Tuscan cigars recognised as best in world

(AGI) Rome, Sept 22 - Tuscan cigars have been recognised as the best in the world at the Intertabac in Dortmund, Germany, the most important international fair for tobacco products organised by Cigar Journal. The company Manifatture Sigaro Toscano (MST) was awarded the Cigar Trophy and its cigar "Toscano Originale" won the Best Medium Filler category. "This represents an award for our entire production chain: from the growers to all our colleagues at MST and our partners who distribute the Tuscan cigar in more than 50 countries," affirmed the General Manager of MST, Stefano Mariotti. "Special thanks go to all the consumers who favoured the Toscano Originale cigar, thereby rewarding an all-Italian level of quality reached through the supervision of the raw material and a recipe that has remained unchanged over time: only 100 percent natural Kentucky tobacco and water, fermentation, and curing. A recipe handed down for the last 200 years of which Manifatture Sigaro Toscano is the sole keeper." The Cigar Trophy was established at the initiative of the Cigar Journal in 1988, and its prizes have become one of the most coveted awards among the top brands in the world's cigar industry. Since 2013, the prizes are awarded by consumers. They suggest candidates and then vote on the website www.cigartrophy.com. Manifatture Sigaro Toscano SpA was founded in 2006 when the Gruppo Industriale Maccaferri (Maccaferri Industrial Group) bought the branch of British American Tobacco Italia that produces and sells the historic Tuscan cigar brand. The all-Italian production chain is made up of around 250 tobacco growers in Valdichiana, Valtiberina, Umbria, Campania, and Veneto, one collection centre in Foiano della Chiana, and two manufacturing centres in Lucca and Cava dei Tirreni. In 2015, the company registered 98 million euros in revenue, produced 196 million cigars - of which 3 million were made by hand - and sold over 29 million in foreign countries alone. The TOSCANO(R) cigar is currently sold in more than 50 countries, primarily in Europe, on top of Japan, the U.S.A., Canada, Argentina, Australia, Israel, Lebanon, and Russia. (AGI). .