La Galera Tabacalera Palma

The origins of Tabacalera Palma date back to the mid-19th century, when a Spanish citizen named Jose Manuel Blanco Lozada immigrated to the Dominican Republic and specialized in the trade of tropical fruits and tobacco. His son, José Arnaldo, took the initiative to grow tobacco. Jose Arnaldo had a son, Jose Arnaldo II, who married Irene Dominguez, a woman passionate about tobacco and who played a key role in the development of Tabacalera Palma. The couple dedicated colossal efforts in the trade of cocoa beans, fruits, charcuterie, and of course, tobacco. Jose Blanco Arnaldo II founded Tabacalera Palma in 1925, becoming one of the first cigar makers in the Dominican Republic. In 1960, 'La Palma' employed around 200 full-time riders, with mainly local marketing. The couple nevertheless found the time to have 8 children: one of them, Jose Arnaldo III, took over the management as the 4th generation in the family business. Jose Arnaldo, affectionately known as Jochy, is the current owner and CEO of Tabacalera Palma. Since the early 80's Jochy has redoubled his efforts to improve the family industry, and in particular the development of Tabacalera Palma: his goal to export high quality cigars all over the world. In 1995, "Jochy" moved the factory facilities to Tamboril, near Santiago, the second most populated city in the Dominican Republic and capital of the cigar. Today Tabacalera Palma is a dynamic company and assumes a social role with the local community. Not only does the company contribute to the direct employment of more than 300 citizens – more than 70% of them being women – but also indirectly employs more than 500 people. The company assumes a socially responsible role supporting many existing charities including Firemen Patronage, Tamboril Orphanage, several sports organizations, etc. Jochy is particularly committed to supporting small independent growers in the communities where Tabacalera Palma operates. They also partnered with Litto Gomez (Flor Dominicana) in a pilot and ambitious farm project "Estancia Flor de Palma".