Villiger Germany celebrates 100th anniversary in splendid style : Moodie Davitt Report

Villiger’s Chris Pfister and Lydia Garcia (centre) welcome travel retail guests to the centenary celebrations

GERMANY. Swiss cigar manufacturer Villiger held a lavish reception and gala dinner on Wednesday night to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its German company, Villiger Soehne GmbH. The event, held at Germany’s biggest theme park, the Europa Park in Rust, attracted about 400 clients, business partners and other guests.

Guests at the gala dinner, held in Europa Park’s Berlin Ballroom, were welcomed by Heinrich Villiger, grandson of the company’s founder Jean and part of the family business since 1951.

In a personal and often amusing speech, Villiger reflected on the company’s history in Germany, including its reconstruction after World War II and determination to compete with rivals from the Netherlands and Scandinavia. He also addressed the “state of war” between the tobacco industry and the World Health Organization (WHO), expressing confidence in the industry’s ability to “get through the hard times”.

“Today the tobacco industry is in a state of war with the WHO and its affiliated health organizations,” he told guests. “The efforts of the WHO are supported by the media, because bad news is good news for the media because it is bad news that people are interested in”¦ We have to brace ourselves against this with all our forces. Sooner or later, the pendulum will swing back.”

The evening’s entertainment, hosted by German TV personality Marc Bator, featured a concert by gifted – and unorthodox – classical quartet Salut Salon, while guest speaker Prof Jo Groebel, author, academic and cigar aficionado, recounted his love affair with tobacco and with Villiger in particular.

Villiger’s fast-growing travel retail business was represented by Director Export Sales Chris Pfister and Area Export Manager Lydia Garcia, who are to unveil the company’s new enlarged stand at next month’s TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes.