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TOBACCO BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL
MARCH/APRIL 2016
E
ven in a business known for colorful characters and
people passionate about their business, Mark Ryan
stands out. If you’ve ever attended a cigar show,
you’ve probably spotted him holding court in D&R’s booth,
sporting his customary tux and wide smile. If you’re lucky
enough to have had the pleasure of chatting with Ryan about
his company, you probably came away smiling—and a little
dazed by the sheer enthusiasm with which he approaches the
business of making great tobacco products.
But I digress. For those who don’t know the company’s
history, D&R came into being after Ryan decided to jettison
a corporate career for a more entrepreneurial endeavor. That
journey proved rocky and strewn with hurdles as his fledgling
company coped with onerous regulation and taxation, but
Ryan persevered, evolving his business in tandem with the
regulatory environment and continually improving and
expanding his product lines.
As a result, while D&R Tobacco is still best known for
its pipe tobacco blends, the company has created strong
contenders in categories ranging from
premium cigars to e-liquids, including
private label products, and serves as a
distributor for an even wider array of
products. Recently,
TBI
caught up with
Ryan to get an update on the company
and his plans for 2016.
Daughters & Ryan
Tobacco, and the
man who founded it,
have come a long
way, baby.
By Jennifer Gelfand
D&R Tobacco:
Celebrating 25 Years
Mark Ryan