Oettinger Davidoff AG Opens New Camacho Factory in Honduras

The long-awaited new Camacho factory is formally open for business in Danlí, Honduras.

Diadema Cigars de Honduras S.A. is the new home to the Camacho brand as well as the Baccarat, La Fontana, Legendario and National brands.

It’s part of a new complex in Danlí that includes the 185,000-square-foot production factory that will employ 500 people and a hospitality and lodging facility that the company will use to host guests at its factory similar to the famed Camp Camacho, which the company intends on bringing back.

The cigar factory began rolling in January of this year, though the company did not formally announce the factory’s opening until today.

“Our investments mirror the strong growth on Camacho over the past five years which saw its global sales double, as well as the needed production capacity to continue expanding Camacho globally,” said Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard, ceo of Oettinger Davidoff AG, in a press release. “Furthermore I am particularly glad that we are able to make a substantial contribution to Honduras’ economic and social development.”

The company estimates the new factory will be able to produce 65 percent more cigars than the previous one, Agroindustria LAEPE S.A., which is now closed.

It’s the latest—and perhaps most notable—piece of Davidoff’s larger push in Honduras. Over the last few years Davidoff has acquired tobacco plantations in the Jamastrán Valley, as well as in the neighboring country of Nicaragua.

In 2008, the Swiss company acquired Camacho and its factory from the Eiroa family. In the last few years, it seemingly has changed almost everything about the brand from the branding and blends to where the cigars are made.

The one thing Davidoff did not acquire is the family fields in Honduras, the Eiroas have stated that Davidoff has a 10-year deal that gives the company first right of refusal on tobacco from the fields. That arrangement is presumably coming to an end shortly, though a Davidoff official would not confirm or comment on said deal.

“Leading and managing this splendid new factory is the greatest honor in my career thus far,” said Manuel Batistsa, general director of the company’s Central America operation. “In view of important future projects, combined with our focus on cost optimisation and improved working capital, this is the perfect time to consolidate and further expand the Honduran craftsmanship.”

Charlie Minato contributed to this story.

All images © Oettinger Davidoff AG 2016, used with permission.