Cannabis Convenience Stores Come to Alberta
Circle K Opens First Two Cannabis Convenience Stores in Calgary and Grande Prairie – LPC
Fire & Flower announced the openings of its first two “cannabis convenience stores” at Circle K locations in Alberta. Technically, the locations are adjacent to each other to satisfy Alberta’s retail cannabis laws. But it does signal a new dynamic in the Canadian retail cannabis industry.
The move seemed inevitable as Circle K’s parent company Alimentation Couche-Tard bought a controlling interest in Fire & Flower last August.
Trevor Fencott, Chief Executive Officer of Fire & Flower, said that move will help his company diversify in the market. He also suggested the company could go international. “As we continue to build our relationship with Alimentation Couche-Tard, Fire & Flower is very pleased to be embarking on this initiative together,” he said.
“We believe that combining convenient pick-up locations with digital engagement offered by the Hifyre platform and Spark Perks program presents our customers with a differentiated value proposition in an increasingly competitive cannabis retail market. This approach to innovation in omnichannel and convenience-oriented cannabis retail differentiates Fire & Flower and positions us well to capitalize on both domestic and international opportunities.”
The first two cannabis convenience stores will open in Calgary and Grande Prairie. It’s not surprising that the experiment will happen in Alberta, which leads the way in cannabis retails stores. The next logical province would be Ontario, which has the highest population and lots of room for growth now that the cannabis market has opened up. Circle K already has a large presence there too.
The Future May Not Be Bright Though…
As this report indicates though, not all are happy. (Please see link below.) Moving cannabis to convenience stores would eliminate the need for dispensaries. It could also restrict the market. In this case, it would be hard to imagine Circle K cannabis convenience stores to carry anything but Fire & Flower. That level of monopoly may not be best for the market – or the average Canadian.
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