Rising star

In March this year, Henri Wintermans announced the acquisition of CAO cigars, one of the USA’s premium cigar companies. We look at how a small-scale importer of pipes became one of the most dynamic cigar producers in the world.

It’s a fairy tale story of rags to riches – well actually pipes to riches really.

In 1961, a young Armenian moved to the USA to study mechanical engineering with a love of Meerschaum pipes, prized for their quality and artistry.

Soon he discovered the pleasure of cigars as well as these famed pipes.

Later he decided to put his engineering know-how into improving on them and eventually a tobacconist in Delaware got wind of these pipes and ordered a couple of dozen. Word began to spread, and soon tobacconists across the States were after Cano Ozgener’s pipes. This was the start of something big.

With the encouragement and help of a couple of veteran tobacco business partners, CAO was formed.

In 1977 Cano took the bold step of leaving a well-paid engineering position to put energy into his growing business and young family.

Disaster may have loomed in the 1980s when the tobacco market began to decline. But the plucky Cano decided to hold out and fortunes turned as cigars came back in fashion big time.

Cano saw a gap for quality humidors and, with signature inventiveness, while in London purchased a number of antique gentlemen’s writing and travelling boxes to convert into the ultimate cigar accessories.

At shows and conventions, he met major players in the world cigar trade, among them Honduran cigar maker Nestor Plasencia and Nicaraguan tobacco grower Carlos Toraño. It did not take long for Cano to see the next step in the company’s evolution: why not make his own cigar.....

To read the rest of this article you can buy this issue or subscribe to Cigar Buyer to have every issue delivered direct to your door.

By Rob Allanson

Section : Spotlight

Page number : 12

Published in Cigar Buyer Issue 12 on 12/09/2007.

This article is 17 months old and some information provided may be time sensitive. Please check all details of events, tours, opening times and other information before travelling or making arrangements.



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	Rising star In March this year, Henri Wintermans announced the acquisition of CAO cigars, one of the USA’s premium cigar companies. We look at how a small-scale importer of pipes became one of the most dynamic cigar producers in the world. It’s a fairy tale story of rags to riches – well actually pipes to riches really. In 1961, a young Armenian moved to the USA to study mechanical engineering with a love of Meerschaum pipes, prized for their quality and artistry. Soon he discovered the pleasure of cigars as well as these famed pipes. Later he decided to put his engineering know-how into improving on them and eventually a tobacconist in Delaware got wind of these pipes and ordered a couple of dozen. Word began to spread, and soon tobacconists across the States were after Cano Ozgener’s pipes. This was the start of something big. With the encouragement and help of a couple of veteran tobacco business partners, CAO was formed. In 1977 Cano took the bold step of leaving a well-paid engineering position to put energy into his growing business and young family. Disaster may have loomed in the 1980s when the tobacco market began to decline. But the plucky Cano decided to hold out and fortunes turned as cigars came back in fashion big time. Cano saw a gap for quality humidors and, with signature inventiveness, while in London purchased a number of antique gentlemen’s writing and travelling boxes to convert into the ultimate cigar accessories. At shows and conventions, he met major players in the world cigar trade, among them Honduran cigar maker Nestor Plasencia and Nicaraguan tobacco grower Carlos Toraño. It did not take long for Cano to see the next step in the company’s evolution: why not make his own cigar..... To read the rest of this article you can buy this issue or subscribe to Cigar Buyer to have every issue delivered direct to your door. By Rob Allanson Section : Spotlight Page number : 12 Published in Cigar Buyer Issue 12 on 12/09/2007. Subscribe Buy this issue More from this issue Preview other issues This article is 17 months old and some information provided may be time sensitive. Please check all details of events, tours, opening times and other information before travelling or making arrangements. Copyright Cigar Buyer © 1999-2009. All rights reserved. To use or reproduce part or all of this article please contact us for details of how you can do so legally.