Fighting against counterfeit means more than simply protecting our brand image. It also means protecting the quality of our products, as well as helping to protect consumers from products that may pose health risks. The end goal is for our customers to have a truly unique experience when smoking a cigar that only the best quality control practices can ensure.
The delicate nature of the cigars and their hygroscopic properties make strict temperature and humidity controls through the supply chain imperative. A break in humidity or temperature in the supply chain not only will affect the draw of the cigar, but can also cause mould or Lacioderma (cigar beetles) to appear. If stored in a humidor with other cigars, infected cigars with Lacioderma will trigger a chain reaction that can quickly destroy the quality of the whole collection.
It is our endeavour at Cingari to ensure we control and oversee all parts of the chain in our product’s life cycle, from the purchase and storage in our warehouse to the choice of distribution channels. We can thus guarantee our clients that the articles they purchase are genuine.
One way to ensure that cigars and cigar accessories are genuine is to purchase them only from retailers authorized by Cingari.
What does Cingari do to fight against counterfeit?
Our main efforts in counterfeit stem from our work with customs. Only the brands and SKUs provided by Cingari are registered in customs and accounted for with the proper import duties, therefore being legally allowed to circulate in the market. All cigars that are purchased from Habanos S.A. are stored in our humidity and temperature-controlled Custom Bonded Warehouse. Items are transferred from the Special Bonded Warehouse to the Private Bonded Warehouse as duties are paid and then released in the Indian market.
Furthermore, Cingari has a team who regularly conducts investigations and raids against those involved at all levels in the counterfeit supply chain: wholesalers, retailers and warehousing, and takes legal action whenever required.
Despite our best efforts, there is always the possibility and danger of counterfeit cigars being sold in the market. Hence, Cingari is also involved in on-going consumer education efforts designed to inform the public about the identification and risks of counterfeits.
How to be sure that a Habano cigar is genuine?
