An Urban Jacksonville Legend: Swisher International

[Metro Jacksonville]

An Urban Jacksonville Legend: Swisher International



New Springfield's Swisher International's 86-year-old cigar factory is the largest in the world, in terms of size and production, covering nearly 700,000 square feet, employing 1,100 and producing as much as 8.5 million cigars a day.


Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-sep-an-urban-jacksonville-legend-swisher-international

[devlinmann]

This is fascinating to me as my father Tim Mann was President of Swisher for many years and I grew up visiting that factory all the time. I was especially surprised when my wife and i lived in London (for graduate school ) by the popularity of King Edward cigar brand overseas. Thank you for spotlighting this company that has played and continues to play  such a vital role in Jacksonville's overall economic status not only as a manufacturer but an employer of so many.   

[devlinmann]

Another interesting thing to note would be the tremendous impact of the Swisher family on Jacksonville University. Several buildings there are named after them; Swisher Gym, Library, Hall etc... and I am proud to say that the newest residence hall ( actually they are really nice apartment like buildings) was named in honor of my father - Mann Hall.

[fieldafm]

Another interesting thing to note would be the tremendous impact of the Swisher family on Jacksonville University. Several buildings there are named after them; Swisher Gym, Library, Hall etc... and I am proud to say that the newest residence hall ( actually they are really nice apartment like buildings) was named in honor of my father - Mann Hall.

Wow, that was your dad???
Those 'apartments' are hella nice!

Swisher also donated the money for the block benches next to the Tillie Fowler Memorial along with riverwalk.... the type of corporate involvement Jax should do a lot more of for its massive park system.

[stjr]

Anyone know the status of Swisher family/descendants in modern Jax?  I don't recall note of them in recent times if they are here.  Under another name?

It appears the company itself is in the hands of a private investor:

An investment firm once controlled by the late William Ziegler III took Swisher private in 1999.

[Coolyfett]

So if this is a major player how come its never mentioned with Winn Dixie,CSX & Fidelity??? Is it not a fortune 500 co?

[Coolyfett]

I am also surprised they dont have have a cigar named after Jacksonville. Its always good to read about power houses in Jax...but I dont think its officially headquarted in Jax..I may be wrong.

[civil42806]

My Mom quit school when she was 16 to go to work at swishers.  But then it was the depression so every dime counted.  great article

[fieldafm]

So if this is a major player how come its never mentioned with Winn Dixie,CSX & Fidelity??? Is it not a fortune 500 co?

Swisher is a privately held firm, thereby not eligible to be included in any Fortune 500/1000 listings.  It would be interesting to know what their sales are like now. 

A few years ago, I vividly remember rumors that RJ Reynolds was looking to acquire Swisher in a deal worth around $5 billion, which probably would have meant that Swisher's sales(had it been a public company) would put it perhaps either slightly inside or slightly outside the Fortune 500.  When the credit markets froze, the talk of an RJ Reynolds acquisition froze as well.

[David]

My Mom quit school when she was 16 to go to work at swishers.  But then it was the depression so every dime counted.  great article

Yep my grandmother worked at King Edwars cigars during the mid 1940's until right before I was born in 1978. Apparently I attended a big retirement party for her at the factory while in utero (probably explains alot eh?) Eitherway, it's pretty cool to see her history remembered in this article.

[Coolyfett]

Who are some of their main competitors domestically?

[mtraininjax]

Great story! Best yet!

[danno]

It's true about the international brand recoginition.  We had just got into a cab in London and the driver asked where we were from, we sais Jacksonville.  He replied "oh thats where King Edward Cigars come from".

[KuroiKetsunoHana]

that's...actually pretty awesome.  i don't smoke the things myself, but it's nifty to know that people, even across the pond, have heard ov us for reasons other than the sinkhole that laughingly refers to itself as the jaguars.

[stjr]

A few years ago, I vividly remember rumors that RJ Reynolds was looking to acquire Swisher in a deal worth around $5 billion, which probably would have meant that Swisher's sales(had it been a public company) would put it perhaps either slightly inside or slightly outside the Fortune 500.  When the credit markets froze, the talk of an RJ Reynolds acquisition froze as well.

Field, the Fortune 500 is based on sales and a purchase price is based on current and future profit potential.  Fortune Number 500 is currently Blockbuser Video at a bit over $4.1 billion in sales.  A $5 billion purchase price sounds a bit rich for Swisher but given the privacy of the company it is impossible to tell for sure.  I also would doubt their sales would put them in the Fortune 500 or even the Fortune 1000 based on connecting the dots available but, again, without better info, it is hard to reach a final conclusion.  By the way, per the Florida Secretary of State, the company's legal HQ's appear to be in Darien, Connecticut, not Jax:

Foreign Profit Corporation
SWISHER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
20 THORNAL CIRCLE
DARIEN CT 06820