Sadly I cannot think of any excellent product that once swallowed up by the corporate giant got better or even remained the same. This is big business and many of us have had first hand experience with it.
First Media Quote: We will not make any changes to the quality product of this product
First Board meeting Quote: How are we going to cut costs to pay for this acquisition?
Facts of life. The good news is only what often happens a few years afterwards. After the non-compete is over. Four Kicks is a stellar example.
I agree to an extent. What I think causes product quality to decrease when one of these large cigar companies (General and Altadis mainly) acquire a small brand is the strategy of cramming a new line in under that brand multiple times a year, not necessarily a cut in costs. It gets to a point where they make cigars just to make cigars, which, unfortunately, is a trend not exclusive to the big guys anymore.
If you're a small brand and you're struggling to keep up with production, struggling to keep the company profitable, or struggling to compete it makes perfect sense to sell. I don't know how Leccia was doing but it seems like a win for both Sam and General and if Sam goes on to do his own thing again after his time is up with General he will have more resources than we can imagine