Cavalier Genève Opens Honduran Distribution Center, Switches Fulfillment Strategy

As part of a larger change to how its cigars are sent from its factory to retailers, Cavalier Genève has opened up its own distribution facility—Cavalier Premium Cigars HN SA—in Danlí, Honduras.

Coinciding with the new building is a change in fulfillment strategy. For the last 17 months, Cavalier Genève has used Illusione’s fulfillment warehouse and infrastructure in Reno, Nev. to fulfill orders. Cavalier’s cigars were rolled in Honduras, sent to Reno, and then shipped to stores from Illusione’s warehouse. Now, the company is going to ship its cigars from the new Honduran warehouse directly to retailers via UPS. While Illusione handled fulfillment, Cavalier Genève was still responsible for the sales of its own cigars.

Most cigar companies rely on some sort of U.S.-based warehouse—often in South Florida—that serves as a stop between the factory and retailer. However, some companies, particularly those with cigars made in the Dominican Republic where the UPS Cigars Direct program was born, have used this direct shipping method. The most notable example of this is Quesada.

“The growth Cavalier has been experiencing over the last few years and particularly since the factory opening allowed us to start looking to the next steps we had to take towards taking control of our future,” said Sébastien Decoppet, Cavalier’s founder, in a press release. “The distribution facility, now known as Cavalier Premium Cigars HN SA fit our strategic plan. We will now be able to not only control our flow of product better but also offer customized and personalized support to our trusted partners in the US market – we hired key people for new in-house sales support positions within this new operation.”

Andrea Paz, a local Honduran artist, was tasked with creating artwork for the new building, including a 39-foot mural.

Decoppet told halfwheel the change in fulfillment is taking effect this week.