Top Journalists in Tobacco Shops, Cigar Stores
David Savona Cigar Aficionado
Executive editor of Cigar Aficionado; long-time industry reporter and editor who leads coverage of premium cigars and retail trends. Specialties: Premium cigar industry news, imports/market data, retailers, Cuba, brand launches.
Gregory Mottola Cigar Aficionado
Managing editor of Cigar Aficionado and the magazine’s lead writer on the cigar industry, overseeing editorial cycles and tastings. Specialties: Cigar industry reporting, blind tastings, factory/field coverage, trade shows.
Jack Bettridge Cigar Aficionado
Senior features editor at Cigar Aficionado; veteran editor covering lifestyle and spirits content that often ties into tobacconist retail. Specialties: Features, spirits, lifestyle angles that intersect with cigar retail.
Gordon Mott Cigar Aficionado
Senior contributing editor (and former executive editor) at Cigar Aficionado with decades reporting cigars and cigar travel. Specialties: Global cigar culture, Cuba, long-form features; former executive editor.
Charlie Minato halfwheel
Editor and co‑founder of halfwheel; covers breaking cigar news, policy and business developments affecting tobacconists. Specialties: Cigar-industry news, regulation, product launches, M&A; trade show coverage (PCA/TPE).
Brooks Whittington halfwheel
Co‑founder of halfwheel and prolific news/feature writer known for detailed release reporting useful to retailers. Specialties: Cigar news, photography-rich product coverage, Cuban/Habanos events.
Patrick Lagreid halfwheel
News editor and senior writer at halfwheel; widely sources and reports cigar-industry developments impacting shops. Specialties: Cigar industry news, regulatory updates, event coverage (PCA/ProCigar), reviews.
William (Will) Cooper Cigar Coop
Founder and editor-in-chief of Cigar Coop, a 365‑day cigar news outlet with multiple industry podcasts followed by stores and consumers. Specialties: Daily cigar news for retailers, new releases, interviews, trade-show live coverage.
Eric Guttormson Cigar Dojo
Owner of Cigar Dojo; publishes frequent industry news posts and hosts shows that spotlight manufacturers and retail activations. Specialties: Cigar release news, retail/store exclusives, consumer engagement content and live shows.
Melissa Kress Convenience Store News (CSNews)
Executive editor at Convenience Store News; long-recognized tobacco category reporter and author of the “Tackling Tobacco” series. Specialties: Tobacco legislation/regulation, category management and retailer strategy for tobacco backbar.
Hannah Hammond CSP (Winsight)
Executive editor at CSP; has covered tobacco among core categories for more than five years for C‑store operators. Specialties: Convenience retail news including tobacco and nicotine; trend and company coverage.
Hannah Prokop CSP (Winsight)
Journalist and editor who served as CSP’s tobacco editor/center‑store lead; co‑hosted tobacco-focused CSP podcasts. Specialties: Tobacco category reporting and podcasting for convenience retail, policy and PMTA context.
Angel Abcede CSP (Winsight)
Former CSP senior editor and tobacco category specialist; produced deep‑dive analyses used by retailers managing tobacco sets. Specialties: Tobacco category strategy and regulatory reporting for C‑stores; analysis and handbooks.
Melissa Vonder Haar CSP (Winsight)
Former CSP senior editor/tobacco coordinator whose work on tobacco trends and regulation remains widely referenced by retailers. Specialties: Tobacco merchandising and regulations; thought leadership for C‑store operators.
Antoine D. Reid Tobacco Business
Senior editor and digital director at Tobacco Business; writes in‑depth retailer/brand features used across the cigar trade. Specialties: Profiles of cigar brands/retailers, industry operations, growth and innovation; digital content leadership.
Taco Tuinstra Tobacco Reporter
Editorial director at Tobacco Reporter; veteran journalist coordinating global industry coverage relevant to specialty tobacco retailers. Specialties: Global tobacco leaf and nicotine sector reporting; company strategy, policy and market features.
Mike Macdonald Tobacco Reporter
News director at Tobacco Reporter; contributes news and anniversary/industry retrospective pieces. Specialties: Tobacco/nicotine news direction and reporting; industry milestones and trend features.
Katja Gnann Cigar Journal
Editor‑in‑chief of Cigar Journal; leads international editorial and tastings with contributors in key cigar markets. Specialties: Global premium cigar coverage, editorial leadership, retailer‑facing features and tasting coordination.
Reinhold C. Widmayer Cigar Journal
Editor‑in‑chief and long‑time Cigar Journal leader shaping global premium cigar journalism. Specialties: International cigar features, editorials and long‑form reporting for tobacconists and enthusiasts.
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