![]() ![]() While Aardvark is focusing on exclusivity of the Willie name, one of the state’s largest vertically-integrated operators is building on volume and name recognition. We pride ourselves on being standup drug dealers.” Mike Bites are Mike Tyson-branded cannabis gummies in the shape of a chewed ear. “We are able to communicate very well with our clientele about what brands are coming out and what celebrity brands are worth buying,” Lindgren said. The retailer sells 75 pounds to 125 pounds of marijuana products to an average of 4,800 people a week. Those consumers may not be immediately familiar with Michigan’s marijuana brands, but instantly recognize celebrity names. Lindgren said many of Green Stem’s customers hail from Indiana, where marijuana remains illegal, and Illinois, which is hamstrung by high taxes and limited availability. “Mostly because of the over-the-border clientele.” “We sell quite a few celebrity brands because they play well in our area,” Lindgren said. Green Stem sells many celebrity-branded cannabis options, including Blues Brothers from Belushi Farms and Garcia Hand Picked, the brand owned by the family of late Grateful Dead singer Jerry Garcia. We find a retailer and give them Willie’s exclusively in their region and don’t sell to other retailers around them.” “We want it to be found in a really good retail. “We don’t ever want this to be a mainstream brand,” Dulany said. Today, Aardvark manages smaller output for Willie’s Reserve, planning to only sell around 70 pounds of product under the brand in November and 100 pounds in December.Īardvark only grows 25% of Willie’s Reserve. So while the company grows 100% of Cheech’s Stash, it turned to other growers to supplement volumes for other brands. Few growers our size have a marketing budget, so we needed something that could market itself and operate on exclusivity.” “They are like freightliners they take six months to correct. ![]() “In our industry, every segment of the vertical can pivot except a single source grow,” Dulany said. The Cheech brand was accounting for everything the cultivator could produce. The company operates a 500-plant grow operation in Dewitt in mid-Michigan. “We were selling all of the product even before our testing came back. “Within three months of selling Cheech, we were selling out,” Dulany said. The brand was an instant success for Aardvark, but immediately limited its ability to diversify. The brand is owned by famed Cheech and Chong actor and comedian Cheech Marin. They’ve since sold the restaurants.ĭulany said Aardvark Industries was established in Michigan in 2019 - it previously operated in Oregon before exiting that market for Michigan - and began selling its own weed under a licensing deal with Cheech’s Stash in the fall last year. The family owned Tony Sacco’s Coal Oven Pizza franchises in 13 states before entering the cannabis market, including a location in Eastwood Towne Center in Lansing. Dulany and her family are no strangers to licensing. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |