Artesano del Tobacco Announces Self-Distribution

Artesano del Tobacco, the company behind the Viva La Vida and new El Pulp brands of cigars, has announced that it is now distributing its own products.

This ends a previous agreement between the company and AJ Fernandez, which will continue to make its own cigars.

Previously, AJ Fernandez—both in the U.S. and international markets—was also responsible for distribution. The company told halfwheel that it does not anticipate changing any of the local distributors it uses internationally, meaning the changes are more related to the U.S. market as well as how the cigars are shipped to local distributors.

As part of the change, Artesano del Tobacco says it will distribute the cigars out of a facility in Doral, Fla.

“We are grateful for an amazing job AJ Fernandez organization did for our cigar brand Viva La Vida, we are grateful for the amazing opportunity Abdel Fernandez gave us when he took our brand Viva La Vida five years ago and passionately introduced it to the market nationally and internationally,” said Billy and Gus Fakih, the Artesano del Tobacco’s owners, in a press release. “We are forever grateful for Abdel Fernandez and his team. Our relationship with Abdel is built on friendship, brotherhood, and most importantly selfness.”

The distribution changes took effect this month.