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.

👉 Before we go any further: Get exclusive cigar stories, insider tips and background knowledge - for subscribers only. No advertising. Just pure enjoyment. Now free of charge Become a cigar.zone INSIDER. ONLY IN GERMAN LANGUAGE.

The team from Compañia de Tabacos 👍

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: Over the years, many brands from the Compañia de Tabacos portfolio grew 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 shop Manuel's in Zurich and knows the needs of the specialised 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 pleasant 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 person for the specialised trade. The cigar enthusiast founded the Cigar Club Chur and has revitalised 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 specialised 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 

companiadetabacos.ch

info@companiadetabacos.ch  
Phone +41 44 515 50 80

More smoke. With me.💨🤗

YOUTUBE 📺 @genussmitvasilij  

INSTAGRAM 📸 @v4silij  

INSTAGRAM 📸 @zigarrenzone