28.02.2023
The official opening of the new VILLIGER de Nicaragua plant in Estelí was postponed many times. The Puro Sabor Festival provided the appropriate setting to welcome guests, ambassadors, and press.
The VILLIGER de Nicaragua factory has been producing premium handmade brands, such as La Libertad, VILLIGER 1888 Nicaragua, VILLIGER San’Doro, or CORRIDA, since October 21, 2021. The pandemic delayed our big opening ceremony. The time had come, and the “Puro Sabor” festival could not have been a better choice.
The festival began on January 23, attracting numerous visitors and press representatives to Nicaragua’s northern city of Estelí.
On January 26, in a solemn ceremony that was part of the “Puro Sabor” tour, people were invited to the grand opening of the VILLIGER de Nicaragua factory. The Villiger family took the opportunity to attend the ceremony in person. Corina and Lucien – daughter and grandson of Heinrich Villiger – cut the ribbon during the opening ceremony, among other things. The company's management from Germany, Switzerland, and the USA accepted the invitation – and so did the Nicaraguan ambassadors of Germany and Switzerland.
During the ceremony, Corina Villiger and Dr. Alejandro Martínez Cuenca (Joya de Nicaragua), among others, addressed the guests. They praised the project and its modern construction and thanked all employees. Heinrich Villiger made sure to say a few words to his guests. The patron appeared via video message, extending a warm welcome and wishing all guests a lovely opening ceremony.
The subsequent factory tour allowed guests to experience the modern construction of a cigar factory. The planning already envisaged setting up the building for the most efficient workflows possible. It is thus possible to start with tobacco storage at one end of the factory and end with shipping at the other. As a result, Villiger, with its nearly 100 employees, can produce 1.5 million cigars annually. The company has already taken a possible expansion of production into account. The height of the building allows for the construction of a second production floor.
The next goal is to increase annual production to over 2 million cigars. For this purpose, future employees are to be trained on-site.