By Timothy S. Donahue
Top Takeaways:
- New segment push: Good Times Tobacco is expanding into premium handmade cigars through a dedicated division.
- Scale advantage: The company sold about 1 billion cigars last year, which gave it extensive distribution reach.
- Portfolio buildout: Initial SKUs are Nicaraguan “One and Done” cigars, with larger product lines and retail plans in the pipeline.
One of the largest cigar sellers in the U.S. is making a deeper push into the premium segment, as Good Times Tobacco introduces a new handmade cigar division aimed at expanding its presence beyond machine-made products.
The Tampa-based company, best known for high-volume brands like Good Times, 4K, and Sweet Woods, sold approximately 1 billion cigars last year, according to co-founder Greg Dana. Now, it is using that scale to expand further into premium handmade cigars.
The effort will include new proprietary cigar brands, expanded distribution within its existing retail network, a dual consumer and retailer e-commerce platform, and a planned walk-in humidor at its Tampa headquarters.
The company has already launched its new website, gtcigars.com, which features separate portals for consumers and retail partners.
The first products under the new division are branded GT One and Done, a line of Nicaraguan handmade cigars described as factory overruns sourced from an undisclosed manufacturer. Initial offerings include Connecticut and Habano versions in Robusto and Toro sizes, priced between $2.39 and $2.49 each when purchased in bundle packs.
Good Times has not revealed further details about the blends or the factory origins. Its website, gtcigars.com, is already live.
The company aims to expand its portfolio across various price points and formats, including boxed cigars, bundles, and foil packs. The latter aligns with Good Times’ long-standing strategy of targeting non-traditional retail channels such as gas stations and convenience stores.
Dana said the company will customize products for specific retail settings rather than trying to impose traditional premium prices on its main distribution network.
Leadership of the new division includes President Pablo Toranzo and Jeff Brown, former COO of Famous Smoke Shop, signaling a stronger push into the handmade segment, reports Charlie Minato of halfwheel.
Good Times currently employs approximately 40 salespeople and is considering adding 10 to 15 more staff members dedicated to the premium division as the business grows. The company is also constructing a walk-in humidor at its Tampa headquarters, scheduled to open in the next few months, designed as a grab-and-go retail space.
While Good Times has previously offered handmade products, including Caribbean Royales, the new initiative marks a more structured and strategic expansion into the premium cigar market—one that could leverage the company’s scale and distribution to reach segments that traditional premium brands often overlook.
