NETHERLANDS. The new filter variant for travel retail’s leading cigar brand has got off to a good start in the stores where the first sell-through figures are available.
Earlier this month, Henri Wintermans Cigars launched the latest new-born to its brand family Café Crème: Café Crème Filter. Henri Wintermans Cigars area marketing manager travel retail Erwin Broeren told The Moodie Report: “The first impression with Gebr Heinemann is that the product is going really well. We have shipments going to all the major operators such as World Duty Free, P&O and Eurotunnel, but these sales results are not out yet.”
Developed from the most refined oriental tobaccos, Café Crème Filter has an in-built filter for an extra smooth sensation; the product also builds on another very successful brand extension, Café Crème Oriental Aroma. In three years, Café Crème Oriental Aroma became the third best-selling variant in the Café Crème family, reflecting a strong trend towards aromatic cigars all over Europe.
Research in various countries, including the UK which is one of the company’s most important domestic markets, showed that the idea of a filtered cigar was well-received by cigarillo smokers. Respondents were very enthusiastic about the product’s taste and pleasant aroma.
According to Broeren, Henri Wintermans’ target for this filter variant are the new cigarillo smokers. The general trend is that small cigars or cigarillos aid the upgrade process in smoking, as some smokers want to smoke “less but better”. Cigars still have status and a classy image. Café Crème Filter fills a demand for smokers that look for this improved smoking experience and eases the transition from cigarettes to cigars.
In the domestic markets of Australia, France, Italy, Spain and the UK, Café Crème Filter has already achieved excellent sales results after the introduction there late last year.
