Imagine this: you’re post-smoke sesh, and headed to CVS for .99 cent AriZona, but this time, you don’t even need the sesh. Why, you ask? Seeking new business opportunities after almost 50 years of tea, AriZona Beverages is partnering with Dixie Brand, a leading cannabis company, to introduce a line of infused products to the U.S. and Canada.
Dixie Brands CEO Chuck Smith told The Emerald, “Dixie is eager to deliver a partnership with a powerhouse brand that is exciting and flavorful, while still providing the reliable Dixie experience that consumers know and love.”
“We strive for opportunities to be innovators and leaders in the cannabis space, and this partnership allows for just that,” Smith explained. “AriZona is a fun and cutting edge brand, so when we learned of their desire to enter the cannabis space, it made perfect sense to form a partnership with a company that shares our same values.”
While the deal is still in its early stages, Smith noted that the product possibilities are endless, and they’ll likely start with vape pens and gummies. According to the letter of intent signed by both parties, AriZona and it’s partner Herbal Enterprises will take care of brand and product design, while Dixie Brands will be responsible for the manufacturing and distribution of products, selling them through licensed dispensaries. With cannabis remaining illegal on a federal level, though, things could get complicated as the products cannot be transported across state lines.
“Arizona has always led the way in product innovation,” AriZona Beverages chairman Don Vultaggio said in a press release in regards to being one of the first big beverage companies to join the cannabis trend. “The cannabis market is an important emerging category, and we’ve maintained our independence as a private business to be positioned to lead and seize generation defining opportunities exactly like this one.”
The teams are currently working together to develop a launch plan, so be sure to check back for updates on the collaboration’s products and their release.
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