Oliva Acquires three new brands

Oliva Acquires three new brands. The Vandermarliere Cigar Family bought three brands that will now fall under the Oliva Cigar Company. Cuba Aliados, Puros Indios, and Roly are changing hands from the Reyes Family to the Oliva Cigar Company. It means that the brands will move from Honduras to Nicaragua. These brands were once the frontrunners of the Honduran cigars. In the past, Oliva made cigars in Honduras as well but is now only rolling cigars in two factories in Esteli, Nicaragua.

“These are three, very well-known, much-loved, and respected brands,” says Fred Vandermarliere. De Vandermarliere family owns J. Cortes and since 2016 Oliva Cigar Company as well. “They have a significant loyal following in the U.S. market, so it made sense to us to take these brands under the Oliva roof, where we can ensure their quality from leaf to leaf.”

Reyes Family 

Rolando Reyes Sr. left Cuba in the 1970s. He fled to the United States and rebooted his Cuba Aliados brand. First in New Jersey, then Miami, then the Dominican Republic before he settled down in Honduras. The Reyes Family owns the Puros Aliados Cigar Factory in Danli. The factory remains in the family and is not part of the deal with Oliva.

Puros Indios came about in 1995, at the height of the cigar boom. And for a few years, it was probably the most famous cigar from Honduras. But the popularity has been fading in the last decade, with other Honduran cigars taking over the title.

The Reyes Family will focus on growing tobacco and concentrate on the brands that remain under the ownership of the Reyes Family such as the Cienfuegos, Reyes Premier, Classic, and Vintage. They will also be rolling private label cigars. Neither party is willing to disclose the value of the deal.