Kansas City, MO - Look! Up on the screen! It's a bird. It's a plane. It's a XIKAR cigar cutter!

That was the reaction from Kurt Van Keppel, founder and president of XIKAR, the industry's leading manufacturer of cigar and gentlemen's accessories.

While in a Kansas City theater taking in the country's hottest new film, "Superman Returns," Van Keppel was pleasantly surprised to see his company's Xi1 Titanium cigar cutter featured in three different scenes. Even his young daughter took notice saying, “Daddy, there’s your cutter!”

"Toward the end of the film, Superman’s nemesis, Lex Luther confidently revels in his defeat of the man of steel by cutting his cigar with the Xi1 Titanium,” said Van Keppel. “Then the camera comes in for a close- up. The cutter bounces around on the table-top during a Superman - induced earthquake."

Warner Bros., the studio who made the blockbuster film did not seek a promotional fee from XIKAR to include their product. On the contrary, other companies are willing to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for such prominent product placement as a way to create customer interest and sales.

"It was the most wonderful surprise, and we've gotten lots of comments from customers and users who instantly recognized the cutter as ours,” said Van Keppel.

And as most in the tobacco industry already know, recognition is instant when it comes to the Xi brand of products.

That's because of their ergonomic design and attention to manufacturing excellence, according to Scott Almsberger, co-founder and Executive Vice President of XIKAR.

"All of our products have a unique form and finish," Almsberger said. "They are really works of art in addition to their utility."

The specific cutter included in Superman Returns is the Xi1 Titanium cutter, which sells for $59.99 The cutter itself has an aluminum body encased HRC59 stainless steel blades in a spring-loaded, ergonomic shape. It's considered by aficionados and many leading industry influencers to be the finest cutter ever made.

After discussions with various industry insiders, Almsberger thinks he knows how the XIKAR cutter landed this supporting role.

"We think it was placed by the head of Warner Bros. Studios himself, who has been a long time customer and has a number of XIKAR products,” Almsberger added. “He’s also responsible for placing our cutter in another recent hit movie starring Brad Pitt and George Clooney called Oceans 11.”

XIKAR plans to acknowledge their gratitude by sending product gift packs and a personal note of thanks to the producer, director and stars of the film.

"Our appearance in Superman Returns is tremendous publicity for our company," Van Keppel said. "Even Kryptonite can't destroy that kind of brand recognition."

Superman Returns stars Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth and Brandon Routh as Superman. It is currently in wide release across the U.S.

About XIKAR

From its Kansas City headquarters, XIKAR is the world's leading manufacturer of cigar cutters, including the well-recognized Xi cigar cutter, along with a full line of cigar accessories and folding knives.

XIKAR cigar cutters and gentlemen's folding knives are sold through more than 3,000 dealers worldwide. With even more product and service introductions planned, XIKAR strives to lead the market in artful cutlery now, and in the years to come.

Further information can be obtained through XIKAR's web site, or by calling 1-866-266-1193