Vandermarliere Cigar Family

Vandermarliere Cigar Family, operating as J. Cortès Cigars Company NV, is a Belgian cigar manufacturer headquartered in Zwevegem. It is one of the two remaining independently operating cigar producers in Belgium. The company traces its origins to 1924, when Maurits Vandermarliere, a sexton from Moen, began running a cigar shop. In 1926 he purchased a hand-operated cigar machine from the estate of a bankrupt cigar factory in Waterloo, initially producing 60,000 cigars per year. The business moved to Heestert in 1936 under the name Ets. Vandermarliere NV, where the still-existing NIC brand was created. In 1975 the company acquired the Neos cigar factory in Handzame, which remains a major production site. In 1979 it took over the bankrupt TAF cigar factory in Liège, gaining the J. Cortès brand. A further move to a larger factory in Zwevegem took place in 1988, with the name J. Cortès Cigars displayed on the facade; this also became the new company name from early 2006. In 1986 the J. Cortès brand was restyled as a premium cigar with a high-quality Sumatra wrapper, packaged in blue to evoke the Côte d'Azur, targeting the Belgian, Luxembourg and especially French markets. Today J. Cortès Cigars offers an extensive range of cigars, with the best-known brands being J. Cortès, Neos, Fuego, Amigos and Nic. Approximately 85% of production is exported. In 2008 the company produced 416 million cigars. The company remains family-owned and is a notable player in the European cigar market, particularly strong in France with the Neos and J. Cortès brands.

The history of Vandermarliere Cigar Family begins in 1924, when Maurits Vandermarliere, a sexton from Moen, started running a cigar shop alongside his church duties. In 1926 he acquired a hand-operated cigar machine from the estate of a bankrupt cigar factory in Waterloo, which allowed him to begin manufacturing, initially producing 60,000 cigars per year. In 1936 the company, then named Ets. Vandermarliere NV, relocated to the nearby town of Heestert. It was there that the NIC brand, which still exists today, was created. In 1975 Vandermarliere took over the Neos cigar factory in Handzame, a site that continues to account for a large part of production. In 1979 the company acquired the bankrupt TAF cigar factory in Liège, and with it the J. Cortès brand. In 1986 the J. Cortès brand underwent a restyling, being upgraded to a premium cigar with a high-quality Sumatra wrapper. Because the company was focusing on the Belgian, Luxembourg and especially French markets at the time, a blue packaging was chosen to evoke the Côte d'Azur. In 1988 the company moved again to a larger factory building in Zwevegem, where the name J. Cortès Cigars was displayed on the facade. From early 2006 this also became the new company name. By 2008 the company produced 416 million cigars. Today J. Cortès Cigars markets an extensive range of cigars, with the best-known brands being J. Cortès, Neos, Fuego, Amigos and Nic. Approximately 85% of production is exported, and the company is particularly strong in France with the Neos and J. Cortès brands. It remains one of the two independently operating cigar producers in Belgium.

• 2008

  Produces 416 million cigars.

• 2006

  J. Cortès Cigars becomes the official company name.

• 1988

  Moves to larger factory in Zwevegem; J. Cortès Cigars name displayed on facade.

• 1986

  J. Cortès brand restyled as a premium cigar with Sumatra wrapper and blue packaging.

• 1979

  Acquires bankrupt TAF cigar factory in Liège, gaining the J. Cortès brand.

• 1975

  Acquires Neos cigar factory in Handzame.

• 1936

  Company (Ets. Vandermarliere NV) moves to Heestert; NIC brand created.

• 1926

  Purchases a hand-operated cigar machine from a bankrupt factory in Waterloo; begins production of 60,000 cigars per year.

• 1924

  Maurits Vandermarliere starts a cigar shop in Moen.

Family-owned Belgian premium cigar manufacturer with a strong export focus, particularly in France.

• J. Cortès

  Flagship premium cigar brand, known for its blue box and Sumatra wrapper.

• Neos

  Major brand, especially strong in France.

• Fuego

  Cigar brand in the portfolio.

• Amigos

  Cigar brand in the portfolio.

• Nic

  Historic brand created in Heestert in 1936.

1. 1VCF cigarsjcortes.com
2. 2VCF cigars - Historyjcortes.com
3. 3VCF cigars - Brandsjcortes.com
4. 4Vandermarliere Cigar Family - Wikidatawikidata.org
5. 5Vandermarliere Cigar Family - Wikipedia (NL)nl.wikipedia.org