March 20, 2018 (Bradenton, Fla.) – Royal Agio Cigars USA and Avanti Cigar Company are pleased to announce an exclusive distribution agreement effective April 1st, 2018. Royal Agio Cigars USA will market, sell, and distribute the following cigar brands in the United States – Parodi, Avanti, Denobili, Petri, Ramrod and Kentucky Cheroots. This agreement expands Royal Agio Cigars’ portfolio of machine-made cigar offerings beyond the well-known Panter and Mehari’s premium cigarillo brands, and it expands Avanti Cigar Company’s reach across broad channels of tobacco distribution.

George Margioukla, President of Royal Agio Cigars USA explains, “We have a tremendous amount of respect for the Avanti team and their stable of brands, and we couldn’t be more excited to partner with another cigar company that also has over a century of cigar making heritage and long-standing tradition. The Avanti product-line up will complement our existing portfolio, and it helps further round out our premium blend cigar portfolio that includes both premium cigarillos and handmade premium cigars. The addition of these uniquely positioned cigar brands, based on premium Kentucky fire-cured tobacco blends, will help us more effectively meet the growing consumer and retailer demand for high-quality, differentiated cigar products and experiences.”

“Although our brands have been available in the U.S. for up to over a century now, we feel strongly that there is continued opportunity to introduce and broaden the appeal of our brands to cigar smokers. Partnering with Royal Agio Cigars USA will help provide our portfolio of brands with the additional resources necessary to broaden distribution and strengthen our overall presence in the marketplace,” commented Luciano Simeone, Chief Operating Officer for Avanti Cigar Company.