Aegis Brands, parent of Canadian coffee franchise Second Cup is utilizing their second cup locations to leverage massive expansion across the province of Ontario.
Hempisphere Cannabis Co is the latest brand under the Aegis Brands portfolio positioned to increase the availability of recreational cannabis across Canada, beginning in Ontario with one location recently opened and six more locations to open in coming months.
Second Cup has faced ups and downs over the last few years constantly refocusing to find their competitive advantage in a saturated Canadian craft coffee shop market. In 2018, the chain shared their motivations to move into the emerging cannabis industry, announcing a strategic partnership with NAC (National Access Cannabis) and motivations to move into the Western Canadian cannabis industry.
According to 2018 documents issued by Second Cup: NAC will apply for licences to dispense cannabis products and upon receipt, work with Second Cup and applicable franchisees to leverage Second Cup’s extensive Canadian retail footprint to construct retail stores carrying leading cannabis products.
2018 announcements suggested as many as 130 Second Cup locations across Canada could become dispensaries although this agreement has since been terminated in 2019. Second Cup brand has shifted it’s immediate strategy to the massive local Ontario market, leveraging current Second Cup locations to hold licenses and transform into Hempisphere Cannabis Co dispensary locations.
These announcements follow Aegis Brands complications with the COVID19 pandemic as over 80 of their 244 Canadian locations have temporarily suspended operations. Cannabis dispensaries remain open and thriving as some reports suggest sales have increased up to 20% since the start of Canadian COVID19 response measures have been put in place.
The six more Hempisphere Cannabis Co locations to come:
- 1703 Avenue Road in Toronto – Opened
- 518 Eglinton Avenue West, Toronto
- 700 King Street West, Toronto
- 65 Front Street East, Toronto
- 955 Westney Road, Ajax
- 171 Rideau Street, Ottawa
- 3838 Innes Road, Orleans
According to Aegis Brands’ press release, Hempisphere Cannabis Co is a dispensary serving all levels of cannabis consumers.
“Hemisphere promises a premium shopping experience for everyone from the canna-curious to seasoned users. Knowledgeable budtenders have been specially trained to provide a guided selection experience for those who need it, and stores are organized based on need-state to help create a simple-to-navigate shopping experience”
