Ball’s Price Chopper in Kansas City opens CBD store-within-a-store

A Ball’s Price Chopper supermarket in Kansas City, Mo., has partnered with CBD manufacturer and retailer American Shaman to create the first CBD store located within a multi-store grocery franchise in the country, according to the two companies. The 500-square-foot store-within-a-store opened in early August.

Ball’s Food Stores operates 26 supermarkets under the Hen House Market, Price Chopper, Sun Fresh and Payless Discount Foods banners in Kansas City and surrounding markets. The Ball’s Price Chopper location with the American Shaman store is at 500 NE Barry Road in Kansas City.

“American Shaman has been a great partner and we are proud to have the very first CBD store within a supermarket in the country as we continue to innovate and serve our community and customer’s needs,” said Scott Bayne, vice president of sales and marketing for Ball’s Food Stores. “Our shoppers have indicated a demand for CBD products in our aisles and we believe they will enjoy the store-within-a-store model because it maximizes convenience while upholding the standard of quality shopping and products they have come to expect from Ball’s.”

At the Ball's Price Chopper American Shaman store-within-a-store, a small seating area will be utilized as a place for sampling and in-depth discussion about the various products, which include American Shaman’s signature line of CBD tinctures, CBNight, CBGo and sparkling CBD beverages. The store is designed to create an intimate, relaxed shopping space.

The new cross-category partnership creates opportunities for both brands to appeal to new markets, according to the grocery retailer, with both Ball’s and American Shaman standing to gain foot traffic and new customers. The store is a test run for potential future iterations of the concept in stores across the Ball’s brand.

Related:Retailers expand CBD sets as category ‘explodes’

The American Shaman store at Ball’s Price Chopper is designed to create an intimate, relaxed shopping space. Reclaimed wood and botanical prints emphasize the brand’s focus on high-quality, natural ingredients. A small seating area will be utilized as a place for sampling and in-depth discussion about the various products, which include American Shaman’s signature line of CBD tinctures, CBNight, CBGo and sparkling CBD beverages.

“As demand for CBD products continues to grow, we’re always looking for new and unique ways to interact with our customers,” said Vince Sanders, CEO of American Shaman. “This store-within-a-store concept is just one way we’re continuing to innovate within our industry. The new location within the four walls of a great supermarket partner affords us exposure to the general public outside our own online and retail stores – and creates an innovative new revenue stream for us both.”

Based out of Kansas City, Mo., American Shaman has been making cannabinoid tinctures and products since 2014. The company was one of the first to utilize nanotechnology to increase the bioavailability of CBD. Additionally, American Shaman is one of only a handful of CBD companies to receive certification from the U.S. Hemp Authority for its manufacturing and quality control processes.

Related:Podcast: Nielsen’s Rick Maturo says U.S. CBD market could top $2.5 billion

Over the past few years, retailers across all channels have been reporting rapidly escalating consumer interest in products containing cannabidiol (CBD). Last year Kroger rolled out hemp-derived topical CBD items such as lotions, balms, oils and creams to nearly 1,000 stores in 17 states. Other grocery retailers ranging from Southeastern Grocers to Whole Foods Markets, Gelson’s Market and more have also begun selling CBD products, with John Bagan, chief merchandising officer at Gelson’s, noting, “For 2020, Nielsen estimates that the hemp-derived CBD market could reach $2.5 billion, providing us with significant evidence that this is something our customers are looking to purchase.”