German tobacco company Pöschl Tabak has recently made inroads into the travel retail sector, establishing presence at over 120 airports globally. In 2023 alone, the company unveiled 20 duty-free stores focusing on fine cut additive-free tobacco products from its Pueblo brand.
“As a medium-sized company among the big players, it is important to always have the right instincts for market niches and thereby impress with a proven tradition with products of excellent quality,” noted the 121-year-old tobacco house.
The company was founded by Alois Pöschl, a Bavarian salesman who sold haberdashery and snuff. With limited funds, he eventually established a snuff business on 24 December 1902.
Together with his companion Max Ebenherr, who retired shortly after, Pöschl founded Brasiltabakfabrik A. Pöschl & Cie and focused on the production and sale of Schmalzler snuff.
Pöschl Tabak added: “It was through perseverance, hard work and pursuing the best possible product quality that the small business successfully prevailed against the overwhelming competition of the established Schmalzler factories in Landshut.”
Today, the company is led by the fourth generation of the Pöschl family. It is a leading producer of snuff and a group-independent manufacturer of tobacco products such as fine-cut, cigarettes and pipe tobacco – focusing on quality and further internationalisation.
In travel retail Pöschl Tabak is pushing Pueblo: “We aim to improve the global development of our most famous fine-cut product Pueblo. Being among the top five fine cut brands worldwide (according to internal figures), we are focusing on expanding its presence across Asia.
“Pueblo is pure taste – we do not use any additives such as humectants, preservatives or flavourings when processing our high-quality tobaccos, only treating them with water.
“It is the world’s bestselling tobacco in the additive-free segment, also available as cigarettes. We are constantly working to increase its global brand awareness.”
The Pöschl Tabak Group comprises ten subsidiaries and four joint venture companies, exporting to over 100 countries worldwide. The group sold over 6.5 million kilograms of tobacco in 2023, recording a total turnover of €730 million.
When asked what role travel retail plays in its overall business strategy, Pöschl Tabak said: “It offers a good opportunity to present our brands. Looking at the usual regulations, it is great to have the possibilities in travel retail to present the value and quality of our brand Pueblo.
“Additionally, being present on duty-free shelves shows consumers that Pueblo is a global brand, which helps increase sales volume.”
2023 was Pueblo’s most successful year in the international market so far. Just a few years after its introduction in Germany, followed by a debut in travel retail, Pöschl Tabak is now represented in over 81 countries worldwide.
The company noted: “In addition to the excellent and convincing product quality, this story of success is particularly due to the expansion of relationships with travel retailers such as Avolta, Lagardère Travel Retail and Gebr. Heinemann.
“These relationships are to be further expanded in 2024 – with a focus on the Asian market, which is always open to new products.”
Pöschl Tabak’s ambition is – besides sustainable growth – to further improve its global presence in the duty-free business. The company added: “Our aim is to enable consumers to purchase our products all over the world.” ✈
