using as little water and pesticides as possible and creating a clear traceability path from the plantation to the customer.”

 

As reported, the Oliva premium cigar business was bought by J. Cortès back in July 2016, but part of the tobacco growing operation was retained by the Oliva family. The two companies, i.e. the Vandermarliere and Oliva families, have worked closely ever since.

 

“This continuing investment in premium cigars includes a happy coincidence,” said J. Cortès. “The name of the company buying the land is ‘Hacienda d’Ernest’.

 

‘THE FUTURE IS SECURED’

“A recognised cigar industry expert, has been working for just over a year and will continue to do so, managing these new farms and their tobacco cultivation. His name is Ernesto. On top of that, J. Cortès and Oliva Owner, Frederik Vandermarliere and his wife Annick, had a third child in 2018 – whose name is…Ernest. The future is secured.”

 

The tobacco growing arm of the J. Cortès business is hence forth called Hacienda d’ Ernesto.

 

“It’s a perfect marriage of families, beliefs, tradition and expertise,” says Fred Vandermarliere.

 

“All these things came together at the right time to make this an obvious way of strengthening our commitment to our people in Nicaragua and our hand-rolled, premium cigar production.

 

“Now we have full control of the entire process, from seed to farm, leaf to factory, cigar to shelf. We are delighted to demonstrate once again our commitment to this business, to Nicaragua and to our customers, whom we encourage with our company motto: ‘Don’t smoke but enjoy.’”

 

Ernesto Milanes Rodriguez, speaking from Nicaragua, confirmed that the three newly-purchased farms were already in production and would be added to the stable of J.Cortès and Oliva growing potential.

 

“We are immersed on the entire farming process at the moment, from seedbeds to curing barns,” he said.

 

“This gives us much better control over what we grow and how we grow it. It’s an exciting time for me personally, to be part of the Hacienda d’ Ernesto company, and for the larger group as a whole.”