SWITZERLAND. Oettinger Davidoff is celebrating its 150th anniversary with the launch of the exclusive 150 Years limited-edition cigar, alongside openings at key global travel retail locations.
The anniversary is also being commemorated with special events in Basel, the company’s founding city, and further investment in its production and global retail network, in line with its ‘Crop to Shop’ philosophy.
Founded in May 1875 by Max Oettinger with a tobacconist store at Eisengasse 9 in Basel, the company has evolved into a family-owned global enterprise and a leading producer of handmade premium cigars, employing over 4,000 people worldwide.
To mark this important milestone, Oettinger Davidoff invited aficionados to the Maison Davidoff in Basel for a three-day event, offering a tour of its global headquarters and the chance to experience its storied legacy.
To honour the company’s late Founders Dr Ernst Schneider and Zino Davidoff, who gave the company its name, the ‘Davidoff of Geneva since 1911’ flagship store at Marktplatz in Basel has been redesigned in preparation for the 150th anniversary.
In 1970, Zino Davidoff transferred ownership of his Geneva cigar store and the ‘Davidoff’ name to Dr Ernst Schneider, his business partner and friend. The move became instrumental in establishing Oettinger Davidoff’s global retail footprint, now reflected in a network of over 60 flagship stores and 700 appointed merchants in more than 130 countries.
As part of the anniversary, flagship stores on Madison Avenue in New York and in Monaco are being fully renovated, while stores are set to open at key travel retail locations, including airports in Madrid, Lima and Jeddah.
Oettinger Davidoff is also deepening its commitment to the ‘Crop to Shop’ philosophy, a core strategy that ensures quality and consistency through complete oversight of the value chain.
The company inaugurated an expanded production site in the Dominican Republic in February to address the increasing global demand for its handmade premium cigars, particularly the Davidoff brand.
Further expanding its production capabilities, the company is set to open fermentation and storage halls at its Danlí, Honduras site this autumn.
Another key anniversary highlight is the Davidoff Exclusive 150 Years Oettinger Davidoff, available exclusively at the company’s own retail stores in Switzerland.
Oettinger Davidoff CEO Beat Hauenstein said, “It is a great honour and pleasure to lead Oettinger Davidoff into the future and to successfully write new chapters in the company’s longstanding history.
“It is our aim to further enhance our position as global leader in the handmade premium cigar business and continue exceeding the expectations of our business partners and aficionados by delighting them with innovative products, unique limited editions and unrivalled shopping experiences.” ✈
