Circle K to co-locate with Rise Dispensary in Florida
Green Thumb Industries Inc., a cannabis consumer packaged goods company and owner of U.S.-based Rise Dispensaries, plans to expand its medical retail footprint in Florida through a lease agreement with Circle K.
Starting in 2023, Green Thumb plans to launch its test and learn phase of the rollout with approximately 10 Rise Express branded dispensaries adjacent to Circle K stores in various Florida locations. Through the exclusive agreement, Green Thumb can lease space from Circle K in Florida, where the global convenience giants operates approximately 600 locations.
In Canada, Circle K co-locates with Fire & Flower cannabis retailers. In Florida, however, cannabis is only available for medical use: According to the Florida Department of Health, more than 700,000 Floridians are currently registered active cardholders in the state's medical marijuana program.
"The opening of Rise Express stores at Circle K locations is a game-changer. Convenience is a strong channel in retail, and people want more access to cannabis,'' Green Thumb founder, chairman and CEO Ben Kovler said in a release. "The new Rise Express model is a huge step forward in making it easier and more efficient for patients to purchase high-quality cannabis as part of their everyday routine when stopping by their local convenience store.''
Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Green Thumb has 17 manufacturing facilities, 77 open retail locations and operations across 15 U.S. markets.
The new Florida-based Rise Express stores will offer patients a selection of branded cannabis products, including Rythm premium flower, Dogwalkers pre-rolls, gummies and vapes. The products will come from the company's new 28-acre cultivation facility in Ocala, which is to be operational by the end of 2022.
Green Thumb entered the Florida market in 2018 and currently owns and operates medical cannabis retail stores in Bonita Springs, Deerfield Beach, Hallandale Beach, Kendall, Oviedo, Pinellas Park and West Palm Beach. The company also has an existing cultivation and processing facility in Homestead.
