OK, let me get it straight...
One European company buys rights to produce few mixes, some of which they where making already, correct? Where does it say that those mixes will show up in North America?
It doesn't, but it is implied because Mac Baren is usually quite wise with their marketing,
why shouldn't they broaden St. Bruno's customer base back to North America?
It has been missing over here for far too long,
a sad fact that Imperial never seemed to give a flip about.
St. Bruno has been contracted out by Imperial to Scandinavian Tobacco Group (formerly Orlik) to be made under the brand owners specification - this has been the case for a long while now.
Now, STG will no longer make it.
Whatever profit they lose from losing the contract is miniscule I'd suppose,
in the grand scheme of things,
so it doesn't really hurt them too badly.
STG will forfeit the manufacturing process data, along with the "special sauce" recipe,
and Mac Baren will now start making it.
These sorts of brand turnovers have happened many times in the past,
and most well-seasoned pipesmokers know that it ain't always a good thing,
because more often than not, the brand characteristics get altered dramatically,
almost into an unrecognizable form from what it once was.
I wouldn't doubt that Mac Baren just might tone down the overall strength and body a wee bit, because their main expertise is in mild baccy, and plus it makes good business sense to make the new blend as widely appealing as possible.
Many Americans find the traditional British baccies to be strange and foreign,
often likening their profiles to "soapy", and other such stuff.
So,
what we may end up getting from MB in the end is a neutered St. Bruno,
something more like a St. Brunoette.
I wouldn't doubt it one bit.
But I got my fingers crossed too.
I guess we'll see.
Unless, that is,
we don't get to see,
and I'm reading too much into any implications that St. Bruno just might return to these shores.
Waiting...
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