The exclusive seats were snapped up within hours: Last Thursday, Zurich’s Manuel’s cigar lounge and finews.ch hosted a special evening to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Oettinger Davidoff.

Around 50 guests – including 20 finews readers – were given the rare opportunity to enjoy a cigar that officially no longer exists: the «Davidoff Exclusive 150 Years Oettinger Davidoff», together with CEO Beat Hauenstein.

A Rare Treat

Hauenstein had brought the last remaining boxes from the company archive; the edition, produced exclusively for Switzerland, had been sold out for months. The delight in the room was correspondingly high.

The evening began with a champagne reception in Manuel’s lush, Caribbean-inspired lounge ambience, followed by another highlight: a business talk with the Oettinger Davidoff CEO, moderated by finews Publishing Director Florian Schwab.

From Basel to the Top

The conversation focused on the company’s remarkable development. Hauenstein explained how Oettinger Davidoff – with annual revenues of around 550 million Swiss francs and a presence in 130 countries – has advanced to the top of the handmade premium cigar world as a Swiss family firm.

Today, the company operates at a scale «quite comparable to the Cuban Habanos Group», as Schwab noted.

The star of the evening: «Davidoff Exclusive 150 Years Oettinger Davidoff». (Image: Alexa Morante, Courtesy)

Vertical Integration as the Key Differentiator

Hauenstein emphasised vertical integration as the decisive competitive advantage: from seed genetics to fermentation, ageing and rolling, the essential components are controlled in-house. This, he said, is ultimately why Davidoff – unlike many competitors – remained fully able to deliver during and after the pandemic, winning many new aficionados in the process.

The years 2023 and 2024 were milestones for Oettinger Davidoff: record sales, strong earnings, and remarkable global momentum. But Hauenstein made clear that 2025 cannot quite keep pace with those peaks.

2025: A Noticeable Cooling

As in many premium segments – watches, wine, champagne – a cooling is becoming apparent. Consumers remain active but increasingly gravitate toward «downtrading»: choosing more affordable lines within the portfolio instead of top-tier products. The premium business remains solid, but momentum has normalised.

Hauenstein offered a candid assessment: the environment for high-end goods has softened globally. Consumers in Asia are more restrained, and in the U.S., sharp currency swings are pressuring margins. Oettinger Davidoff’s earnings are particularly sensitive here, as large parts of the business are tied to the dollar.

Muted Sentiment Overseas

Sentiment in the world’s most important cigar market — the United States — is also historically subdued. Consumer surveys are back at levels last seen in 2008 or even the late 1980s. «People still smoke», Hauenstein said, «but they choose lower-priced formats more often.»

Geopolitical factors also play a role. The CEO addressed U.S. import tariffs that impose a 10 percent duty on Dominican cigars. «It is mainly American consumers who feel this», Hauenstein said.

Davidoff Switzerland CEO Gerhard Anderlohr (left) in conversation with guests. (Image: Alexa Morante, Courtesy)

The Energy of the Workforce

Pricing becomes delicate in this environment: the U.S. market is extremely broad but highly price-sensitive. Around 80 to 90 percent of cigars sold there cost less than $10. Davidoff’s lines sit far above that — a structural disadvantage when households tighten budgets.

From the anniversary year itself, Hauenstein takes one thing above all: the energy of the workforce. The major celebration in Basel and the activities in the production countries clearly demonstrated the strength of the internal culture — a key factor in the turnaround he has led since taking over in 2017.

Hauenstein’s Turnaround

At that time, Oettinger Davidoff had to overcome a difficult operational situation. A focused restructuring, clear priorities and an emphasis on operational excellence laid the foundation for the record years that followed.

The CEO also highlighted the cultural aspect of cigar smoking: a cigar connects people, creates calm, conversation and closeness — regardless of status or background. This social quality, he said, is a key reason why the tradition endures even under strict regulation.

Beat Hauenstein (center) with Gerhard Anderlohr (l.), Manuel Fröhlich (2nd from left), Florian Schwab (2nd from right) and Agron Ramadani of Davidoff Switzerland (r.). (Image: Alexa Morante, Courtesy)

Even the sometimes bizarre regulations in Europe — such as Belgium’s ban on in-store cigar advice — cannot extinguish this culture. «Rituals do not disappear simply because they are made more difficult», Hauenstein said.

Swiss Precision, Caribbean Fire

After the conversation, Hauenstein and the Davidoff team stayed on, answering questions and discussing tobacco, markets and management principles.

Oettinger Davidoff’s brand promise — to unite Swiss precision with Caribbean passion — was fully on display that evening, distilled into a product that brings people together.