#088 - Why C-Stores Could Shape the Future of Cannabis & Hemp Beverages w/ Melissa VonderHaar, Managing Director of iSee TradeWorks
Manage episode 483151426 series 3509840
Convenience stores are positioned to introduce cannabis to a new wave of consumers with their unmatched retail footprint of 150,000 locations nationwide and accessibility to 90% of Americans within a 10-minute drive.
• Convenience stores have evolved from selling "gas, cokes, and smokes" to embracing new categories as tobacco sales decline
• Lower-dose (5mg) THC products outperform higher-dose options in convenience, indicating these stores attract cannabis newcomers
• The National Association of Convenience Stores now allows hemp-derived THC beverage companies to join as supplier partners
• Convenience retailers process more ID checks daily than the TSA, with strong age-verification technology to ensure compliance
• C-stores sell mostly single-serve beverages (over 60% of cold vault purchases), creating perfect entry points for cannabis trial
• Nielsen data tracking THC beverage sales in convenience shows 345% growth as the category establishes itself
• Brands succeeding in convenience demonstrate both brand leadership and category leadership with educational merchandising
• Legislative challenges remain with some states attempting to exclude convenience from hemp retail
• The convenience channel could become the largest retailer of hemp-derived cannabinoids with its established infrastructure
• Industry experts predict major convenience retailers will fully embrace THC products within the next six months
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Chapters
1. The Massive Potential of Cannabis (00:00:00)
2. Introduction and DC Cannabis Advocacy (00:00:35)
3. Melissa's Journey in Convenience Store Media (00:08:49)
4. Evolution of C-Store Cannabis Perceptions (00:12:47)
5. Why Convenience Stores Lead Retail Innovation (00:20:31)
6. Age Verification and Responsible Retailing (00:30:15)
7. Nielsen Data on THC Beverage Sales (00:36:14)
8. The Three-Tier System and Category Growth (00:42:01)
9. Merchandising Strategies for C-Store Success (00:49:09)
10. Final Thoughts and Looking Ahead (00:53:58)
87 episodes