Habanos Nordic Supply at Risk Amid Gothenburg Investigation

Gothenburg’s licensing authority is reviewing the tobacco permit of Elite Trading Scandinavia AB, the distributor for Cuban cigars across Scandinavia and the Baltics. The company, long linked to Habanos through its previous name Habanos Nordic AB, is facing scrutiny after recent changes in ownership and board members triggered a suitability review.

The issue connects to the broader corporate chain behind Habanos. Fifty percent remains with Cuba’s Cubatabaco. The other fifty percent is held via ITI Cigars and Tabacalera in Spain. Public reporting describes upstream holding entities, including Allied Cigar in Spain and Asia Uni in Hong Kong. The precise ultimate owner structure is complex and not independently verified by us.

Some media reports have alleged that certain investors connected to parts of this chain have links to sectors such as gaming and online services. These allegations are unrelated to Elite Trading’s Swedish operations. Swedish authorities have not made any findings in this matter, and there are no accusations toward Habanos S.A.

Swedish law requires tobacco wholesalers to be fit and proper, allowing municipalities to review or revoke permits if owners or controlling interests raise compliance concerns. According to public records, Gothenburg requested updated ownership disclosures after registry changes were filed. Any impact on distribution would depend on the review’s outcome.

Industry sources say a new company, The Premium Company Nordic AB, has been set up by former management figures as a contingency to ensure continuity if needed. There is currently no public record of a license transfer or approval for this entity.

As of today, Gothenburg has not issued a final decision. Elite Trading remains the official distributor during the review. The case illustrates how local licensing processes interact with multi-jurisdictional ownership structures.

Via Cigarr Klubben