VCF and EPC Forge Partnership: Expanding Italian Market with Exquisite EPC Cigars
On June 23 Fred Vandermarliere of VCF and Ernesto Perez-Carrillo of EPC will meet in Florence, Italy, where they announce a partnership for the Italian market. VCF will be starting the exclusive representation of the EPC assortment in the Mediterranean country, opening up a new market for EPC cigars.
Florence, the capital of Tuscany, serves as the backdrop to a meeting between Fred Vandermarliere and Ernesto Perez-Carrillo on June 23. The official occasion is the launch of a cooperation in which VCF will start to distribute EPC cigar products on the Italian market.
Italy’s cigar aficionados have a lot to look forward to. Starting this summer, they will see their consumer choice widened with top EPC cigars like the Encore Celestial and Majestic (voted cigar of the year by Cigar Aficionado in 2018), Pledge Prequel (voted cigar of the year by Cigar Aficionado in 2020), Pledge Sojourn and a beautiful sampler of three cigars called ‘Triumph’ – including the La Historia, runner-up cigar of the year in 2014. All of these are created by EPC’s founder, one of the best master blenders around the world, Ernesto Perez-Carrillo.
Aliados
Fred Vandermarliere and Ernesto Perez-Carrillo will also reflect on their shared passion of the craft and debate the future of the cigar industry. VCF and EPC have a lot in common. Fred and Ernesto both are at the helm of a company that is defined by family bonds.
VCF was created when J. Cortès and Oliva joined forces in 2016. One of the most astounding projects since has been the successful resurrection of the cult hero brand Aliados – or allies. Nobody less than Ernesto Perez-Carrillo played a crucial part in making it happen, as the master blender moved heaven and earth to recreate the original blend from his mentor Rolando Reyes Sr.
It is no coincidence that these titans share a vision and cooperate on several projects. It reflects a similarity in the way in which both parties look at the craft and its heritage, at the industry that is built on it, and on the answers that may guide its future. And alliances between passionate leaders are definitely amongst those answers. Fred Vandermarliere and Ernesto Perez-Carrillo have a lot to talk about, on June 23 in Florence.
