Podcast & Interviews

Podcast #41:

Sonny Suciawan, Mata Hari

Thomas Schmid interviews Sonny Suciawan, the creator of the Mata Hari cigar brand. The conversation begins with a brief history of Mata Hari, a Dutch exotic dancer and alleged spy during World War I, who was executed by the Germans. Sonny explains the brand's ties to Indonesia and discusses the intricacies of its cigar blends, including the types of tobacco used and the taste profiles of the various product lines: Mata Hari Courtesane, Mata Hari Limited Edition 2024, and Mata Hari Java Exotica. The dialogue also covers the production process in Indonesia and the brand's aspirations to introduce Indonesian cigars to international markets, including Germany and the United States.

Podcast #40:

Rachel Gawith, director, Gawith-Hoggarth Ltd.

Hosted by Thomas Schmid, this episode focuses on the history and current market strategies of Gawith-Hoggarth Limited, the UK's sole remaining tobacco manufacturer. The company’s director, Rachel Gawith, discusses the company's unique position in the global market, particularly its surprising market presence in several Southeast Asian countries. Rachel also touches upon the company's cautious approach to opening new markets due to production limitations, regulatory challenges, and ensuring sustained product quality. The conversation concludes with a discussion about the importance and benefits of Gawith-Hoggarth exhibiting at InterTabac, a key trade show where the company can meet up with distributors and suppliers from around the globe.

Podcast #39:

Andreas Schweiger - Sales Manager, MLT Micro Laser Tech

Thomas Schmid interviews Andreas Schweiger, sales manager at Micro Laser Technology (MLT), about microlaser perforation technology in the tobacco sector. Andreas explains how MLT stands out in the field with its high-performance systems and details the origin of the company, its competition, and technological advancements that make its product unmatched. Schweiger reveals that MLT is the leader in the field due to its innovative polygonal technology, which allows for high-speed perforation producing millions of tiny holes per second, far outpacing competitors.

Schweiger also delves into the practical applications of microlaser perforation in producing light cigarettes and other tobacco products, emphasizing the importance of precision and speed. The interview transitions to discussing MLT's adaptation to market trends, such as online perforation, and exploring new applications beyond the tobacco industry, like food packaging for extending shelf life and security perforation for banknotes and passports. The interview concludes with Andreas Schweiger affirming MLT's commitment to staying at the forefront of technology and serving its niche markets effectively.

Podcast #38:

Emily Sahakian, Chateau Diadem

The episode features an engaging interview between Thomas Schmid and Emily Sahakian, co-founder of the premium cigar brand, Chateau Diadem. The remarkable growth of Chateau Diadem is underpinned by its success at various trade exhibitions and the dedication of its two founders, Emily and her cousin, Thierry Farah. Emily shares the backstory of the brand, revealing her and her cousin’s lifelong passion for cigars, their playful childhood experiences, and the eventual realization of their dream to create their own brand. She elaborates on initial obstacles and how the brand evolved from a white-label production to being manufactured in its own custom factory. The conversation highlights Chateau Diadem’s various cigar formats, the significance of quality control, and the brand’s expansion into the U.S. market. Emily offers encouraging advice for aspiring entrepreneurs in the cigar industry and emphasizes the importance of being open to feedback and continually striving for excellence.

Podcast #37:

Zafer Atiçi, Prestige Leaf

Zafer Atiçi, founder and CEO of Prestige Leaf, talks to host Thomas Schmid about his journey from being a “one-man show” to establishing his full-blown company in Dubai. He discusses the challenges he faced, such as gaining clients' trust and overcoming initial slow business years. He emphasizes the importance of repeat business over short-term profits, sharing that his company's success is reflected in returning customers. He highlights the strategic partnerships Prestige Leaf has with various international merchants and emphasizes the importance of aligning common objectives with them. The conversation also touches on the company’s Corporate and Social Responsibility (CSR) activities, including a commitment to supporting sports, arts, education, and community programs. Zafer talks about fis future plans for Prestige Leaf, including expanding into more tobacco-growing countries and possibly diversifying into the food industry. The interview concludes with Zafer's advice to newcomers in the tobacco industry and his final thoughts on the importance of treating farmers as partners rather than mere suppliers.

Podcast #36:

Shaun Wilkinson, Rebellion Cigars

The interview discusses Rebellion Cigars, a niche company founded in the UK by Mandi and Shaun Wilkinson in 2019, covering the company’s inception, Shaun Wilkinson’s passion for cigars, and the significant challenges faced entering the exclusive cigar market. Host Thomas Schmid also picks Wilkinson’s brains about the production process in a factory in Honduras and the development of Rebellion Cigars’ unique cigar blends. Wilkinson explains the distinctive pink branding and his strategy of naming cigars after favorite rock songs, as well as the launches of a special country music-themed range for the US market and upcoming limited editions. The episode wraps with mentions of Rebellion Cigars’ global reach and its presence on various online platforms for marketing.

Podcast #35:

Waqas Khan

Thomas Schmid interviews Waqas Khan, global CEO of Nevcore Innovations, about the misconceptions surrounding nicotine pouches. Khan discusses the unique features and high standards of Clew, a newly launched nicotine pouch brand that has already achieved significant recognition, including FDA approval and winning the MENA Awards. Khan explains the intricate R&D behind Clew's products, their market strategy, and their emphasis on consumer-focused design. He also highlights the importance of consumer education and the differences between synthetic and tobacco-derived nicotine products. The discussion concludes with plans for future expansions and participation in industry events.

Podcast #34:

Guilherme Costa

Thomas Schmid interviews Guilherme Costa, Vice President of Sales at SWM International. The discussion revolves around the scope of SWM International’s paper products for the nicotine, tobacco, and cannabis industries. Guilherme touches upon the company's two market brands, SWM and Botani, exploring their roles and differences. He also delves into topics like sustainability, compliance with regulations, and the innovative materials used in SWM and Botani products, highlighting how SWM International leverages its global presence to navigate different markets and offer tailored solutions to its clients.

Podcast #32:

Justin Tarbell

Thomas Schmid talks to Justin Tarbell, vice president of strategy and business development of Ohserase Manufacturing, discussing the history of tobacco among Native American tribes. Located on Mohawk land in upstate New York, Ohserase produces the all-natural cigarette brand, Signal, which uses augmented reality technology and unique packaging features. Tarbell also explains the brand's commitment to giving back to Native American communities, its connection to Mohawk heritage, and plans for international expansion.

Podcast #31:

Tadas Lisauskas, Founder & CEO, Greenbutts

Tadas Lisauskas is the founder and CEO of San Diego-based Greenbutts. The company has invented a revolutionary cigarette filter material that may well have a shot at eventually displacing the presently used (but environmentally unfriendly) cellulose acetate tow (CAT). The Greenbutts substrate is 100% plastic-free, as it is composed solely of natural fibers and a starch-based binding agent. When immersed in water, Greenbutts completely disintegrates and disperses in 30 days, while on land it takes about 60 days. There are no residues left behind, let alone dreaded micro plastics. Lisauskas talks to Thomas Schmid about the numerous advantages of the patented material, but also discloses why the industry is so reluctant in adopting it on a broader scale.

Podcast #30:

Tao Cui

With increasingly more countries starting to ban disposable vapes, Chinese manufacturers are scrambling to adjust to the fast changing landscape. For some, it will be easier than for others, as they have always put a heavy focus on innovation. Tao Cui is Director of Innovation, Strategy and Compliance at Innokin Technology, one of China’s most progressive vape tech firms. In this podcast episode, he tells the audience what Innokin has up its sleeves, including MeFree, the world’s first metal-free heating coil, EcoDrain, a technology that makes batteries safe to discard, and Trine, a groundbreaking “3-in-1” vape system. 

Podcast #29:

Christian Adi Njoto Njoo - Vice President at PT Mangli Djaya Raya



Christian Adi Njoto Njoo is the president of well-known Indonesian leaf merchant, PT. Mangli Djaya Raya. The company recently established a wholly-owned subsidiary, PT. Besuki Raya Cigars, one of Indonesia’s few premium cigar manufacturers. With brands such as El Gaucho, Airlangga, Brawijaya and, oddly, MyLockdown, the firm intends to restore an industry that had withered following Indonesia’s independence in 1945 from Dutch colonial rule and put Indonesia back on international cigar smokers’ radar. 

Podcast #28:

Reimund Ameskamp (Ray) is head of international business at 250-year-old J.W. von Eicken, which is located in the old Hanseatic city of Lubeck, and today is Germany’s last remaining independent cigarette manufacturer. Ray fills us in how his company successfully prevails against the overwhelming competition from multinationals as well as an increasingly difficult regulatory environment, not only at home but also in dozens of countries abroad. While Ray admits that it is not always easy, von Eicken’s eclectic cigarette brand portfolio exclusively “Made in Germany” continues to strike a chord with smokers in many corners of the world. 

Podcast #27:

Mitja Carstensen, Managing Director & Founder - Fluxcode GmbH

Tobacco product track & trace has become an obligation in all but a handful of markets. To handle all required processes with ease, German company Fluxcode is offering a groundbreaking all-in-one software suite that is not only fully compliant with the European Union’s TPD2 but also the T&T systems of the Middle East and Russia. Fluxcode’s managing director and co-founder, Mitja Carstensen, explains why his software product is the application of choice for any modern tobacco manufacturer.