Villazon

Villazon and Company emerged from the bankruptcy reorganization of José Arango, the Tampa cigar business owned by the Llaneza family. Brothers Frank and Joe Llaneza began by producing inexpensive machine-made cigars and private-label cigars for nightclubs in New York and elsewhere. Joe managed the front office, while Frank directed the factory.

The company acquired trademarks from Preferred Havana Company, including Flor del Mundo, Bances and Lord Beaconfield. A turning point came in 1955, when Philip Morris asked Villazon to manufacture Benson & Hedges cigars and gave Frank responsibility for selecting and blending the tobacco. In 1956, Karl Cuesta sold Villazon his cigar operation and the El Rey del Mundo and Flor de A. Allones brands.

Frank Llaneza and Angel Oliva Sr. took Cuban-seed tobacco to Jalapa, Nicaragua, in 1954. Villazon continued buying Cuban tobacco after the 1959 revolution but stopped following the United States trade embargo in early 1962. The company subsequently obtained the Hoyo de Monterrey, Belinda and Punch brands from Fernando Palacio.

In 1964, Llaneza established Honduras-American Tobacco S.A. in Danlí. It was the first tobacco factory in the city. During the 1960s, Villazon transferred its hand-rolled production to Honduras because of lower labor costs, difficulty finding American rollers and proximity to tobacco, while retaining a small Tampa operation for special sizes.

As much of the cigar trade pursued mild blends, Villazon made heavier, fuller-bodied Honduran handmade cigars. Frank Llaneza sold Villazon to General Cigar Company in 1996, during the cigar boom.