STG closes Mac Baren and Sutliff

[elvishrunes]

Even the location of a factory makes a difference on quality, I know this from Scotch…. Streamlining is generally not good. Lagavulin tried to get the same flavour as Laphroaig, but couldn’t and they were a distillery NEXT door on Islay, they attributed it to microbes in the air.

I heard an owner of a retail chain, I forgot which, say 90% of the time consolation happens, quality drops. Now whether some will care, is another story. i happen to like OGS, an STG product.

 

[Pipke]

Even the location of a factory makes a difference on quality, I know this from Scotch…. Streamlining is generally not good. Lagavulin tried to get the same flavour as Laphroaig, but couldn’t and they were a distillery NEXT door on Islay, they attributed it to microbes in the air.

I heard an owner of a retail chain, I forgot which, say 90% of the time consolation happens, quality drops. Now whether some will care, is another story. i happen to like OGS, an STG product.

Well that's why you should never open your mason jars, not even for a sniff.

The drop in quality is foreseeable. But the closure of Sutliff is catastrophic. I do enjoy the strong HH blends, but if Sutliff is shut down in the USA, then goodbye. I wish Mac Baren and STG well in their future plans.

 

[sablebrush52]

i happen to like OGS, an STG product.

Orlik Golden Showers?

I can't recall a single product that wasn't better before STG took over production of it. Doesn't mean that it won't be smokeable, just less interesting than its predecessor.

 

[The Libertine]

Well there goes my go to for bulk. Guess I'll switch to C&D when/if the time comes.

 

[elvishrunes]

Orlik Golden Showers?

Lol, Yes private info, but they say pipe smokers are an odd bunch…

I can't recall a single product that wasn't better before STG.

I have no doubt of this.

 

[sablebrush52]

What I don't understand is how shuttering these entities benefits them. Aren't Sutliff and Mac Baren both highly popular and profitable brands? Wouldn't the acquisition itself have eliminated competition and increased value to shareholders, if that's what they're after?

Yes, but under their terms, which means shuttering and probably selling off, the physical properties, moving all manufacturing into their facility and their pipeline, using their suppliers, and further increasing profits by cutting costs and quality.
This is all about shareholder equity, not customer satisfaction. With less competition, where else are customers going to go.

 

[telescopes]

It's difficult to know what will actually happen. Regardless, this bears close watching. For the last several years, I've chosen to blend many of my home blends based on tobaccos from Lane and Sutliff, primarily because I could easily access those tobaccos. Now, I will need to purchase a bit more of those tobaccos to ensure I am not left out in the future from enjoying blends I developed for my own use and enjoyment. Will Sutliff be gone? It's hard to imagine. The impact on third party producers is unthinkable.

 

[Pipeh]

Well, I thought I was done buying tobacco, but I guess not quite yet. I still don't think I'll ever smoke everything in my cellar, but I just placed an order to ass some stuff I don't have yet, just in case.

 

[Snook]

Well, I thought I was done buying tobacco, but I guess not quite yet. I still don't think I'll ever smoke everything in my cellar, but I just placed an order to ass some stuff I don't have yet, just in case.

What does it mean when one says, "to ass"?

 

[Pipeh]

What does it mean when one says, "to ass"?

oops. that is unintentionally hilarious. I meant "to add some stuff"

 

[Snook]

oops. that is unintentionally hilarious. I meant "to add some stuff"

Dang, I thought I was learning a new verb.

 

[Sigmund]

I thought you were slinging prison lingo. That is where your cellar would have to be!

 

[krizzose]

I think it’s more like probable than merely possible.

Well, I was an optimist back then

 

[telescopes]

Well, I just bought enough leaf to add a pound each more to my supplies of The Doctor's Own Blend, Lazy Bones, and 73's. Next up, I'll need to purchase some Frosty Mint for the EZ1 blend and finally round out my supplies of Telescopes and Black Maria. I always thought it would be the government that would limit my purchases. Wow.

 

[woodsroad]

What I don't understand is how shuttering these entities benefits them. Aren't Sutliff and Mac Baren both highly popular and profitable brands?

I wouldn’t assume that Mac Baren or their Sutliff subsidiary are profitable. Didn’t Mac Baren rescue Sutliff out of insolvency? Remember, there is less and less pipe tobacco sold every year. Sombody has to die to make room in the lifeboat.

 

[sablebrush52]

I wouldn’t assume that Mac Baren or their Sutliff subsidiary are profitable. Didn’t Mac Baren rescue Sutliff out of insolvency? Remember, there is less and less pipe tobacco sold every year. Sombody has to die to make room in the lifeboat.

Sutliff was a subsidiary of Altadis, itself a subsidiary of Imperial Tobacco. It hasn’t been an independent company since 1969. The reason for the sale appears to have been one of focusing Altadis’ business, which was cigars. Sutliff wasn’t important to them.

 

[Sobrbiker]

Well, there goes my firearm panic spending budget.

If you’re just stocking up now, your too late (pews and pipes).

 

[romaso]

STG lane if i remember correctly

Correct, STG bought Lane (who made Capt Black) awhile ago and shut down Lane's Tucker, GA production facility and moved it overseas.

 

[Sobrbiker]

As new but wholly addicted to this game, and with limited disposable income, I’ve gotta say, “I was having a great day”.

 

[romaso]

1. Yes! 2. I work for Mac Baren, which is owned by the Scandinavian Tobacco Group.

Thanks for giving it to us straight. It reflects well on you that you want to get accurate information out early to your customers, and we appreciate it.

Not that I'm happy about it though, as Mac Baren's and Sutliff make most of my favorites.
PS Can you get me a bulk discount code???