Cigar importer Compañia de Tabacos sets course for the future
What is "Compañia"? Claude Guggenheim imported cigars from the New World for over 20 years. With his company Compañia de Tabacos, he brought brands such as A.J. Fernandez, My Father and Oliva to Switzerland. Now the cigar pioneer is stepping into the second row and handing over the management of the company to Manuel Fröhlich and his team.
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From insider tips to global brands: The success story of Compañia de Tabacos
20 years ago, Claude Guggenheim founded Compañia de Tabacos, a company with the purpose of importing premium cigars from the New World to Switzerland. Good alternatives to cigars from Cuba were still rare at the time. Company founder Claude Guggenheim believed in the potential of cigars from Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic and Honduras and brought brands such as A.J. Fernandez, My Father Cigars, Oliva and J.C. Newman to Switzerland. Claude Guggenheim proved to have a lucky hand when selecting the manufacturers: Many brands from the Compañia de Tabacos portfolio grew over the years from insider tips to top brands with numerous awards and worldwide success.
A new chapter begins - Compañia de Tabacos becomes an AG and gets new management
In May 2025, Compañia de Tabacos set the course for the future: The former sole proprietorship became Compañia de Tabacos AG. Claude Guggenheim handed over the management of the company to Manuel Fröhlich and his team. Manuel Fröhlich runs the cigar store Manuel's in Zurich and knows the needs of the specialist trade. He regularly travels to the countries of origin and knows many manufacturers personally. What the founder and his successor have in common is a great passion for cigars.
"I am very pleased about this solution, which secures the future of Compañia de Tabacos," says entrepreneur Claude Guggenheim. "I myself can now take a step back and will now contribute my experience as a member of the company's Board of Directors. I would like to thank our customers from all over Switzerland for their cooperation and the many wonderful encounters over the past few years."
Compañia de Tabacos: New management, same passion
Stefano Nett is the Managing Director of Compañia de Tabacos AG and the new contact for specialist retailers. The cigar aficionado founded the Cigar Club Chur and has revitalized cigar culture in eastern Switzerland with great commitment in recent years. Adrian Guillermo Vidal is responsible for logistics in the new warehouse in Dübendorf.
"Claude Guggeheim helped shape the Swiss cigar market for two decades. On behalf of all cigar lovers, I would like to thank him for his work and the great cigars he brought to Switzerland," says Manuel Fröhlich. "We promise to continue our passionate search for the best cigars for the Swiss specialist trade. We want to continue to offer our partners impeccable service in the future."
Resources on the topic and buying cigars
Compañia de Tabacos AG
Auenstrasse 6
8600 Dübendorf
info@companiadetabacos.ch
Phone +41 44 515 50 80
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