Interview with Rustam Rakhimov (Off Group company)

Good day to all, friends! Today we will get acquainted with Rustam, the brand manager and head of the purchasing department of the Off Group company.

(Samarkand, Uzbekistan)

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Tell us about yourself. How long have you been in the hookah industry? Where did you start and what is your role in the company now?

Hello, dear friends and readers!

Thank you for your interest in our company and in me personally.

My name is Rustam Rakhimov, I am a brand manager and head of the purchasing department of the Off Group company.

I come from the beautiful ancient city of Samarkand.

I have been in the hookah industry since 2013.

He started as an ordinary hookah man, and later opened his own establishments.

Now I have a sponsored lounge space, I run a blog and am actively engaged in the popularization and development of hookah culture in Uzbekistan.

Thanks to the support of the management, I have the opportunity to combine all this and contribute to the development of an industry that I truly love.

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Tell us more about the Off Group company. What brands do you represent in Uzbekistan?

Off Group Shop is a company that has been officially distributing tobacco products and hookah accessories in the Uzbek market since 2017.

Our portfolio is really extensive — we are the official distributors of brands.:

• Chabacco

• Mongol Group

• Big Maks

• Original Virginia

• Oblako

We also supply hookahs and accessories of brands:

• Alpha Hookah

• Geometry

• Hoob Hookah

• Union Hookah

In addition, we are the only manufacturers of disposable mouthpieces in Uzbekistan.

Since 2025, our products have been successfully exported to Russia.

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Where do you think there is more hookah smoking in Uzbekistan — at home or in lounges?

According to the mentality of our people, hookah is more about communication and atmosphere.

It is customary for us to gather in large companies, smoke hookah, play backgammon or cards, and just spend time with friends.

In terms of numbers, about 80% prefer establishments, and 20% prefer the home format.

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How many hookah lounges are there in Uzbekistan now?

There are about 350 specialized lounges in the country.

But if you take into account restaurants and cafes where you can also order hookah, then the number of establishments will be much higher.

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Have you ever seen a Hookah Battle competition? What do you think about such projects?

Yes, I have repeatedly visited exhibitions in Russia and watched the competitions of the teams with interest.

I was rooting for friends from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

I am very proud that our guys are included in the Hookah Battle Hall of Fame and have the titles of legends.

I am friends with Enver Pulatov, who inspires us and actively encourages us to participate in international events.

I hope that Hookah Battle will soon arrive in Uzbekistan, where our teams will be able to show their best.

Online projects are also very interesting from a professional point of view — they provide an opportunity to see how the industry is developing in other countries.

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What would you like to say to the members of the Hookah Battle Community who are going to visit Uzbekistan?

If you are still thinking whether to go or not, do not hesitate, be sure to come!

We always welcome guests.

You can write to me personally and the Off Group team will be happy to show you all the beauty and sincerity of Uzbek hospitality.

After reading the interview, I suddenly wanted to go to Samarkand ╰( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡° )つ──☆*:・ﾟ