Germany Bans Jars and Humidors
Well, not the jars and humidors themselves, but the sale of jars and humidors filled with cigars. They can be sold separately, but not as one SKU. Boxes are no problem unless they are multifunctional. For example, the older Plasencia Alma series boxes came with an ashtray. That is now against the law. This comes after a new interpretation of the tobacco act.
The new ban forces 5th Avenue, the official Habanos distributor in Germany to get creative. The distributor recently introduced the H. Upmann Magnum 56 jars. Instead of selling a full jar, with 20 cigars, for €850 the cigars are now offered in a bundle for €650. When you buy the bundle, you can buy the jar separately for €200. This shows how useless and ludicrous the new interpretation of the tobacco act is. Effectively nothing changes, it only creates confusion for the consumer and extra work for the retailer and distributor.
H. Upmann Magnum 56
The H. Upmann Magnum 56 was meant for Habanos accounts in the travel retail and duty-free segment of the market. But because that part of the business completely collapsed in 2020 due to covid 19 and all the lockdowns and travel restrictions, Habanos distributors can release the jars on the domestic markets.
The cigars measure 5⅞x56 and come with a special magnum 56 bands. It’s the exact same vitola as the H. Upmann Magnum 56 Edicion Limitada 2015. And it’s the only cigar this size in the complete Habanos portfolio.
Germany is not the only market where jars are an issue. In countries with plain packaging, jars are an issue. In The Netherlands other legislation is looming, such as the use of gold colors. That would kill the attractiveness of the jars as well.
