GROWPACKER – the next Amazon of cannabis?
GROWPACKER; THE NEXT AMAZON OF CANNABIS?
What could Amazon possibly offer to make them even more successful? Imagine they offered the manufacturing, branding, packaging and total distribution of every one of their client’s products.
Well that’s what California based GrowPacker does; except they do it for anything and everything related to the cannabis industry. With regards to everything I mean; non-alcoholic beverages, carbonated and non-carbonated beverages, water, candies, chocolate bars, brownies, cookies, creams, lotions, massage oils, vape oils, pre-rolls, flower and the list goes on…
Growpacker clients provide them with their cannabis and preferred product parameters, including product specs and with that information Growpacker turns it into a finished ingestible and edible product. Because let’s face it, if your still invested in cannabis stocks that don’t produce eatables, start smoking your profits away because you missed the boat.
On top of converting your THC and CBD into anything infused, Growpacker will take care of formulations, lab testing, packaging and; even the total distribution and transportation of your product. They have a turn key formula with all the required licenses to boot! And to make this even more delicious, the competitors are far behind. Growpacker was one of the first to begin this process and therefore have acquired all, I mean all, the necessary licenses to make this a growers dream come true. Currently Growpacker has +450 clients in the pipeline and nearly 100 that have started the on-boarding process for production with upwards of 10 inquires per day. If only all start-ups could be so fortunate…
Another satisfying point about Growpacker is that they do what they say. By the end of 2018 they said that they would have all their licences and they did. They also said that they are working on a high-profile brand relationship with THC infused beer start-up, Ceria Beverages Company, and it was solidified.
Speaking of Ceria, let’s look at the advisory board and shareholders of Growpacker. Keith Villa, the original founding member of Blue Moon Brewery, America’s #1 craft beer with annual revenue exceeding $250M and brand value of over $1B now owned and operated by MillerCoors, is a special advisor and shareholder to the company. He is also the one spearheading Ceria.
Furthermore, the special advisory board is made up of InterContinental Beverage Capital; (IBC) founders Joe Messina, Stephen F. Horgan and Doug Christoph who have all held top executive positions at Coca Cola and MillerCoors. (IBC) is involved in serving financial and operational planning, debt restructuring, investment, re-branding, business performance, revenue growth and profitability. These three powerhouses make it clear that Growpacker is starting on a solid business foundation.
And if this weren’t enough, Jon Cooper founding member of Ebbu Inc. a U.S hemp research company recently acquired by Canopy Growth Corporation for $429M USD is also a special advisor and shareholder. He brings everything research and development on the hemp platform to push the boundaries of cannabis tech.
Now if this is not a formula for success, I don’t know what is. Combining the turn key production and distribution formula with some of the most successful people in business along with a company who is far ahead of its competition, feels as comfortable a stock pick as a good old THC infused Ceria beer! Watch out Amazon, here comes Growpacker.
About Growpacker
Growpacker is a fully-licensed cannabis co-packing and bottling company that operates in California, now the worlds fifth largest economy and Americas largest consumer market. Taking a bifurcated approach on the industry, Growpacker will have the ability to manufacture products for both the regulated cannabis market (dispensaries) as well as the open market for products that are CBD only (grocery, convenience store, etc). They have proprietary THC & CBD infusion technologies, allowing them to design and manufacture the most premium cannabis-infused products on the market, including both water and oil-based products.
About Momentum PR
Momentum PR is a cutting-edge public and investor relations consulting agency, representing companies within the Canadian investment community.
Since 2009, Momentum PR has been servicing small and mid-cap Canadian-listed public companies, seeking to increase their exposure across North America. The focus at Momentum PR is on building and driving brand awareness. Momentum PR cultivates new audiences in the media and investment communities by proactively engaging interested parties on behalf of client companies, through online and offline channels.
Disclaimer:
All editorial content contained herein is solely the responsibility of Momentum PR and does not reflect, in any way, the opinions of Growpacker
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Isabelle Arsenault
Media Relations
MomentumPR
p:+1.450.332.6939 m: +1.514.816.2611
w:www.momentumpr.com e: isabelle@momentumpr.com
- Published in Blog, Cannabis, growpacker, Marijuana, News Home, Technology
Canadian and US Cannabis Edibles and Consumer Products Market Set to Explode to US$ 4.1 Billion by 2022
Canopy Growth CEO Bruce Linton: “…related cannabis products have the potential to disrupt as much as $500 billion annually in non-smokable areas and industries: alcohol, sleep aids, appetite aids, sports drinks, medicines and pet care.”
If you can read them, the signs are there.
The marijuana edibles industry, that part of the recreational marijuana that be ingested as a candy, a chocolate, a candy bar or in a mixed drink or a beer is going to be huge and may very well eclipse that old standby the smokeable flower or bud.
During the summer ResearchAndMarkets predicted that the global cannabis infused edible products market would grow at an expected CAGR of 25.01% from 2018 to 2022. The infused beverage market would include CBD based
recovery drinks and tonics as well as potent THC infused beers.
An October 11, press release announcing a new report, “The Tasty Future of Cannabis Edibles,” by BDS Analytics and Arcview Research predicted that by 2022 the edibles market would exceed US$4.1 billion, up from US$1.5 billion, for the Canadian and US market in 2018.
A June article in Forbes ran the headline “New Data Shows that Smoking Marijuana is a Dying Trend.” The data it references is the 2018 Deloitte report on the emerging Canadian marijuana market and the Forbes story says, A recent analysis from Deloitte shows that “smokable marijuana” in the northern nation will generate in upwards of $5 billion in 2019. But the edibles sector is predicted to hit somewhere between $12 and $22 billion by the time the market is in full swing.”
According to the BDS and Arcview report the THC infused candy and chocolate market segment took the lion’s share of the US market at 60%. The press release quotes Troy Dayton the CEO of ArcView Market Research: “Established big brand food and beverage companies are beginning to take notice of the cannabis edibles market and this is likely just the tip of the iceberg.”
If anyone doubts that edibles and beverages are the next big thing they should remember Constellation Brands $4 billion investment in Canopy Growth. Of course if that doesn’t convince you then there is also the partnering dance between Coca-Cola and Aurora that somehow didn’t get off the ground. Just how big the market is going to be is still up for grabs.
In a video on TheStreet.com, Canopy Growth CEO Bruce Linton claimed that related cannabis products have the potential to disrupt as much as $500 billion annually in non-smokable areas and industries: alcohol sleep aids appetite aids sports drinks and medicines and pet care.
If you think the $500 billion figure was a bit too high Constellation Brands COO Bill Newlands predicted that the legal cannabis product market would hit $200 billion plus. “Our View is that in the next ten plus years, this is going to be a $200 billion business worldwide. And some would argue that’s understating the case.”
It’s not difficult to see why the edibles market segment is going to take off.
Smoking is, after all, bad for you. The more difficult question to answer maybe how to profit from what will be a long term market build out and development, one that, ResearchAndMarkets.com has predicted will grow at an astonishing rate of 25.91% CAGR for the years 2018-2022. At the moment almost every major Canadian marijuana company has either a beverage in development or edibles underway in a test kitchen. Edibles and beverages are made from oils and compounds removed from the plants by volatile or non-volatile extraction methods. One way of investing in this developing market lies in investing in those companies that are extracting THC and CBDs from marijuana and then selling it business to business for use in either medical marijuana or as food grade marijuana.
North Bud Farms (CSE: NBUD) is building out its 95 acre site in Low Quebec where it is in within 10 km of a major hydro power plant. Construction is scheduled to be finished Q1 2019 and at the moment is on time and within budget.
The company is also in the process of applying of for a production license under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulation (ACMPR). North Bud has cleverly tagged itself as Marijuana 2.0, in reference to the second wave of legal marijuana slated for October 2019, when the edibles and infused beverage market will be open for business. The company’s strategy is to supply two underserved markets by producing and selling certified pharmaceutical grade cannabis and GMP standard raw cannabis for the food and beverage industry. The company also intends to develop and market new products.
To that end it has recently signed a number of agreements that will help turn its words into action. On September 27, 2018 the company announced that it had signed an agreement with American firm Made By Science to license its cannabinoid infusion technology for food and beverage platform.
On October 17, 2018 North Bud announced that it had created a distribution company, “1017,” so named to commemorate the date of marijuana legalization Canada, and signed a letter of intent to acquire Janey’s, one of the six licensed marijuana accessory distributers in Ontario. Janey’s is also engaged in marijuana product development. North Bud intends to develop multiple products over a variety of product segments under the 1017 brand.
As of November 15, 2018 North Bud Farms, (CSE: NBUD) was trading at $0.25.
Given the predicted explosion in the marijuana consumables and edibles market laying a bet or two on companies in that field makes sense and one such company that bears keeping an eye on is Arev Brands International (CSE: AREV), formally Arev Nutrition Sciences. Arev originally saw life as a developer and marketer of coconut oil based health products. It is focussed on two distinct market sectors, consumer products and manufacturing as an ingredients supplier. Along the way the company also developed a unique extraction technology and this is where they fit into the consumables market segment.
In a press release on Bloomberg the company announced that it had reached a major milestone in extraction development with its partner Alternative Extracts Inc. Using its proprietary extraction system Arev has developed a
system that preserves flavour and aroma and which in the case of beverages may lengthen shelf life. It intends to manufacture finished oil products with proprietary strains bred to specifically address key health issues: anxiety, pain management, central nervous system disorders, insomnia and libido.
Arev also has an exclusive distribution agreement with the award winning full line of BARE Topical products.
In September 2018 the company completed its acquisition of BC Bud Depot. BCBD has one of the world’s largest cannabis seed banks. Over the last 14 years BCBD has won over 40 awards and was the first Canadian company to win an international award with “BC God Bud,” now Canada’s most award winning strain of all time.
On November 15, 2018 AREV was trading at $0.365.
This blog should not be construed as investment advice. Every investor is obligated to perform his or her own due diligence. In the interests of transparency Arev and North Bud Farms are both Momentum Public Relations clients.
- Published in AREV Nutrition Sciences, Blog, Marijuana, Medical Marijuana, NorthBud
Coca-Cola Planning to Have Drinks With Aurora Cannabis?
Momentum Public Relations
Blog: September 18 2018
Coca-Cola Planning to Have Drinks With Aurora Cannabis
Global Soft Drink Market Pegged at US$605.6 Billion by 2025
Marijuana Industry Acquisitions Continue
Acquisitions, partnerships, branding and product development have all been on the increase in the legal marijuana industry this year as recreational marijuana legalization comes closer to becoming reality.
You can now begin to see a consumer product rollout that is remarkable in many ways. A new industry that cuts a broad swath in consumer goods is being developed and that Canadian industry is doing its best to reach out and conquer world markets. As well as medical and recreational marijuana CBD infused cosmetic and wellness products are being developed, as well as hemp clothing and THC infused beer.
On Monday September 17, 2018 the news broke that Coca-Cola (KO-NYSE) and Aurora Cannabis (ACB-TSX) were in talks about developing a non-psychoactive cannabis infused soft drink. CNBC reported that pot stocks jumped on the news with Aurora gaining more than 15% as of mid-day. Speculation exists that Coke wants to develop a CBD infused beverage in Canada so that it can launch it in America when marijuana laws there are relaxed.
Earlier in the summer Molson-Coors announced a deal with Hydropothecary (HEXO-TSX) to develop a THC infused beer. Marijuana is going mainstream faster than imagined and industry players are scrambling to gain a piece of what may be one of the last and biggest market rollouts.
Coca-Cola is the largest beverage company in the world and if the Molson-Coors (TAP-NYSE) Hydropothecary beer agreement didn’t give the industry legitimate credibility then the forthcoming agreement with Coca-Cola should. Based on information from an anonymous source the story said that if consummated the partnership would develop health-focused beverages or recovery drinks designed to alleviate inflammation, pain and cramping.
In a statement Aurora issued to CNBC the company described the infused-beverage space as having “incredible potential.” In a statement that Coca-Cola sent to CNBC Coke said: “Along with others in the beverage industry, we are closely watching the growth of non-psychoactive CBD as an ingredient in functional wellness beverages around the world. The space is evolving quickly. No decisions have been made at this time.” The anonymous source described the discussions as “serious.”
Grand View Research has predicted that the global soft drink market will hit US$605.6 billion by 2025.
Crop Infrastructure (CROP-CSE) announced on September 13, 2018 in a press release that it too was entering the soft drink market with a cannabis-infused beverage, Canna Drink, that would have zero calories, be non-GMO, ketogenic-friendly and be available in both tea and coffee versions. Crop Infrastucture Director and CEO Michael Yorke said in the release that: “We see it as a tremendous opportunity for Crop Infrastructure’s branding & IP portfolio and as an auxiliary opportunity for each of our cultivation tenants globally.”
“Functional beverages are a new class of products that offer beyond basic nutritional ingredients, including vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids and probiotics. We believe that cannabis’s medically known benefits will enhance our own formulations, so we are bang on target with our CANNA DRINK line.”
Crop Infrastructures is a sophisticated company that has modelled its business plan on REITs, creating a real estate type marijuana investment trust. It owns properties in jurisdictions where recreational marijuana is legal and offers tenants infrastructure, branding and expertise. The company has recently expanded to Jamaica . Crop has also announced that by the end of the year it will open two retail locations in Northern Italy to sell the Urban Juve product line of hemp oil infused wellness, cosmetic and therapeutic products.
While the secondary market, products infused with CBDs, is roaring into life, acquisitions and agreements are still being made as legalization approaches.
Aurora Cannabis’ $290-million all share deal to buy ICC Labs is the latest acquisition to fuel rising share prices. Aurora has already bought up to 10 companies in the last two years. The deal is a reminder that Canada is not the only marijuana playing field and that industry leaders are busily paving the way for international expansion when more countries legalize recreational consumption.
In a telephone interview with The GrowthOp, Postmedia’s marijuana news website, Aurora’s chief corporate officer Cam Battley said: “We feel a significant sense of urgency to rapidly establish a powerful global footprint. We see ICC as the jewel of the South American market. This is going to be our anchor in South America and we have very big plans for that continent.”
The jewel that prompted Aurora’s purchase was the fact that ICC has 70% or more of the Uruguayan market. Uruguay legalized marijuana in 2013, becoming the first country in the world to do so. As well as having majority market share in Uruguay, ICC Labs also comes with Columbian licenses to grow medical marijuana and an agreement to sell CBD products to Mexico.
In the meantime, Aphria (APH-TSX) has more or less cleared the decks by selling its interest in Liberty Health Sciences for almost $60 million. According to a Canadian Press article published on September 6, 2018 in the Financial Post Aphria has sold the shares to several investors and the deal contains an option to repurchase the shares within five years.
Aphria now has money in its war chest to finance further acquisitions and opportunities. TSX regulations forced the company to sell its shares in Liberty because marijuana is illegal under federal American legislation and Aurora was threatened with delisting if it did not comply. The company intends to return to the American market when regulations change, hence the buyback option.
Canada’s largest marijuana producer, Canopy Growth(WEED-TSX), appears to just keep getting bigger. On September 5, 2018 it announced that it had acquired Hiku Brands in exchange for Canopy Growth shares. The deal improves Canopy’s retail and branding position.
Hiku is an attractive acquisition for Canopy. It has a subsidiary, DOJA Cannabis, a licensed ACMPR producer with two British Colombia based production facilities in the Okanogan Valley. Another subsidiary, TS Brandco Holdings has one of four master retail licenses in Manitoba. The company also has a chain of retail outlets branded as Tokyo Smoke in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.
All of this only goes to show that the Canadian marijuana industry is a global leader and that as countries begin to decriminalize possession, Canadian companies will be able to significantly grow their operations because of their existing footprint. All the major Canadian marijuana producers have foreign operations.
This blog was written for information purposes only and should not be mistaken for investment advice. In the interests of transparency Crop Infrastructure is a Momentum client.