Luciano Cigars (formerly ACE Prime) announced today that they are launching their US distribution from their West Palm Beach, FL warehouse. The company has also recently expanded executive and sales teams.
In September Luciano Cigars announced that it would be rebranding from Ace Prime to Luciano cigars. This followed the news of a split from their partnership with Crowned Heads who had distributed their cigars until that point. This rebranding also included the factory name change from Tabacalera Pichardo to Luciano Cigar Factory.
It’s not only a rebranding, but a new era in our company. We are expanding our farming, tobacco processing and manufacturing facilities. I am humbled and grateful to have an incredible ‘Dream Team’ in place to distribute across the US with in-house reps and broker partnerships.
Luciano Meirellles, President & CEO
As an athlete I have always known that dedication, hard work and talent is the recipe for success. What we are experiencing today is just a consequence of these three exponentiated elements. I can say from the depths of my soul that today is a remarkable day for me and for our company.
Tiago Splitter, Co-Founder & Vice President
The company says that all retailers that have previously carried Luciano Cigars distributed by Crowned Heads now be serviced directly by Luciano Cigars. Sales representatives will be reaching out to these retailers over the coming days. The company will be hosting a series of zoom calls with our retailer partners where Luciano Meirelles, Peter Gross, COO and Ed Trevino, Director of Sales, to respond to any questions.
International distribution of Luciano cigars will remain unchanged. They have distributed cigars globally since 2019 and will continue to do so in Germany, France, Belgium, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, Bahrain and the UAE. Luciano cigars plans to expand further in the beginning of 2023 into Italy, the UK, Spain, Portugal, Canada, Brazil, and Mexico.
The company also mentioned in a press release that the Pichardo Clásico and Pichardo Reserva Familiar lines will soon be rebranded. The company has been moving away from the Pichardo name in recent history with the rebranding of the factory and now those lines.
New Team Members
The Luciano Cigars team has added the following members to its operation:
- Peter Gross, Chief Operating Officer
- Peter has worked as a top executive in blue chip multinational companies for more than a decade, being responsible for strategic global partnerships, especially across emerging markets. A graduate of Oxford University and Emory University, he is also a co-founder of ATL Cigar Company and will now be directing the overall operation of Luciano Cigars.
- Rebecca Meirelles, Chief Marketing Officer
- Rebecca brings extensive experience in brand management and social media. A Brazilian national and upcoming Political Sciences graduate, Rebecca speaks French, Spanish and Portuguese and will be managing the company’s national and international marketing efforts.
- Ed Trevino, Director of Sales
- Ed has been in the cigar industry for over 28 years, Treviño is a respected industry veteran. His experience in sales branches from small family-run boutique companies to large, industry-leading brands.
- Kristen Dounoulis, Distribution Manager
- Kristen brings 15 years of operational experience, managing inventory and distribution across multiple countries in the premium tobacco and fine jewelry industries. Kristen will manage all warehouse and fulfillment activities.
ATL Cigar Company
Luciano Cigars is also adding ATL Cigar Company, a boutique brand operating from Atlanta, GA, to its portfolio. They will distribute all ATL Cigar lines as well as take over manufacturing. The brand will be owned and managed separately under the Luciano Cigars umbrella. Luciano Cigars factory will begin manufacturing all ATL Cigar Co lines immediately, in anticipation of a full release of cigar lines at TPE 2023.
Launch Cigars Availability
The company’s initial in-house cigar line-up will include the following owned brands with more brands and vitolas to be announced in the coming weeks:
- Luciano The Dreamer (4 current sizes)
- Fiat Lux (4 current sizes)
- Mas Igneus
- Maria Lucia (2022 PCA Exclusive to be carried as a core line in different sizes soon).
- Pichardo Clásico (all 3 blends) *To be rebranded soon
- Pichardo Reserva Familiar *To be rebranded soon
- The Sergeant (*new vitolas to be announced)
- MXS Adrian Gonzalez
- ATL Magic
- ATL Black
- ATL Good Trouble
- ATL Fye