Star performer - Gary Hyams

Loretta is named after a Hollywood star and both are larger than life. Rob Allanson speaks to the company’s managing director Gary Hyams – a man with his own claim to fame

It is quite possible that Gary Hyams is one of the most intriguing managing directors in the British tobacco industry.

It is not often that you meet someone in his position that can claim a hobby – song writing in Gary’s case – has landed him hits on both sides of the Atlantic, plus several music awards – and also runs a multi million pound cigar company.

He is quite open about the fact that he has been very fortunate in being able to turn his two passions, cigars and music, into lucrative careers.

“I have been very fortunate to work with some great people in both industries and still enjoy both as much as when I first started,” he says while relaxing in a chair and smoking a cigar.

As we tour round Loretta Cigars new offices in Elstree, workers in the warehouse address him as ‘Gary’ and it is easy to see that the company, despite being part of a large international organisation, still retains a certain family atmosphere with its workers.

The company was originally founded in 1949 by the Caro family, Ernest and Gunter, who were refugees from Germany.

Originally Ernest Caro supplied only his friends under the name of E. F. Caro and Co. but eventually when they expanded into the general retail trade a new company was founded ‘Loretta’.

Gary takes up the story “The old man apparently had a big crush on Loretta Young who was the Marilyn Monroe of the time, so he settled on Loretta.

“The main brand in those days came from the Ritmeester factory in Holland with job lots bei.....

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By Rob Allanson

Section : Cigar Interviews

Page number : 12

Published in Cigar Buyer Issue 6 on 11/11/2005.

This article is 81 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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	Star performer - Gary Hyams Loretta is named after a Hollywood star and both are larger than life. Rob Allanson speaks to the company’s managing director Gary Hyams – a man with his own claim to fame It is quite possible that Gary Hyams is one of the most intriguing managing directors in the British tobacco industry. It is not often that you meet someone in his position that can claim a hobby – song writing in Gary’s case – has landed him hits on both sides of the Atlantic, plus several music awards – and also runs a multi million pound cigar company. He is quite open about the fact that he has been very fortunate in being able to turn his two passions, cigars and music, into lucrative careers. “I have been very fortunate to work with some great people in both industries and still enjoy both as much as when I first started,” he says while relaxing in a chair and smoking a cigar. As we tour round Loretta Cigars new offices in Elstree, workers in the warehouse address him as ‘Gary’ and it is easy to see that the company, despite being part of a large international organisation, still retains a certain family atmosphere with its workers. The company was originally founded in 1949 by the Caro family, Ernest and Gunter, who were refugees from Germany. Originally Ernest Caro supplied only his friends under the name of E. F. Caro and Co. but eventually when they expanded into the general retail trade a new company was founded ‘Loretta’. Gary takes up the story “The old man apparently had a big crush on Loretta Young who was the Marilyn Monroe of the time, so he settled on Loretta. “The main brand in those days came from the Ritmeester factory in Holland with job lots bei..... 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 : Cigar Interviews Page number : 12 Published in Cigar Buyer Issue 6 on 11/11/2005. Subscribe Buy this issue More from this issue Preview other issues This article is 81 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 © 1999-2012. 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.