Fresh Thyme Farmers Market boosts CBD product lineup

Specialty grocer Fresh Thyme Farmers Market is ramping up its CBD product selection with nearly 100 new items.

Fresh Thyme said Tuesday that it’s rolling out 99 new CBD (cannabidiol) products to its current lineup of 152 CBD items. To be available at Fresh Thyme stores in 10 states, the products being added span the health and beauty, supplement and pet categories.

“As we continue our commitment to promoting healthy living, we are excited to announce the expansion of our CBD items in the health and beauty, supplement and pet product categories,” Jonathan Lawrence, senior director of grocery and natural living at Fresh Thyme, said in a statement.

Fresh Thyme introduced CBD products at stores in November 2016. The Downers Grove, Ill.-based chain said that it has since rapidly expanded its CBD assortment in response to shopper demand and input, as the initial two-shelf CBD space grew into an eight-foot display.

The new CBD offerings — which will expand the number of CBD products at stores by 65% — include 52 topical health and beauty items, 31 supplements and 16 pet products, carried at Fresh Thyme locations in Kentucky, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Indiana, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Through educational efforts ranging from offsite training hosted by CBD vendors to in-store events, Fresh Thyme noted that it “goes above and beyond” to make sure its store associates are well-trained, knowledgeable and able to help customers select CBD products that are right for them.

Related:Southeastern Grocers rolls out CBD products to stores

“We pride ourselves on providing our customers with a wide product selection and in-store employees who can help educate them on the benefits of CBD,” Lawrence added.

Fresh Thyme said it consults with industry experts to ensure all CBD products meet state and Food and Drug Administration rules and regulations. To that end, the retailer emphasized that it engages in a “thorough and rigorous” review of each CBD vendor and item put on shelves.

For example, all supplements must be manufactured in a cGMP facility and have a Certificate of Analysis (COA) on every lot number, according to Fresh Thyme. The company said it also requires all CBD manufacturers to include a QR code on their labels so customers can access a CBD product’s COA, which provides information on cannabinoid content. Federal law requires that hemp-derived CBD must contain less than 0.3% THC, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis.

Overall, Fresh Thyme operates 77 stores in 11 states, primarily in the upper Midwest.

Related:More Whole Foods stores to carry topical CBD products