PCA 2023: JM Tobacco

Although JM Tobacco did have any new releases at this year’s PCA Convention & Trade Show, that does not mean that there weren’t any changes for the company’s products.

Anto Mahroukian, president of JM Tobacco, told me that instead of a new release, JM Tobacco decided to concentrate on updating the packaging for the company’s two Española blends, both of which debuted back in 1996.

Compared to the booths the company used at previous shows, there were quite a few changes for this year’s booth, including a large, green background complete with the company’s logo and photographs of products. In addition, the entire booth was more open-ended on both sides, and there was a new lighted display case for showing off the company’s products.

JM Tobacco Española Connecticut and Española Maduro New Packaging Design

According to Mahroukian, JM Tobacco had positive results after it changed the packaging option for both of the company’s Española blends to 10-count boxes during the 2019 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show. However, Mahroukian eventually realized that he wanted to go further than just changing the size of the boxes, so he began looking at ways to improve some other aspects of the boxes.

Those changes included a new, large sticker on the inside of the box lid that changed the way the information about each cigar was presented. Instead of just featuring the name of the cigar branded into the inside lid, the new sticker includes information on the blend, flavor notes for each cigar and a specific strength level. According to Mahroukian, the cigars in the new packaging will begin shipping to retailers in September.