An Interview with Manuel Quesada

Owner, MATASA, makers of Fonseca, Licenciados, Romeo y Julieta, Jose Benito, Cubita, Royal Dominicana, Credo and Casa Blanca cigars.

Marvin R. Shanken
From the Print Edition:
Denzel Washington, Jan/Feb 98

(continued from page 12)

Quesada: I'm planning when it's finally ready to make cigars in full bloom, about 15 million per year.

CA: So, 5 million will be the new brand?

Quesada: Probably more, because the gentlemen that are involved here are capable of distributing in big quantities. They have power to distribute product in the United States.

CA: Will Licenciados or Casa Blanca be produced there as well?

Quesada: No, sir. Licenciados and Casa Blanca will continue to be a MATASA operation.

CA: So the new factory will produce 15 million cigars, all new brands?

Quesada: Yes, sir.

CA: Wow. What about the other factory?

Quesada: The Cotabex factory involves Swisher International out of Jacksonville, Florida, and CITA, a Canary Islands concern which manufactures cigarettes and cigars. The idea of that factory is to have Dominican Republic as a supplying point to both sides of the Atlantic. We will sell cigars in the United States and we will also sell cigars in Europe and beyond.

CA: And that has a similar capacity?

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