German Engineered Cigars has announced that it has shifted its distribution to City of Palms, a fairly new company started by Kevin and Anne Dinkins.

“City of Palms is not just any distributor: it’s a startup founded by industry veterans,” said company co-founders Oliver Nickels and Klaas Mahler in a press release. “Given our shared startup ethos, this partnership is a natural fit for us.”

They added that they aim to leverage City of Palms’ experience and expansive sales and broker network to boost German Engineered Cigars’ service efficiency and expand the company’s reach across the U.S.

Prior to today’s announcement, German Engineered Cigars had been distributed by Illusione since the end of November 2021.

“We extend our heartfelt thanks to Illusione, our former distributor. Their invaluable support has played a crucial role in our brand’s growth in the U.S. and international markets.”

City of Palms Distribution Services is based in Fort Myers, Fla. and also distributes ADV & McKay/ADVentura Cigars, Drunk Chicken Cigars and Eighty5 Cigars, among others. The company provides comprehensive logistical support to premium boutique hand-rolled cigar companies seeking distribution support in the U.S. The company says it provides back-office support, including importing, bonded warehousing, inventory control, invoicing, shipping, payment processing, commission processing, monthly reporting and other services to brand owners.

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Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, the G-League's Valley Suns, and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for Major League Baseball, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.