Dannemann Cigars
Product brand
UnclaimedDannemann Cigars is a German-based cigar and cigarillo brand with origins in Brazil and a history dating to 1873.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Dannemann Cigars, known in German as Dannemann Cigarrenfabrik, is a cigar and cigarillo brand headquartered in Lübbecke, Germany. Its origins trace to Gerhard Dannemann, a Bremen-born entrepreneur who emigrated to Brazil in 1872 and established a cigar factory with six employees in São Félix in 1873. Dannemann later adopted the name Geraldo Dannemann and developed the business into a German-Brazilian tobacco enterprise. The company’s history reflects the international character of the cigar trade. Its early manufacturing base was in Brazil, where tobacco production and cigar making were closely connected to the country’s agricultural and commercial economy. In 1922, the Brazilian operation merged with the Stender company to form Companhia de Charutos Dannemann. The Second World War severely disrupted the company’s transatlantic trading relationships. Economic embargoes affected operations, while the Brazilian business was expropriated and placed under the management of Banco do Brasil. After the war, Geraldo Dannemann regained control, but the company later entered bankruptcy proceedings in 1954. The Dannemann name subsequently passed through several ownership and management phases. During a transitional period, the brand was overseen by companies associated with the Minden-based Melitta group. In 1988, the Swiss Burger Group acquired the German trademark rights and took over Dannemann GmbH in Lübbecke. The brand is described as Swiss-owned and Germany-based, while retaining historical and cultural links to Brazil. Dannemann’s portfolio includes traditional cigars as well as cigarillos. Its best-known modern extension is Dannemann Moods, a flavored cigarillo line launched in 1994. The company is described as a market leader in Germany in the cigar and cigarillo segment. Its products are associated with the European cigarillo market, where compact formats and flavored variants complement conventional cigars. The brand has also maintained cultural links with Brazil. The Centro Cultural Dannemann in Bahia provided the basis for the creation of Centro Dannemann in Brissago, Switzerland, at the beginning of 2002. These institutions connect the commercial brand with artistic and cultural activity in both countries. In the 2020s, Dannemann remained a manufacturing employer in Germany. Workers at its Lübbecke facility participated in a wider labor dispute affecting German cigar factories in 2023. The company also began building a new production hall in Lübbecke during 2023; the facility became operational in January 2024 and was presented as an investment in more modern and sustainable production capabilities. Dannemann is therefore both a historic tobacco name and an active manufacturer whose identity combines Brazilian origins, Swiss ownership connections, and German production and distribution.
History
Dannemann Cigars originated in Brazil after the Bremen-born entrepreneur Gerhard Dannemann emigrated there in 1872. In 1873, he opened a cigar factory in São Félix with six employees. Dannemann later became known as Geraldo Dannemann and built a German-Brazilian cigar enterprise around the production and trade of cigars. The company expanded through the Brazilian cigar industry and in 1922 merged with the Stender company. The resulting business was named Companhia de Charutos Dannemann. Its development was later interrupted by the Second World War. Economic embargoes disrupted transatlantic commerce, and the company’s Brazilian operations were expropriated and administered by Banco do Brasil. After the war, Geraldo Dannemann recovered possession of the business, but the company filed for bankruptcy in 1954. The Dannemann name subsequently went through a period of organizational and ownership change. During the transition, the brand was overseen by companies connected with the Minden-based Melitta group. In 1988, the Swiss Burger Group acquired the German trademark rights for Dannemann and assumed control of Dannemann GmbH in Lübbecke. This established the basis of the present German production identity, although the brand continued to be described as Swiss-owned and retained strong historical connections to Brazil. A major portfolio development came in 1994, when Dannemann launched Moods, a flavored cigarillo brand. Moods broadened the company’s presence beyond traditional cigars and became an important part of its identity in the German cigarillo market. Dannemann is described as a market leader in Germany for cigars and cigarillos. The company’s Brazilian cultural heritage was reflected in the Centro Cultural Dannemann in Bahia. At the beginning of 2002, the Centro Dannemann was established in Brissago, Switzerland, based on the Brazilian cultural center. The initiative linked the brand’s commercial history with cultural and artistic activity across Brazil and Switzerland. In 2023, Dannemann’s Lübbecke workforce became involved in a labor dispute over pay and employment conditions. The NGG union organized a 24-hour strike on May 24 after criticizing a proposed 1.4% wage increase as inadequate amid severe inflation. The union sought a €450 monthly increase for approximately 1,500 cigar-factory employees covered by the wider negotiations and also called for more consistent contracts across the industry. During the same year, the company began construction of a new production hall in Lübbecke. The facility became operational in January 2024 and represented an investment in updated and more sustainable manufacturing capabilities. Dannemann consequently remains an active tobacco manufacturer with a history spanning Brazil, Germany, and Switzerland, and with a product portfolio centered on cigars and cigarillos.
- 2024
New production hall becomes operational
[1]The new Lübbecke production hall became operational in January.
- 2023
Lübbecke production expansion begins
[1]Dannemann began construction of a new production hall intended to modernize and improve the sustainability of its manufacturing operations.
- 2002
Centro Dannemann established in Brissago
[1]Centro Dannemann was founded in Brissago, Switzerland, drawing on the Centro Cultural Dannemann in Bahia, Brazil.
- 1994
Dannemann Moods launched
[1]The company introduced Moods, a flavored cigarillo brand that expanded Dannemann’s portfolio beyond traditional cigars.
- 1988
Swiss Burger Group acquires German trademark rights
[1]The Swiss Burger Group bought the German trademark rights for Dannemann and took over Dannemann GmbH in Lübbecke.
- 1954
Bankruptcy filing
[1]After regaining control of the business following the war, Geraldo Dannemann filed for bankruptcy.
- 1922
Merger with Stender
[1]The company merged with Stender to form Companhia de Charutos Dannemann.
- 1873
Cigar factory founded in São Félix
[1]Dannemann opened a cigar factory in São Félix with six employees, marking the company’s founding.
- 1872
Gerhard Dannemann emigrates to Brazil
[1]Bremen-born entrepreneur Gerhard Dannemann emigrated to Brazil, where he soon established the cigar business that would carry his name.
Products and positioning
A heritage cigar and cigarillo brand combining Brazilian origins with German manufacturing and European market distribution. Its portfolio spans traditional cigars and flavored cigarillos, with Dannemann Moods serving as its most prominent modern cigarillo line.
Cigars
Dannemann Cigars
The core Dannemann portfolio consists of cigars associated with the company’s long-running Brazilian and European manufacturing heritage. The brand’s cigar business forms the foundation for its broader presence in the German and European tobacco markets.
Flavored cigarillos · 1994
Dannemann Moods
Dannemann Moods is the company’s flavored cigarillo line, launched in 1994. It expanded Dannemann’s offering into a compact, flavored format and became one of the brand’s principal modern product identities.
Brand decisions
2023
Investment in a new Lübbecke production hallStrategyBackground
Dannemann’s German manufacturing operations required updated production capacity.
Action taken
The company began construction of a new production hall in Lübbecke.
Aftermath
The facility became operational in January 2024 and was characterized as a more modern and sustainable production site.
1994
Launch of Dannemann MoodsProduct launchBackground
Dannemann sought to broaden its cigar portfolio with a flavored cigarillo offering.
Action taken
The company launched the Moods flavored cigarillo brand.
Aftermath
Moods became a notable part of Dannemann’s cigarillo portfolio and supported the company’s position in the German market.
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