Hemp foods maker Manitoba Harvest plans to launch its new line of hemp powders blended with green tea leaves and other greens through grocery chain Whole Foods Markets.
A distribution deal announced Wednesday pairs ground hemp protein with other “on-trend plant-based ingredients” such a matcha, a powder made from green tea leaves.
Manitoba Harvest’s Hemp+ Matcha powders will be in 348 locations, and the Hemp+ Superfoods powders will be available in 382 stores across North America. After 90 days, the powders will be sold in other grocery channels.
Manitoba Harvest is a Winnipeg company that makes foods from hemp grain including hemp hearts, hemp protein, hemp seed oil and hemp extract.
It became a subsidiary of New York-based marijuana producer Tilray Brands in 2019.
Whole Foods CEO John Mackey has predicted a strong future for CBD and other hemp products in grocery retail. The grocery executive said in a speech at MJBizCon in 2020 that there is still room to join the crowded CBD market, but that manufacturers must produce consistent products.