Gurkha Cigars today named a new COO and President, Jim Colucci. Colucci, of Sindicato Cigars is now handing day-to-day operations. He has been president and CEO of Sindicato for 6 years and before that EVP of marketing with Altadis.
Gurkha Cigars will re-introduce some of their flavored cigars to the market at the 2018 IPCPR trade show in Las Vegas. The flavored Gurkha blends were on the market over a decade ago, and will re-enter the marketplace very soon. They are said to have the "appealing aroma of pipe tobacco".
Gurkha Cigars has announced a distribution partnership with Kretek Canada. Gurkha will be assisted by Kretek’s sales force in improving availability of Gurkha cigars throughout Canada and increasing brand awareness.
Gurkha Cigars have announced a cigar that will exclusively be made for Gurkha Lounges and for retailers with more than 25 Gurkha facings. This new Lounge Exclusive will be available with a Maduro or Habano wrapper. The cigar will be made available to the seven exclusive Gurkha Lounges and any retailers that carry more than 25 Gurkha facings and that are not within a 25-mile radius of the official Gurkha lounges.
Gurkha Cigars planned to acquire American Caribbean Cigars in Q1 2018, but after careful consideration have decided to pull out of the deal. Instead, they will build their own 100,000 square foot factory for the manufacturing of premium cigars for their international markets. They expect the project to take about 2 years as location scouting takes place.
Gurkha Cigars announced today that Christine Martinez de Castro will be the company's Director of Marketing and Public Relations. She will report directly to the CEO Kaizad Hansotia and as a part of the executive team to plan, direct, supervise and coordinate all branding, advertising, public relations, social media and marketing campaigns for the company.
Over the years, the cigar industry has seen many special releases for the Tobacconist Association of America (TAA). Of those releases, many of the biggest brands in the industry have been represented, with a notable exception. Gurkha Cigars, one of the most widely recognized premium cigar brands in the world, never released a limited TAA Exclusive cigar. That all changes this year.
Gurkha Cigars bring in Shanda Lee as the new Marketing Director. Lee will be responsible for all marketing and brand management of Gurkha Cigars. She will also oversee planing, direction, and coordination of all advertising, public relations, social media and marketing campaigns for the Gurkha Cigars.
Gurkha Cigars and Grey Ghost Precision will join forces to issue a limited edition rifle. The Gurkha Grey Ghost Rifle can be purchased by special order. Only a thousand will be made and each will come with individualized sequential alphanumeric numbering, 1-1000 (GGG-0000). Gurkha Cigar CEO, Kaizad Hansotia owns the first Gurkha Grey Ghost created, GGG-0001.
The re-release of the Gurkha Cigars Master Select has shipped to stores. Master Select was originally introduced in 2001 and was the best seller that year for Gurkha. “The Master Select is a beautifully crafted cigar that was always a Gurkha nation favorite,” said Kaizad Hansotia, CEO of Gurkha Cigars. “We are excited that the Master Select is arriving in stores and that our customers will once again be able to indulge with this rich, smooth cigar.”