CPG & CBD University Podcast: Recent Episodes
Global Widget
The CPG & CBD University Podcast, produced by Global Widget, LLC, is intended for audiences who are interested in learning more about CBD, health and wellness products. Each podcast episode will examine the burgeoning industry, including the latest news and trends, information around the sourcing, manufacturing, testing and distribution of CBD, health and wellness products, and any new product details from Global Widget’s in-house and private label brands.
Global Widget is proud to partner with Eurofins Scientific, whose mission it is to contribute to global health and safety by providing customers with high-quality laboratory and advisory services. On Episode 125, Vanessa Snyder, Business Development Director, discusses the services Eurofins provides to its customers and the measures it takes to be a leading international group of laboratories with more than 55,000 employees across 900 sites. Learn about some of its 200,000 analytical methods for testing, how its expertise, technological leadership, innovation and attention to quality and service have made Eurofins the global leader in the fields it serves. Plus, as the gummy industry continues to boom, hear about the challenges of gummy testing and how Eurofins is meeting those challenges.
You can also learn more about Eurofins at www.eurofinsus.com.
To be an industry leader in everything gummy manufacturing, it’s takes innovation. Global Widget recently launched its innovation team, featuring members of our marketing and formulation team to study emerging product trends and incorporate the latest functional ingredients into our gummy formulations.
Formulators Jessica Quinn and Sara Brown are joined by Marketing Manager Vikki Hayward and Content Manager Sean Murray to discuss Global Widget’s innovation in product development and manufacturing, some of the trending ingredients hot in the gummy industry right now and what ingredients you may be seeing more of in the near future.
As gummies become more and more popular with consumers for their health and wellness needs, this episode, as a part of our Gummy Central® series, examines the hot trend in the gummy industry of sugar-free gummies. Global Widget formulators Zach Burrell and Jessica Quinn discuss one of the hottest trends in gummies and how the formulation of gummies is different for sugar-free gummies.
Burrell and Quinn discuss the substitutes that are used in place of sugar, how they are added to the formula and whether the taste, texture or the consistency is affected by sugar-free formulations.
If your business is interested in adding a sugar-free vitamin gummy to its product line, learn more about customization options at: https://gwgummies.com.
iSee Store Innovations is a design and manufacturing company that develops innovative retail solutions for the convenience store and grocery industries. Melissa Vonder Haar is the Marketing Director and joins this episode to discuss her family’s history in the convenience store industry and how her father, Joe Vonder Haar, founded iSee Store Innovations and how the company has helped reshape the look and feel of convenience. Vonder Haar details how stores can stay innovative with products and cater to the ever-changing shopping habits and trends of consumers. Plus, she discusses how cannabis products are a natural fit for the convenience industry given their long history with age verification purchases of tobacco and alcohol sales.
We wrap our episode discussing everything from baseball to Vonder Haar’s internship with Saturday Night Live and her award-winning chili creations.
Learn more about iSee Store Innovations at www.iseeinnovation.com.
Safe Harbor Financial helped pioneer cannabis banking. In November 2012, Colorado voters passed amendment 64, legalizing the sale and use of recreational marijuana. As a result, entrepreneurial businesses focused on cannabis products grew just as fast as the unprecedented consumer demand for recreational marijuana. In response to this new and growing industry, Safe Harbor Financial CEO/President, Sundie Seefried, helped establish a safe, legitimate banking option for their cannabis clients. Today, Safe Harbor Financial manages over 600 cannabis banking accounts and has processed over $11 billion dollars. This episode goes into the challenges facing cannabis businesses seeking financing, how Safe Harbor Financial has met the challenges and how they stay ahead in an evolving industry by giving cannabis businesses the financial tools they need for success. Plus, hear about the philanthropic efforts by Safe Harbor Financial and Seefried to make communities around the world better.
Learn more about Safe Harbor Financial at www.shfinancial.org.
CSP is committed to being the industry leader in publishing and media innovation. Hannah Hammond, associate editor covering packaged beverages and tobacco, joins our podcast to discuss the latest news surrounding the convenience store industry. Hammond reviews the educational resources CSP offers retailers and convenience store chains through its webinars, events and trade shows to stay on top of regulations and trends. Plus, she discusses the challenges facing the industry as the regulatory environment regarding tobacco continues to change and how CBD and hemp products fit in with tobacco behind the counter in the convenience store space.
Learn more about CSP and its educational opportunities at www.cspdailynews.com.
This episode takes you behind the science of nootropics as we discuss hyper brain iQ. Science-supported and research-based, hyper brain iQ’s proprietary nootropic formulations are designed using special nutrients perceived to help elevate mood, reduce stress and maintain and improve mental performance – memory, learning, concentration, focus and recall. Quality Manager Nelson Manager joins us to discuss the functional ingredients you’ll find in these products and how each of these ingredients may benefit your overall health and wellness. He’s joined by Vice President of Sales Vince Gillen who provides feedback from our distribution partners and why increased consumer demand for cognitive-benefiting supplements is driving more distributors to add this brand to their inventory. For more information on hyper brain iQ, visit www.hyperbrianiq.com.
We’re going behind the latest headlines in the Hemp industry with Hemp Industry Daily editor Kristen Nichols. We discuss the new head of the FDA, who has no record on cannabinoids, and a new study from the USDA looking at Hemp farming in the U.S. Plus, Nichols talks about her newest editorial on why MJ operators got it wrong on Delta-8 THC and what the 2023 Farm Bill could look like.
Thanks to our eight varieties of ready-made vitamin gummy formulas, any business can instantly expand their product line and reach new customers without spending time on product development, formulation and testing. In the latest addition of our Gummy Central® series, join Global Widget Business Development Manager Logan Westlake and Senior Formulation Specialist Sara Brown as they discuss how our ready-made gummy formulas are changing the supplement industry.
On Episode 116, we launch our new series of podcast episodes regarding our newest initiative, Hemp at a Higher Standard.
Global Widget Vice President of Sales, Vince Gillen, and industry advocate/attorney Rod Kight discuss how the age verification measures we educate our distribution and retail partners about help keep products out of the wrong hands.
Learn about QR codes and additional labeling and packing standards we use across all our in-house hemp-derived cannabinoid brands. Gillen also discusses the additional educational resources we make available to our distributors, including position papers, brochures and other marketing materials. You’ll also hear about our latest product displays that allow for additional security to help keep our products from being sold to underage consumers.
Kight talks the legalities of CBD, Delta-8 and Delta-9 products across the U.S. and what retailers and distributors should keep in mind when selling these products. Additionally, Kight discusses age-gating and what states like Tennessee have in the works regarding legislations which would require consumers to verify their age before purchasing these products.
Subscribe to the CPG & CBD University Podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify and more podcast platforms. You can watch full episodes of our podcast on our YouTube channel.
For more information on Global Widget and its gummy manufacturing capabilities for your brand, visit www.gwgummies.com.
On Episode 115, two members of Global Widget’s Contract Manufacturing Division join us to discuss our latest investments to help bridge the gap in industry demand for gummies and total market capacity.
With gummies as a main delivery method, Global Widget has made a number of investments in its facilities, processes and people over the past 18 months in response to the industry demand for great-tasting, quality gummies. Mac Norton and Clay Rahmberg, both Business Development Managers with Global Widget’s Contract Manufacturing Division, discuss the investments made at Global Widget’s four facilities, all located in Tampa, Florida, to meet total market capacity in manufacturing quality gummies demanded by retailers, distributors and private label partners.
Hear about our increase in capacity at Plant 6 and Plant 7 with new manufacturing lines and the automation of production to increase efficiency and meet the demands of our customers. Plus, hear about our new distribution facility and recent certifications acquired.
Get an inside look of our facilities by visiting the Global Widget YouTube channel.
Subscribe to the CPG & CBD University Podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify and more podcast platforms. You can watch full episodes of our podcast on our YouTube channel.
For more information on Global Widget and its gummy manufacturing capabilities for your brand, visit www.gwgummies.com.
On Episode 114, three members of Global Widget’s formulation team join us for the latest in our Gummy Central® series.
CBD, CBN, CBG, Delta-8, Delta-9 and more…the cannabinoids used in gummy formulations across our in- house brands Hemp Bombs® and Mystic Labs™ and within our contract manufacturing division evolve as consumer trends change. Quality Manager Nelson Rodriguez is joined by Quality Control Chemist Eugene Choi and Research and Development Specialist Jean Irizarry to discuss how the use of different cannabinoids affects the formulation of gummies, its flavors, texture and more.
You’ll hear about the differences in cooking methods with each cannabinoid and how multiple cannabinoids may be used in one variety of gummy. Also, hear about the testing and reporting our in-house team completes on gummies to ensure the potency and label claims.
Finally, our team discusses what other cannabinoids can be making their way into gummies next and how they stay on top of the latest trends in the hemp and health and wellness industries.
Subscribe to the CPG & CBD University Podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify and more podcast platforms.
You can watch full episodes of our podcast on our YouTube channel.
For more information on Global Widget and its gummy manufacturing capabilities for your brand, visit www.gwgummies.com.
For the past eight years, Philip Snow has worked as an attorney in the cannabis industry representing businesses across the U.S. and Canada. We discuss Hemp-derived cannabinoids in the U.S., recent studies showing the medical benefits of CBD and what it could mean for federal regulation. Plus, the latest on recent and pending legislation.
Michael Patterson, CEO, US Cannabis Pharmaceutical Research and Development and a global Cannabis/Hemp speaker and published author, takes a look at the Cannabis and Hemp industry entering 2022. Patterson discusses recent studies looking at medical benefits of CBD, new regulations regarding cannabis and Hemp around the world and how the industry is expected to continue its explosive growth throughout the year.
We first introduced you to Cardinal Bay Distribution on Episode 40. Cardinal Bay Distribution is one of the original distribution partners of Global Widget, beginning with our first-ever product, Hemp Bombs® CBD Capsules. Over the past five years, they have expanded their partnership to include additional brands from Global Widget and now have added additional Hemp-derived cannabinoid products. Hear about how they stay on top of industry trends, the process for adding new products and the feedback they receive from retailers and consumers. For details, visit www.cardinal-bay.com.
Trade shows in the CBD and health and wellness industry are coming back. Vice President of Sales Vince Gillen and Director of Strategic Accounts Tracy Lane break down the trade shows on the calendar for the first quarter of 2022. Learn about Convenience Distributors Association (CDA) Marketplace, ASD Market Week and ECRM specialty shows coming up. Hear what retailers and distributors can expect to see from Global Widget, including our newest Hemp-derived cannabinoid products and in-house health and wellness brands.
In our latest Gummy Central® podcast episode series, Technical Services Manager Michael Diaz and Formulator Zach Burrell discuss the trending functional ingredients in gummies. With health and wellness top of mind as consumers make New Year’s resolutions, hear about what ingredients you may be seeing more and more of in gummy formulations throughout the year and what could be the next big trend in the gummy industry.
After a busy 2021 in the Hemp industry, what are some of the headlines you should be on the watch for in 2022? Kristen Nichols, editor of Hemp Industry Daily, joins our podcast for some 2022 predictions in the Hemp industry. After taking a look back at the big headlines from the past year, we look ahead and discuss if this is the year the FDA finally acts on CBD, emerging state legislation regarding Hemp-derived products and additional stories that could be making headlines in 2022.
We’re wrapping up 2021 with Business Development Manager, Mac Norton, Quality Manager, Nelson Rodriguez and Sr. Content Manager, Charlie O’Brien. Take a look back at our year of crafting and manufacturing award-winning CBD and health and wellness products and launching new brands. Hear about our Hemp Bombs products honored for great taste and quality and learn more about our newest brands from 2021 as we reflect on the past year and even offer some New Year’s resolutions for 2022.
Hemp industry advocate and attorney Rod Kight offers his 2022 predictions for the Hemp industry. After a busy 2021 saw the emergence of Delta-8 THC products along with changes to state legislation around the country, what could we see emerge in 2022? Kight offers his predictions for FDA regulation, other cannabinoid products and what the Hemp industry may look like outside of the U.S.
For more news from Kight, visit his website at www.cannabusiness.law.
Over the past year, hemp-derived cannabinoids have been a staple in headlines across the CBD industry. Hot topics such as Delta-8, Delta-9, CBN and CBG have joined CBD as common cannabinoids making their way into gummies, oils and other consumer products. Vice President of Sales, Vince Gillen, details the trends in the convenience industry when it comes to hemp-derived cannabinoids and what retailers should know about emerging trends heading into 2022.
America’s Personal Trainer®, Tony Little, joins Global Widget co-founder Kevin Collins to discuss the launch of Forever Well Nutrition. Forever Well™ products are designed for people who embrace the research behind a healthy lifestyle and want to take an active role in their longevity, beginning with their daily self-care routines. Hear about the selection of wellness gummies available at launch and how functional ingredients play a key role in the quality, taste and texture of the gummies. See the full product list at www.beforeverwell.com and on Amazon and follow Forever Well Nutrition on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ForeverWellNutrition
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/be_forever_well/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/foreverwell_n
Gelatin and pectin are the two gelling agents used when cooking gummies. Global Widget Senior Formulation Specialist Sara Brown and Innovation Manager Ashley Huber discuss the differences in gummies when using either one. We discuss why manufacturers may choose one over the other. Plus, we discuss what functional ingredients work well with either and the use of plant-based pectin in vegan gummies.
We’re decking the halls for our annual holiday gift guide episode! VP of Marketing, Gina Bongiovanni, discusses our holiday promotions and the perks you’ll get if you sign up for our email newsletters at Hemp Bombs, Nature’s Script and Mystic Labs. There’s a CBD and health and wellness product for everyone on your list, including our award-winning CBD gummies and additional award-winning products. Plus, hear about some of our newest products to try out to get over that holiday stress.
Kristen Nichols, editor of Hemp Industry Daily, returns to our podcast with a recap of MJBizCon. This year, MJBizCon celebrated its 10th anniversary, welcoming visitors back for an in-person event at the Las Vegas Convention Center, showcasing over 250,000 square feet of exhibits, forums and speakers. Also, Nichols catches you up on the latest headlines in the industry, including changes in Delta-8 THC legality, CBD changes in California and what we’re watching as we wrap up 2021.
The CPG and CBD University Podcast, formerly known as the CBD University Podcast, turns 100! It’s our 100th episode and PR Manager/podcast host Joe Agostinelli takes you on a retrospective of the first 100 episodes. Hear how it all began in November 2019, on Episode 1 and how we got to where we are today. We’ll look back at our special guests, including Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Nikki Fried, and Florida’s Director of Cannabis, Holly Bell, and hear from our more frequent guests, including industry advocate and attorney Rod Kight and the members of our in-house formulation, sales and marketing, quality and compliance teams.
Earlier this year, industry trade shows returned and our team at Global Widget was back on the road. VP of Sales Vince Gillen recaps a condensed trade show season with the latest news and trends from retailers and distributors. Gillen discusses the launch of new brands Mystic Labs, hyper brain iQ and Forever Well Nutrition and meeting with distributors and retailers at Tobacco Plus Expo, ASD Market Week, CDBX and NACS. Plus, Gillen has advice for retailers for the busy holiday shopping season ahead.
Nootropics are making their way into more food and beverages as consumers look for ways to improve their focus. Global Widget Quality Manager Nelson Rodriguez joins Technical Services Manager Michael Diaz to discuss this emerging trend. You’ll hear about our newest in-house brand, hyper brain iQ, featuring gummies and capsules. Hear about the most popular nootropic ingredients, such as caffeine, ashwagandha, taurine, L-Theanine, ginseng extract and several vitamins. Finally, hear how nootropics are a hit in the gaming community.
Five years ago, our CBD brand Hemp Bombs® was born. It started with a two-pack of CBD Capsules. Through the years, it has grown to be the category captain in convenience and an award-winning brand to consumers online and in more than 25,000 retail locations. Hemp Bombs now offers CBD Gummies, Capsules, Oils, Topicals and more. Vice President of Sales Vince Gillen and Payroll Specialist Daisy Figueroa have been with the company since nearly the beginning. They share their memories from the early days, how the company has expanded into what it is today and what their favorite CBD products have been along the way.
Rod Kight, industry advocate and attorney, has the latest headlines from the regulatory scene in the hemp industry. Hear the latest on Delta-8 products and recent warning letters from the FDA and CDC. Plus, learn about more state regulations regarding CBD products, including the latest out of California. Finally, as we head into 2022, what does a lack of federal regulation mean for the thousands of companies in the industry?
Looking for the latest regulatory news? Visit Kight on Cannabis at https://cannabusiness.law/.
Wendi Young is the president of Triverity Labs, which has labs in Belfast, Northern Ireland and Loveland, Colorado. They provide services which allow CBD manufacturers to receive cannabinoid analyses, test reports and consultancy to help them attain their necessary compliance. She discusses the challenges facing manufacturers in the industry, how the regulations in the U.S. and the European Union are similar and different and how data integrity and consistent results can help drive product development.
Earlier this year, Global Widget launched its brand-new internship program with its first class of interns joining the CBD and CPG manufacturer for the summer of 2021. Enrique Porras, Vice President of Operations, joins interns Cara Duong (University of South Florida), Ellen Miranda (University of Tampa), Nathan Plumb (University of South Florida) and Muhammad Nauman (University of South Florida) to discuss the new program, share stories of their summer and offer advice for those seeking employment and experience in the CBD, health and wellness industries.
Marc Burbidge is the Co-founder, CEO & Innovation Director at B3 Labs, a white label CBD manufacturer in the U.K. Burbidge sheds light on the cannabis and CBD industry in the U.K. and how it differs from the industry in the U.S. Hear why Burbidge founded B3 Labs in 2019 and learn some of the stringent compliance measures companies in the U.K. need to take and how B3 Labs became the first CBD manufacturer to hold BRCGS Certification in the U.K.
As part of our Gummy Central® series of podcast episodes, Quality Control Manager Nelson Rodriguez joins formulator Sara Brown to take you behind the scenes. Each one of the 8 million gummies we manufacture every day starts with our in-house formulation department coming up with the perfect formula to achieve that award-winning and best-tasting gummy every time. We take you through the process, what goes in to formulating gummies and some of the new and trending flavors, plus we talk about our newest award-winning gummies, Hemp Bombs Botanical Blend CBD Gummies!
CBN is a minor cannabinoid found in the same Hemp plant that brings you CBD. It is best known as the cannabinoid created when THC ages, but is non-intoxicating. Rich Barnes is the founder of Slumber CBN, a company using Hemp-derived CBN to manufacture and distribute CBN oils, soft gels, gummies and topicals to accommodate different lifestyles, situations and sleep needs. Barnes discusses the emerging trend of CBN in products, why he founded Slumber CBN and using CBN in their consumer products.
In part one of our two-part series of CBD as an ingredient, Connor Skelly of the Brightfield Group discussed their report looking at the shift of CBD as an industry to CBD as an ingredient. Global Widget formulator Michael Diaz and Business Development Manager Mac Norton continue the discussion in part two by looking at how our in-house brands and private-label partners use CBD as an ingredient in products with trending functional ingredients. They also discuss what has led to this change and where it could be heading. Plus, hear about how our podcast was voted Podcast of the Year in PR Daily’s Digital Media and Social Media Awards.
In a recent report by the Brightfield Group, the CBD industry is put under the microscope and the question is posed, is CBD an industry or an ingredient? In Part 1 of our podcast series, Brightfield Group Marketing Director Connor Skelly breaks down the report and looks at how companies are using CBD more as an ingredient in products with other functional ingredients. The use of functional ingredients, such as melatonin, L-Theanine and others can help companies make claims about effects such as sleep, insomnia, pain and others. Stay tuned for episode 90 of the CPG & CBD University Podcast for Part 2 of our series, featuring Global Widget formulator Michael Diaz and Business Development Manager Mac Norton.
Scott Hawksworth is the co-founder and managing editor of The CBD Guide. In February, he launched The CBD Guide Podcast. Hawksworth details why he turned to CBD and what led him to creating The CBD Guide and using his platforms to educate consumers about the benefits of CBD. In a recent episode of The CBD Guide Podcast, Hawksworth discussed the growth of Hemp Bombs with Global Widget Vice President of Sales, Vince Gillen. We discuss CBD products, the need for ongoing education and what he is hearing from his guests on the state of CBD and the challenges ahead in the industry.
Kristen Nichols, editor at Hemp Industry Daily, joins us to update listeners on the latest headlines in the hemp industry. We discuss the boom in popularity of Delta-8 products during 2021, including what led to its massive growth, and if the trend here to stay. Also, consolidation news in the CBD industry as mergers and acquisitions continues to be a big story in CBD, will this continue? Finally, we talk about CBD as an ingredient rather than an industry, what this could lead to and where are those much-awaited federal regulations? Plus, a quick preview of MJBizCon coming up in October!
Michael Patterson is the CEO of US Cannabis Pharmaceutical Research and Development and just wrapped up the first season of THE CANNABIS REPORT with Michael Patterson podcast. On this episode, Patterson discusses the recently completed Hemp Leaders Summit in Fort Lauderdale, where he moderated a session featuring Chief Agricultural Negotiator for the USDA, Gregg Doud, and Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, Ted McKinney. Plus, hear the latest state of cannabis and hemp in the U.S. and new funding in research into pain management and cannabinoids in the National Football League.
Global Widget values feedback from its consumers, retailers and distributors of its in-house CBD, health and wellness brands, along with its private label partners. Director of Communications Joe Brown and Wholesale Marketing Manager Susan Bishop discuss our latest survey from almost 1,300 customers. Hear how we utilize data to help maximize sell through for retailers and craft new formulations of customer favorites to answer customer demand. Plus, be sure and listen for our special podcast offer code to save 30% off your CBD products at www.hempbombs.com and www.naturesscript.com.
As a leading manufacturer and distributor of CBD, health and wellness products, Global Widget creates confidence and credibility among its customers, retailers, distributors and private label partners through its commitment to compliance. Recently, Global Widget added the U.S. Hemp Authority® Certification (USHA) to its list of certifications. Quality Assurance/Quality Control Director Frances Capo discusses the company’s continued commitment to safety and compliance that results in certifications such as the USHA and others, including Florida Food Hemp, Kosher and cGMP.
On Episode 75 of our podcast, members of the Global Widget formulation team discussed the research and science behind formulating premium CBD, health and wellness products. In the next part of our Gummy Central™ series, hear from three more members of our formulation team on crafting that perfect formula for every gummy. You’ll hear about trending functional ingredients, why some gummies use pectin instead of gelatin and how we manufacture innovative products with the latest popular flavors and ingredients to get that delicious, quality gummy every time.
Delta-8 has taken the CBD and cannabinoid industries by storm. Industry advocate and attorney Rod Kight joins our podcast to discuss the buzz surrounding Delta-8. Rod gets into the legality of it, why manufacturers and distributers are buzzing about the minor cannabinoid, and in what types of products you may find Delta-8. Plus, in an industry that is still lacking federal regulation, what are different states doing when it comes to regulating Delta-8 and could federal legislation for CBD, including Delta-8 products, be coming from the FDA?
The latest in our Gummy Central™ themed podcast series features Global Widget Contract Manufacturing Division Vice President, Chad Levitt. Millions of gummies are manufactured each day from Gummy Central for our in-house CBD, health and wellness brands and our private label partners. Levitt discusses how our capacity, along with our innovation, sets the industry standards for crafting and manufacturing the best-tasting, most-effective and highest-quality gummies in the CBD, health and wellness space.
Chris Walsh is the CEO and President of Marijuana Business Daily and host of MJ Biz Daily’s new podcast From Seed to CEO. Walsh served as the founding editor of Marijuana Business Daily during the company’s launch in 2011, becoming the first journalist in the United States to focus exclusively on covering the business of cannabis. We discuss the past 10 years of MJ Biz Daily, the evolution of the cannabis industry, current industry news, regulations and trends. Plus, we preview the 10th Annual MJBizCon®, being held live in Las Vegas and online during the week of October 18, 2021.
It takes innovation, science, research and expertise to craft premium CBD, health and wellness products across multiple in-house and private label brands. Chief Technology Officer and VP, Amazon Business Unit, John King joins VP of Sales Operations, Scot Wooster to discuss how Global Widget utilizes SPINS for industry-leading data and research into the latest retails trends. Plus, we announce our newest brand, Garden Grown Essentials, an exclusive Amazon brand of health and wellness products and how our innovation and business expansion keeps us an industry leader.
The evolution of the CBD University Podcast enters its next chapter. As Global Widget continues to evolve as an industry leader and contract manufacturer of consumer packaged goods, our podcast transforms into the CPG and CBD University Podcast on this episode. Global Widget co-founder Kevin Collins discusses our evolution in the industry and into non-CBD product lines, expansion into new category channels, our focus on gummies as a delivery method and what lies ahead for continued growth and expansion.
To be successful in the CBD industry, it takes innovation, education and collaboration. Vice President of Sales, Vince Gillen and Business Development Manager Clay Rahmberg discuss Global Widget’s commitment to their customers, private label, retail and distribution partners. Hear how we craft innovative products, educate our customers and business partners to ensure success on their CBD, health and wellness journey, collaborate with in-house teams and private label brands to create bestselling and customer-favorite products.
Global Widget is Gummy Central™, putting you at the center of the gummy universe. Formulator Sara Brown and Business Development Manager Mac Norton discuss how our vertical integration and in-house formulation team work with customers, retail, distribution and private label partners to craft the most delicious, effective and highest quality gummies in the CBD, health and wellness industry. We discuss our newest gummy offerings from Hemp Bombs and Nature’s Script and how our private label division works with our formulation team to deliver innovative product offerings in the CBD, health and wellness space.
Delivering safe, potent and effective CBD products from Hemp Bombs and Nature’s Script begins with our in-house formulation team. Global Widget Quality Manager Nelson Rodriguez and Formulator Michael Diaz take you behind the scenes to discuss the science behind crafting premium CBD products. Hear about our brand-new formulation lab, the in-house teams who ensure our products are of the highest standard for consumers, retail and distribution partners and private label brands. Learn why no two formulas are the same, even with more than 1,000 products manufactured from our Tampa, FL, facilities.
Kristen Nichols, editor of Hemp Industry Daily, has the latest on the headlines making news in the CBD industry. She discusses recent changes in state regulations regarding CBD and cannabis products in New York and the legalization of hemp production in Idaho. Plus, the latest on states with pending legislation, such as Alabama, North Dakota and Oregon. We shift gears to the latest coming out of D.C. with recent news from the FDA and why there’s optimism from the industry. Finally, beyond the headlines, a return to in-person events this year with the 10th Anniversary of MJBizCon2021 in Las Vegas, October 20-22.
Rod Kight, industry advocate and attorney, is back on the CBD University Podcast, as we look back at the biggest regulation-related stories of the first four months in 2021. Kight discusses the emergence of hemp compound, Delta-8 THC, along with other cannabinoids other than CBD, plus the effect that the PACT Act will have on vaping products. And, in an update to episode 51, Kight provides the latest on where CBD stands in Mexico. Finally, hear about the latest in state regulations, from New York to Kentucky and Idaho and what he’s keeping an eye on in the coming months.
Defense Boost is Global Widget’s first non-CBD brand, bringing health and wellness benefits through a line of immunity support gummies. VP of Sales Vince Gillen and Director of Strategic Business Partnerships Tracy Lane discuss the launch and our four varieties of Immunity Support Gummies available for retailers and consumers: Apple Cider Vinegar, Elderberry, Sleep and Vitamin C. Hear how we carefully formulate our immunity gummies in-house while using the highest-quality ingredients to best suit your lifestyle needs.
A study by Brightfield Group, a leading consumer insights and market intelligence firm for the CBD and cannabis industries, shows that sleep in the new number one desirable product effect that consumers seek from CBD. According to the study, cannabis use “right before bed” nearly doubled in 2020 and for the first time, sleep outranked relaxation and physical relief as the top product attribute CBD customers report desiring from the products they buy. Connor Skelly, marketing director at Brightfield Group discusses the study, plus learn about CBD sleep products from Hemp Bombs and Nature’s Script and ingredients consumers seek to catch more ZZZs.
Compassion Kind works with governments, institutions, local leaders, organizations, foundations and businesses around the world to ensure the most vulnerable beings get assistance they need from their communities. As one recipient of our Million Dollar CBD Pet Product Giveaway, Compassion Kind has been using our pet CBD products with partners in the U.S. and Caribbean to help sheltered pets. Aja-Nikiya Estro, Valeria De Jesus and Kim Mniece discuss their mission, their work around the world and how our CBD products have helped the pets they care for.
For more CBD options, check out our website.
Global Widget recently took part of a first-of-its-kind CBD industry clinical study examining the effect of CBD products on liver health. Validcare, which conducts patient-centered clinical trials, reported no preliminary evidence of liver disease in the more than 800 adults taking part in the study. Patrick McCarthy, CEO of Validcare, joins Global Widget Chief Compliance and Legal Officer Margaret Richardson to discuss the preliminary results of the study, Global Widget’s mission to produce safe, compliant, effective products and Validcare’s meeting with the FDA on the study.
Greer Deal, Director, Global Regulatory Services, Dr. Rafe Bundy, Associate Consultant at Global Regulatory Services and Margaret Richardson, Chief Compliance and Legal Officer at Global Widget, discuss CBD as a novel food in the United Kingdom. In order for our CBD products from Hemp Bombs and Nature’s Script to be available to consumers in the U.K., we have to apply for a Novel Foods Dossier. This episode details the lengthy requirements for having our dossier accepted, the research behind having our product available in the U.K., and how other countries in Europe ensure that safe and compliant CBD products are available for consumers.
Nikki Fried, Commissioner, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services was elected to the position in 2018. Her department oversees the hemp industry in Florida, which has seen tremendous growth in the past year. During a recent visit to Global Widget, Fried discussed how Global Widget is a leader in the industry, how we ensure the safety and compliance of our products, and her vision for the hemp, including CBD, in Florida in the next three to five years. Learn more at www.fdacs.gov.
For the first time on the CBD University Podcast, we go around the CBD universe and feature the co-founders of Sunday Scaries. Mike Sill and Beau Schmitt started Sunday Scaries after experiencing the benefits of CBD and wanted to help others benefit from its use. Sunday Scaries offers CBD gummies, vegan CBD gummies, CBD candy, CBD oil and CBD bath bombs. Hear about their mission in the industry, what lies ahead for international growth and their Bra Berry gummies that are sold to benefit breast cancer research.
It’s the first new products from Global Widget’s CBD brands in 2021! After Hemp Bombs CBD Gummies were voted a retailer choice best new product in 2020, we are introducing our newest gummy creations — CBD Gummies with Elderberry Extract and Botanical Blend CBD Gummies! Learn about the ingredients, flavors and how you can get your hands on our newest gummies before you can buy them. VP of Sales, Vince Gillen and VP of Marketing, and Gina Bongiovanni also preview our new and improved CBD Max Chill coming soon and new a variety of our CBD Capsules.
SPINS is a wellness-focused data technology company. They work with retailers nationwide as well as food and beverage brands to help the industry better understand trends in the marketplace — including those top brands within categories like CBD so retailers can drive sales by maximizing their shelf space. Mike Friedman of SPINS joins Global Widget VP of Sales Operations, Scot Wooster, to discuss current trends in the CBD industry, the success of our brand Hemp Bombs in the convenience store industry, and what retail success looks like in 2021.
As we near the end of the first quarter of 2021, Kristen Nichols, editor, Hemp Industry Daily rejoins our podcast to discuss the latest headlines in the CBD industry. We discuss the top stories so far for this year, including the USDA Final Rule on Hemp, regulatory changes outside the United States and what a new administration in Washington, D.C., could mean for the industry. Plus, hear what story lines we continue to follow in the first half of the year.
Global Widget recently completed its ‘Million Dollar CBD Pet Product Giveaway’ to help pet shelters in the Tampa, Florida, area care for sheltered pets. The company, which in 2020 rebranded its CBD pet division to Perfect Paws Hemp, donated CBD tincture oils, CBD dog chews and CBD pet shampoo to 16 Tampa Bay-area shelters and humane societies. Glen Hatchell, CPDT-KA of the Humane Society of Tampa Bay tells his story of how the donation has helped his shelter and the animals it cares for. Hatchell discusses what products he uses, how he uses them in the shelter environment and how they have helped him train animals. Plus, Hatchell has advice for other shelters and organizations looking to use CBD pet products to help their pets acclimate themselves to the shelter environment and prepare them for visitors and new homes.
Brands, customers and retailers are getting social to promote CBD products, its benefits and promotions. Audrey Buggle, social media manager and VP of Sales Vince Gillen talk about the social media networks available to promote products, which networks customers and retailers can turn to, how retailers can take advantage of promoting our products in their stores and how we use influencers to promote CBD products from Hemp Bombs, Nature’s Script and Perfect Paws Hemp across our social media handles.
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Find Perfect Paws Hemp on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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Debbie Verdugo (@nanathegreat182) started her CBD journey with Hemp Bombs vape products in 2018. Now, Verdugo uses CBD gummies, CBD topicals and CBD oils each day as a part of her CBD routine. Verdugo discusses what made her turn to CBD for her health and wellness routine, how they helped cut the number of prescriptions she took a day, how her family has incorporated CBD into their daily wellness routines and what advice she has for you if you are looking to add CBD to your everyday routine for your overall wellness.
In January 2021, the U. S. Department of Agriculture issued its final rule for hemp production, which is scheduled to go into effect March 22, 2021. Industry advocate and attorney, Rod Kight, discusses what the final rule means to the CBD industry, including two key points: the THC limit for hemp remaining at 0.3%, and hemp must still be tested for THC potency at DEA-certified labs by Dec. 31, 2022.
For more information on the USDA Final Rule for Hemp Production, read Rod’s blog at https://cannabusiness.law/usda-issues-final-hemp-rule/ and visit the USDA website at https://www.ams.usda.gov/press-release/usda-publishes-final-rule-domestic-production-hemp.
CBD product packaging and labeling requirements can vary from state to state since there is no federal guidance in the industry yet. Chief Compliance and Legal Officer Margaret Richardson actively works with many of the state legislatures to ensure Hemp Bombs, Nature’s Script and Perfect Paws Hemp products contain all the latest required information such as QR codes, CBD dosage and expiration dates. With constant changes, hear the latest requirements, how often new laws may be passed and how retailers and distribution partners can ensure they partner with reputable, compliant CBD manufacturers.
It was a big year for our CBD gummies in 2020. Last July, we debuted our new and improved line of CBD Gummies from Hemp Bombs and Nature’s Script. Hemp Bombs CBD Gummies were voted by more than 1,000 retailers nationwide as the CSP Magazine Retailer Choice Best New Product in 2020. Now, through innovation and new technology, Global Widget is expanding its gummy manufacturing capabilities. From the formulation to the production of more than 1.5 million gummies per day, hear about our Florida Hemp certification and the ability to produce award-winning CBD gummies and new types of health and wellness gummies to meet consumers’ and retailers’ increasing demand.
International cannabis attorney and industry advocate Rod Kight has his regulatory predictions for 2021 in the CBD industry. Hear about how federal organizations could be getting ready to offer guidance in the industry, what impact regulations will bring to the thousands of newer, unproven companies in the industry, and why the THC levels in hemp could see a change with federal legislation. Plus, hear what the international CBD industry may look like as regulations change outside the United States.
Kristen Nichols, editor, Hemp Industry Daily discusses the key storylines in the CBD and the hemp industry heading into 2021. Is this the year that the FDA offers much-awaited guidance for the industry? Will we continue to see the consolidation of newer companies that entered the CBD industry in the last year? What does the international scene look like for the CBD industry? Kristen answers those questions and offers additional thoughts on what consumers and retailers should be on the lookout for in 2021.
In our year of more, Global Widget brought customers more CBD, more new products, more flavors, more milligrams of CBD, more education and more value. From our new and improved award-winning CBD gummies to CBD oils with more flavors and more milligrams of CBD to brand-new products like CBD Lip Balm, there was something for everyone during our year of more. Senior Content Manager, Charlie O’Brien, VP of Sales Operations, Scott Wooster and VP, White Label and Raw Ingredients, Chad Levitt take a look back at our Year of More and what it meant to our customers, retail, wholesale and white label partners.
For over five years, Brightfield Group has provided some of the most comprehensive data in CBD industry market research. From the hottest category trends to changing consumer behavior and retail industry changes, 2020 has been a year of change for CBD. Connor Skelly, marketing director at Brightfield Group, discusses how the pandemic has altered the CBD retail landscape and changed consumer behavior. Plus, hear about the latest trends in the category by channel and what to watch for at the start of 2021.
Chief Compliance Officer, Margaret Richardson and Research and Development Specialist Sara Brown take you behind our 2020 CSP News Magazine Retailer Choice Best New Product Award winning CBD gummies. Hear how our new and improved CBD gummies are done right from the very beginning with an in-house crafted formula and trendy flavors to the finished product, tested and verified to be safe, potent and effective. These aren’t just any CBD gummies from Hemp Bombs and Nature’s Script, these are gummies done right.
Marcelo Gracia is the Secretary General for ANNICAN, the National Cannabis Industry Association in Mexico. As regulations in the country continue to evolve, hear how Gracia is working to ensure that retailers are ready to distribute trusted CBD brands in Mexico such as Hemp Bombs, Nature’s Script and Perfect Paws Hemp in 2021. Gracia discusses the process of identifying proven brands, the challenges facing retailers and the next step in the regulatory process.
It’s the 50th episode of the CBD University Podcast!
Over our first 49 episodes, we’ve featured CBD industry leaders and advocates, distribution partners, journalists and our in-house team of compliance, safety, sales and marketing experts. All delivering the latest in CBD news, trends, education and regulations.
Our host Joe Agostinelli is the guest on this episode as we take a look back at some of the memorable moments from the first 49 episodes, what’s in store for the next 50 and we answer some questions from our listeners who have supported our podcast and help it surpass 25,000 downloads in Year 1!
Are you ready to take advantage of additional foot traffic this holiday season? Vince Gillen, VP of Sales, has tips to make sure that you are ready to maximize sell-through this holiday season with our CBD products. Hear how you can prepare to take advantage of those last-minute impulse purchases, what marketing resources are available to call attention to our new eye-catching displays, and what’s new about those displays — especially if you carry multiple brands Hemp Bombs, Nature’s Script and Perfect Paws Hemp.
Our Year of More has brought you more new products, more milligrams of CBD in our customer favorites, more flavors and more value. This holiday, there is a CBD gift for everyone on your list! Director of Ecommerce Gina Bongiovanni goes through gift ideas from our product lines of CBD gummies, oils, topicals and our CBD pet products. Plus, hear about how to stay on top of our holiday special offers and new programs, including subscriptions and rewards! Give the gift of CBD this holiday season from Hemp Bombs, Nature’s Script and Perfect Paws Hemp!
As the CBD retail landscape continues to expand, Hemp Industry Daily teamed up with Nielsen Global Connect for a newly published report about navigating the world of CBD in retail. As more and more retailers enter the CBD market, topicals are their frequent entry product. Hear how this category will be one of the main drivers of forecasted growth in the next five years plus what other forms of CBD products could be showing up in the grocery, convenience store and retail industries. Laura Drotleff of Hemp Industry Daily is our guest for this episode.
Sandy Domond, quality manager at Global Widget, the company behind the iconic CBD brands Hemp Bombs, Nature’s Script and Perfect Paws Hemp, discusses our new in-house Quality Control Lab. This 1,000 square-foot lab located at the company’s Tampa, Florida, headquarters ensures that every CBD product manufactured meets our high standards for safety, compliancy, potency and consistency. Learn about our in-house quality and compliance processes, how products are then verified by an independent third-party lab, what products are tested for and how the equipment used is the same equipment you would find at the nation’s leading lab-testing facilities.
Kristen Nichols is the editor of Hemp Industry Daily, where she leads coverage of the hemp and CBD industries. She has the latest on the stories behind the headlines in the industry as we wrap up 2020 and head into 2021. What should CBD consumers and retailers be on the watch for from the federal government? How has the pandemic and events of 2020 effected the industry and the thousands of new companies who have entered the marketplace? Kristen answers those questions and details Hemp Industry Daily’s new digital channels dedicated to the CBD industry.
Holly Bell was appointed the State of Florida’s Director of Cannabis in 2019 by Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Nikki Fried. Bell oversees the development of rules, works directly with scientific experts and ensures the cannabis industry is moving forward in Florida. On this episode, Bell discusses the economic impact of the industry, including the creation of jobs by companies such as Global Widget. She also explains why Global Widget is setting the gold standard for the CBD industry and contributing to the overall vision of the department and the expansion of the industry in Florida.
Thomas Mulloy gets to test out new CBD products at CStore Decisions, a print and digital publications that provides resources for convenience store owners that includes daily news, product trends, video and strategy. Thomas discusses the latest trends in CBD products that are hitting the shelves at convenience stores, the emerging market for edibles and topicals, challenges that retailers face and how retailers should ensure they are partnering with reputable, experienced CBD manufacturers.
Michael Patterson, Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Cannabis Pharmaceutical Research and Development, has spoken at numerous conferences around the world to promote our industry and help organizations work together for greater industry growth and stability. Hear how U.S. Cannabis seeks to achieve its objectives by helping clients and organizations ensure they meet licensing requirements, comply with regulations and effectively manage their operations in this changing industry.
In a follow up to Episode 35, we continue our series looking at an industry-leading study customers from our brands, Hemp Bombs and Nature’s Script, are taking part in looking at the effects CBD has on liver health. Patrick McCarthy, CEO of ValidCare, the company behind the study, discusses the objectives of the study, how consumers were chosen to take part, what the objectives of the study are and how the CBD brands taking part are providing critical information that will be used to send data to the FDA following the study.
Chase Cranford of Cardinal Bay Distribution has been one of Global Widget’s customers from the very beginning. Hear about his company’s entry into the CBD market back in 2016 and how he continues to grow it by distributing Global Widget’s brands to the retail locations he serves. Plus, hear Chase offer advice for those distributors who are getting ready to enter the CBD marketplace or are looking for ways to increase their product offerings: What should they be aware of when choosing the right manufacturing partner?
In an unregulated industry, CBD regulations can change on a daily basis. Rod Kight, industry advocate and attorney, discusses the latest interim final rule from the DEA and what it means for the industry. Plus, what may be coming up in the near future for additional regulations in the CBD industry? And why can evolving regulations help consumers ensure their CBD products are coming from proven, experienced, compliant CBD manufacturers?
CBD oils are a versatile go-to CBD product, whether you are looking for a daily wellness boost, increased comfort, complete relaxation or other potential benefits that CBD has to offer. But how do you use CBD oil? What’s the recommended dosage guidelines? And how long does it take to feel the effects?
Learn more about our new graduated droppers in our CBD oils and how keeping a daily CBD journal can help you find your desired dose…regardless if you are just starting off on CBD or looking to incorporate more CBD into your daily care routine.
In our Year of More, we have debuted new CBD oils, CBD gummies, CBD topicals and CBD vape products. Hear about our latest additions to our product lineups from Hemp Bombs and Nature’s Script, including our CBD Lip Balm, CBD vape and CBD lollipops. Errica Snelling and Sean Murray from our E-commerce team discuss the benefits of new products, their personal favorite CBD products, and how you can incorporate our newest additions into your everyday self-care routine.
Martin Belmonte of Mobimo Distribution was first introduced to our CBD products from Hemp Bombs at a trade show in Miami, Florida. Now, Mobimo Distribution is a distributor in South America offering retailers and consumers the chance to experience the benefits of our CBD products. We discuss the CBD industry in South America, what challenges face retailers in the industry, its continued growth, and what the most popular products are that has helped Mobimo expand its product offerings with our brands.
In Part 1 of our podcast series on CBD and a liver health observational study, Chief Compliance Officer Margaret Richardson joins Director of Ecommerce Gina Bongiovanni to discuss an industry-leading study that consumers of our hemp-derived CBD products are taking part in 2020. The research study is looking at CBD’s effects on humans and is meant to help gather liver safety data that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has requested from the CBD industry to help in establishing guidance for CBD products. Hear about the study, how science is driving our product research and development and how our customers continue to provide invaluable feedback regarding our products. Plus, we celebrate Margaret being named one of the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Top Corporate Counsel for 2020. Look for the second part of this episode at the conclusion of the study in early 2021!
Clay Rahmberg and Mac Norton of our new white label and raw ingredients division, GWCBD, discuss our capacity, vertical integration and product specificity which make GWCBD your trusted partner and one-stop shop for everything CBD. Learn how our in-house quality, compliance, research and development, marketing, manufacturing and distribution teams ensure you get quality, compliant and potent premium hemp-derived CBD products so you can be successful in your CBD journey.
Leading the CBD industry doesn’t happen overnight. Global Widget co-founder Donald Biedrzycki and Director of Extraction, Collin McClendon go through all the details of how Global Widget extracts its CBD to manufacture and distribute premium hemp-derived CBD products from Hemp Bombs, Nature’s Script and Perfect Paws Hemp. We’ll discuss what is extraction, our capacity across multiple vertical channels through vertical integration, the investment that went into being able to extract our own CBD and how we are controlling the process from seed to sale to ensure consistency, quality, compliance and authenticity of all our products.
GWCBD is the white label and raw ingredients division of Global Widget, a vertically integrated manufacturer, distributor and marketer of industrial hemp-derived CBD products, and the powerhouse behind the iconic brands Hemp Bombs, Nature’s Script and Perfect Paws Hemp. Co-founder Kevin Collins and VP, White Label and Raw Materials, Chad Levitt discuss the new division, our vertical integration in the CBD industry and how the experience, in-house quality, compliance, manufacturing, research, development, and marketing teams make GWCBD your trusted partner for everything CBD.
Our new CBD gummies from our iconic brands, Hemp Bombs and Nature’s Script are manufactured in our Tampa, Florida facilities. Chief Compliance Officer Margaret Richardson and Chief Operating Office Salim Baltagi detail how our new gummies are formulated and made by our in-house team and how we ensure you are getting more CBD per gummy with more flavors, more quality and more potency.
Our best-selling CBD gummies from Hemp Bombs and Nature’s Script are available in more than 25,000 retail locations nationwide. Vice President of Sales, Vincent Gillen discusses maximizing your sell-through with our new CBD gummies. Now with more milligrams of CBD, more flavors and more gummies per package, our gummies can provide more sell-through for retailers as they navigate their CBD journey.
Global Widget is proud to launch its new CBD Gummies in its Hemp Bombs and Nature’s Script product lines! Co-founder Donald Biedrzycki discusses the investment that went into our new gummies and how we added more milligrams of CBD, more gummies per package and more flavors, all without raising prices for consumers! Plus, learn about new dietary-specific lines that could be in the works! More gummies galore!
Michael Torti, food chemist at Global Widget, discusses more flavors to our newest Hemp Bombs and Nature’s Script products. Hear about how we formulate our products to offer premium flavors, in addition to feedback we receive from our customers. Plus, what is in store for even more flavors in the future? More flavors are indeed better!
Shannon Shuman, vice president of Hemp Industry Daily, discusses the current state of the hemp and CBD industry. He also previews the upcoming MJBizConNEXT and Hemp Industry Daily Conference, which will held virtually, June 29-July 1. Registrants can save $25 off registration using code CBDU25 and can register here. Shuman also goes through some of the stories and trends Hemp Industry Daily is watching for the second half of 2020.
CBD Oils for pets are available in 250 mg and 1000 mg potencies in chicken and beef flavors, and our Perfect Paws Hemp product line manufactures a specialized CBD Oil for cats in salmon flavor. According to recent research by Nielsen Global Connect, sales for pet CBD products increased to nearly $7.4 million in 2019. Learn more about what goes into our pet oils, how they may benefit your furry friends and what’s unique about our oil for your feline friends. Learn more at www.perfectpawshemp.com.