Operations & Marketing

  Cannabidiol (CBD) continues to move into the mainstream with a broader range of consumers picking up products to meet a long list of varying needs. In the first quarter of 2020, 9% of CBD consumers purchased products through a convenience store, up from 5% in 2019, according to consumer surveys conducted by CBD consumer…

  FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida – After a successful showing at May’s all-virtual Efficient Collaborative Retail Marketing (ECRM) conference, Bedford, Kentucky-based PHARM CBD plans to expand its product sales into the U.S. retail market. The ECRM conference is an opportunity for established and emerging brands to meet with retailers in their field, in the hopes of…

As the Hemp-CBD marketplace evolves amidst an inconsistent regulatory framework, brick-and-mortar retailers are faced with questions about product quality, choosing reputable suppliers and complying with federal, state and local guidelines. Selling CBD welcomes Daniel McGee, Chief Legal Officer with Solari Hemp, and Chris Howard, vice president, general counsel and chief compliance officer with Forth CBD,…

  As the cannabidiol (CBD) category grapples with unusual circumstances, retailers must implement new tactics when selling CBD products. CBD sales were rolling along until two unusual circumstances caused a blip. First, the illegal tetrahydrocan- nabinol (THC) vaping crisis of late 2019 practically eliminated sales of CBD vaping items and negatively im- pacted sales of…

As cannabidiol (CBD) moves the mainstream, convenience stores are in prime position to benefit from the product’s rapid growth. U.S. sales of hemp-derived CBD products reached $4.2 billion in 2019, a 562% increase over 2018, according to Brightfield Group. While few consumers had heard of CBD prior to 2018, the signing of the Farm Bill…

  WASHINGTON — Cannabis industry analyst New Frontier Data projects that sales of infused cannabis products will approach $3 billion in 2020, according to its study, “Cannabis-Infused Products: U.S. Consumer Experience and Demand, Volume 1.” The report analyzes the performance, consumers and manufacturing processes of the infused products market, as well as the ways cannabis…

  Hemp Hydrate, a leading health and wellness company with hemp infused products, this week announced an exclusive distribution deal with Accelerate360 to handle distribution of Hemp Hydrate’s products into thousands of retail outlets across the United States. “Our goal with Hemp Hydrate has always been to provide high quality and affordable hemp infused products…

    ATLANTA – Verde Leaf, a vertically integrated hemp company, and longtime industry distributor The Alpine Hemp Group have struck a joint venture distribution deal to promote and sell Verde Leaf’s high-quality CBD products. The distribution deal allows Verde Leaf and The Alpine Hemp Group to distribute co-branded lines of consumables, non-consumables, premium flavored…

  Having founded Natural Life, one of the first multi-unit of retail stores to specialize in both CBD products as well as other holistic plants, I have learned a few things that could have made getting this now successful business off the ground much easier. As with founding any company, it’s critical to have very…

  CORONA, Calif. – Global CBD manufacturer and distributor CBD Living recently unveiled -new packaging for its 100-plus products, designed to better inform shoppers about ingredients, dosage, usage suggestions and more. “CBD is becoming increasingly mainstream, but there are still a ton of people who need help deciding which CBD products – and brands –…

  The CBD Retail Trends Virtual Conference, hosted by CStore Decisions magazine and CBDRetailTrends.com wrapped up with a pair of CBD market experts helping attendees learn about hemp-CBD consumers and prospective buyers, as well as how retailers can position their CBD products to maximize sales. The two-day virtual event featuring five speakers from the c-store…

  The first of two days of the CBD Retail Trends Virtual Conference presented by CStore Decisions and CBDRetailTrends.com, and sponsored by Forth CBD and Solari Hemp, featured plenty of evidence of rising trends in CBD product demand as well as sound advice for retailers getting started in bringing the benefits of hemp-CBD to their…

  PLYMOUTH, Mass. – Leading Northeast U.S. convenience store chain VERC Enterprises this week opened its first CBD Wellness Store, located within its Plymouth outlet, located at 131 Commerce Way, in Plymouth. The May 4, opening of the CBD Wellness Store in Plymouth is the first of many planned CBD outlets for the company. VERC…

  MIAMI – Javalution Hemp Coffee along with other brands of CLR Roasters will continue to have a home on shelves of Save Mart Supermarkets. The coffee maker last week announced an extension of its supply contract with the grocery chain through early 2022. The agreement includes CLR Roaster’s company owned Javalution Hemp Coffee brand…

TALLAHASSEE, Florida – Natural Life, a chain of retail stores that specializes in both cannabidiol (CBD) products as well as other holistic plants, is opening a third Tallahassee location slated to open in summer. Outside of Tallahassee, Natural Life operates a pair of stores in the Tampa and another in the Jacksonville markets. Owner Gabriel…

  SCARBOROUGH, Maine – According to new CBD start-up information provided by the Maine-based CBD payment solution Organic Payment Gateways, Washington, D.C.; Vermont; and Colorado have the highest rates of online CBD start-ups when adjusted for population. Washington is the most active. Due to the long history of cannabis acceptance in this pair of states…

  Natural Life adding two more stores, hoping to attract operators in Midwest, on East and West coasts. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida-based cannabidiol (CBD) products retailer Natural Life Franchise Corp. is ready to start rolling out franchise locations. The company currently has five corporate-owned locations spread across the Tallahassee, Tampa and Jacksonville markets in its…

  While some c-stores are laying back, assessing the developing CBD marketplace, one chain is moving full speed ahead into connecting its customers with the benefits of CBD-related products. CStore Decisions Senior Editor Thomas Mulloy speaks with New England convenience store chain VERC Enterprises CEO Leo Vercollone about his company’s robust commitment to entering the…

Partnership has potential to add more than 4,000 retail outlets for growing GL Brands hemp-CBD products manufacturer. Global hemp consumer packaged goods company and house of brands GL Brands announced it has entered into a new U.S. distribution relationship with Imperial Distributors, a leader in distribution and merchandising of supermarket non-food goods. Imperial will distribute…

Increasing awareness, further legalization send sales projections soaring over the next decade.   Global hemp-based products market is projected to grow at an impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 23% between 2019 and 2029, surpassing a valuation of $19B by 2029, according to a new report from market analyst Fact.MR. Hemp has…

Consumer Brands Association appoints five-member group with assembled expertise from across government, health and law enforcement. The Consumer Brands Association, which represents the world’s leading food, beverage and consumer products companies under the umbrella of consumer packaged goods (CPG), last month launched an advisory board to guide the organization’s work to enhance safety and ensure…

PORTLAND, Maine – The current widespread proliferation of CBD-based products has further highlighted the rapid expansion of the industry with more retailers and medical outlets continuing to sell CBD products. Research by CBD market analyst the Brightfield Group projects that the U.S. hemp CBD market will reach $22B by 2022. While getting a piece of…

Many forgo veterinary prescriptions in favor of pet CBD products, indicating strong potential for market segment. CHICAGO – In its recent report, Brightfield Group, a consumer insights and market intelligence firm for the CBD and cannabis industries, provides insight into the consumer and market landscape for the pet CBD industry. Based on a recent survey,…

Texas-based hemp extract processor’s ‘concept-to-market’ partnership harnesses full staff of experts for product creation, from science to marketing.   Austin, Texas-based Socati Corp., a leading processor of broad-spectrum hemp extracts, has launched its new Private Label lineup, a full-service offering allowing new and existing brands focused on delivering hemp-infused goods to create and customize several…

Impressive lineup of celebrities, entrepreneurs will join attendees for more than 300 industry vendor exhibits, networking and seminars. LAS VEGAS – Following its successful inaugural event in Miami last summer, USA CBD Expo is heading to Las Vegas to showcase the growing wellness trend rising in popularity across the globe. Taking place at the Las…