Born in Palencia, Carlos Bello, currently International Key Account Manager for the Cuban mini cigars portfolio at Tabacalera, has lived in Salamanca since he was 3 years old. He spent his university years in Madrid, where years later he joined Tabacalera through the Graduates program, with the idea of rotating through different departments. He started in the Finance area and then moved to the International Sales area, where he currently continues his work working with European markets such as France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, among others.
His main task is to develop the global business strategy and market to market. To achieve this, he establishes fruitful relationships with distributors, bringing them value in the different areas of the business. “What I like most about my job is the 360º vision it gives you of the business and the opportunity to work with different customers and international markets”, he says.
The dazzling growth of Cuban mini cigars.
The last three years have been very positive for the development of sales, as he explains: “There has been a global effort both from the company and from the factory, Internacional Cubana de Tabacos, to meet market demand and offer consumers attractive products such as the Limited Editions, thus raising the image of Cuban mini cigars and highlighting their origin and quality”.
A new format will soon be launched within the most prestigious brand: Cohiba Wide Short. “The markets are eager to receive it and start distributing it to their customers. It will be our largest Cuban mini cigar in the less than 3 grams category, and we are sure it will be a success and will delight our fans”, he says excitedly.
When asked what he would highlight most about the Cuban cigarillos, he tells us “the fact that they are made with 100 % high quality Cuban tobacco, as well as their convenient and attractive packaging”.
Carlos comments that there is a lot of variety to choose from and it is not easy to decide on a favorite mini: “My friend and former teammate, Miquel Ángel, suggested a Montecristo Open Club and, since then, it has been one of my favorites because of its flavour and the good construction of the format,” he says.
He also emphasizes the cigarillos that are wrapped in cellophane paper, such as the Romeo y Julieta Puritos: “This type of presentation helps to protect their conservation, like the Short and Puritos formats”, he concludes.
He discovered Cuban mini cigars when he joined the company and now recognizes that “any time is a good time to taste them, whether in peace and quiet or in moments of enjoyment, accompanied by a coffee or a good cocktail”.
And he is certainly right.
