ARNOLD ANDRE DOMINICANA

Arnold André established operations in Bünde, Germany, in 1851 and became one of the region’s leading cigar companies. It gained national prominence in the 1950s and 1960s, particularly after the 1958 lift of the ban on mechanized production. This allowed Arnold André to fully transition to machine production, with its HANDELSGOLD brand becoming a symbol of Germany’s post-war economic miracle. In the 1970s, the company adapted to changing tastes by launching the CLUBMASTER range of cigarillos, which became a major success. Over time, it expanded its portfolio with popular brands like Tropenschatz and INDEPENDENCE. From the 1990s onward, Arnold André partnered with premium producers like La Aurora in the Dominican Republic and secured distribution rights for high-end cigars from Italy, Nicaragua, and other countries. In 2011, the company opened a factory in the Dominican Republic to produce handmade premium cigars, including CARLOS ANDRÉ Family Reserve and MONTOSA. Today, over half of Arnold André’s production is exported, with distribution companies established in France and Portugal. Despite its global growth, Arnold André remains rooted in its hometown of Bünde, which continues to be known as the “cigar town.”