More CBD products earmarked for grocery retailers

In separate retail distribution deals, two vendors of cannabidiol (CBD) products are expanding availability of the fast-growing category at supermarkets.

Hudson News Distributors and Docklight Brands this week unveiled an agreement to make Docklight’s lineup of hemp-derived CBD-infused products available to retailers across the Northeast, including the drug, mass, grocery, convenience, airport and independent channels.

Hudson’s distribution retailers include CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, Target, Walmart, Stop & Shop, Giant Food Stores, ShopRite, Shaw’s Supermarkets, Market Basket, Hannaford, Acme Markets and Safeway, among others. Docklight’s brand portfolio features such products as Marley Mellow Mood CBD-infused Tea, Marley Wellness CBD Shot, Marley CBD-Infused Chocolate, Goodship CBD-Infused Confections and Irisa CBD-infused Sparkling Water.

“We are excited to announce this new alliance with Hudson News Distributors to make our portfolio of CBD brands available in the Northeast U.S.,” Damian Marano, CEO of Seattle-based Docklight, said in a statement. “Hudson has extensive experience launching brands through their distribution network. We couldn’t ask for a more qualified partner to take this step with. We are looking forward to customers in the Northeast retail market being able to have access to Marley, Irisa and Goodship CBD products.” (Photo credit: Docklight Brands)

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Parsippany, N.Y.-based Hudson operates more than a dozen distribution and/or service centers across Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.

“Adding the Docklight Brands portfolio to our offering demonstrates our commitment and strategic vision,” commented Tom Dowdy, chief revenue officer for Hudson News Distributors. “Our direct-store-delivery model can provide Docklight’s portfolio to shoppers more effectively than other supply-chain methods. We ensure that the last five feet of the path to purchase — whether shelf, display or cooler — is executed flawlessly.”

Meanwhile, whole-plant hemp CBD oil maker Sunsoil has expanded retail availability of its organically farmed products to The Vitamin Shoppe as well as to grocery chains Earth Fare, Lucky's Markets and Fresh Thyme Farmers Market stores.

Burlington, Vt.-base Sunsoil said the new distributions include its full-spectrum CBD oil in capsules, soft gels and tinctures. With the expansion, the company’s total U.S. distribution now covers more than 1,200 retail locations nationwide and is expected to reach over 1,600 stores by the end of 2019. (Photo credit: Sunsoil)

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Citing SPINS Natural Channel Consumption data, Sunsoil noted that the hemp-derived CBD industry has almost doubled in size since January, with the company’s swift retail expansion boosting its share of the category in the last six months.

"We're thrilled to continue our rapid retail expansion with these great partners," stated Bobby McConnell, vice president of sales and marketing at Sunsoil. "The education and resources that these retail partners are known for not only resonates with Sunsoil's mission, but also the needs of our customers to have confidence in the CBD products they use."