The Antico Toscano cigar elected Historical Mark
Wetting, fermenting, maturing: ancient actions and trades continue to 'live on' in the Lucca factory of the Manifatture Sigaro Toscano (Mst) company, where 1,500 tonnes of Kentucky tobacco, arriving from Italia (60%) but also from the USA and Peru, are processed into various types of cigars every year.
The particularity, which distinguishes Lucca from the other Mst factory located in Cava de' Tirreni (Salerno), is that here there is a handmade cigar department manned by 40 cigar-maids (average age 45) who select, roll and glue the tobacco leaves. It is still the largest handmade cigar factory in Europe: it produces two million pieces out of the 100 million made in Lucca.
The iconic product of Mst, acquired in December 2023 by Luca di Montezemolo and Piero Gnudi, is the Toscano cigar, capable of 'bewitching' artists and musicians, actors and politicians, writers and filmographers of all kinds. It is precisely a cigar from this family, the Antico Toscano, that has just been recognised as a 'Historic Trademark' of national interest by the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy.
"This recognition is a source of pride," explains Mst's CEO, Stefano Mariotti, "and confirms the value of a production tradition that for over two centuries has made the Toscano a symbol of Made in Italy that is appreciated throughout the world. This recognition will also help us from a commercial point of view, because we will put the 'Historic Mark' on Antico Toscano cigar packages'. To celebrate the milestone, the company has meanwhile created a special edition that includes three packets, one in the classic version enriched with the 'historical trademark' logo and two historical reissues.
In the meantime, Mst is closing a positive 2025 balance sheet and planning new investments: 'The driver of our growth is exports, which last year marked +20%,' explains Mariotti. 'Mst's revenues have increased by single digits, but this is important in a market context that is not easy. We are now studying a production expansion in Lucca, which until today has been focused on the production of natural cigars, to add that of flavoured cigars, which today is only made in Cava de' Tirreni. The investment would be 5 million euro and would bring several jobs'.
