AJ Fernandez will launch Viva La Vida cigars internationally, a little over a year after announcing it would be handling distribution for all of its brands in Europe and Asia in-house.
AJ Fernandez, which also manufactures Viva La Vida, operates domestic distribution for the brand founded in March 2019 by former New York City cigar retailers Billy and Gus Fakih.
The brothers spent almost three decades in cigar retail as they slowly realized their dream of creating their own products. They sold their stores in 2015 to chase their dream.
“When we launched Viva la Vida, it was just in the U.S. and a lot of people outside the states started to contact us to see if we could send product,” Gus Fakih said. Issues with taxes and other controls were difficult to navigate. Until now.
“With this opportunity through AJ Fernandez, this is great for us,” Fakih said. If things go right, he said, “production will have to increase. Which is fine.”
Potential markets include South Africa, China and Israel, he said.
The international sales of the Nicaraguan puro will come in six sizes.
+ Robusto, 5 x 54, boxes of 20
+ Toro, 6 x 54, boxes of 20
+ Diadema, 6 ½ x 52, boxes of 10
+ Lancero, 7 x 38, boxes of 10
+ Club 500, 6 x 60, boxes of 10
