Love Hemp Group plc, a UK supplier of CBD and hemp products, has its sights set on Asian markets. It has announced a distribution partnership for Asia with eCargo Holdings Ltd, which brings brands and retailers to Asian markets.
ASX-listed eCargo operates business-to-business distribution into China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, and its business-to-consumer channels cover China and South East Asia.
AQSE-listed Love Hemp has over 40 products including oils, edibles, sprays, cosmetics and topicals, sold online across 70 websites and in over 2,000 UK stores including Holland & Barrett, Boots and Ocado, according to a company report.
The two businesses have announced an initial launch into the region for Love Hemp that will be “anchored around both online and offline presences in Hong Kong and South East Asia retail channels, before expanding into India and Japan later through strategic partnerships with eCommerce marketplaces such as Flipkart and Rakuten in 2022.”
Lawrence Lun, the CEO of eCargo comments, “I’m glad to welcome Love Hemp Group into our brand portfolio and assist them on the next step of their global growth by leveraging our Asia Pacific network. Love Hemp’s brand reputation and product quality speaks for itself, and we look forward to a long and successful working relationship helping them expand throughout Asian markets.”
Tony Calamita, Love Hemp’s CEO responds, “Love Hemp is becoming a leading, global CBD and hemp brand. Our partnership with eCargo is a significant milestone in this strategy as we move into Asia for the first time. We pride ourselves on the quality of our products and the confidence our consumers have in them. eCargo is the perfect partner to enable us to bring our products to multiple Asian markets. We look forward to consumers across the region becoming part of the Love Hemp family”.
Nearer to home, Love Hemp has set up a new marketing base in Manchester, while its head office and manufacturing operation stay put in Croydon. The company has announced that it has signed a two-year lease to take over 1,800 sq ft of space within Department Bonded Warehouse in the Enterprise City district of the city centre, Manchester’s new tech and innovation neighbourhood. Thirty brand and marketing jobs will be created there, headed up by Ian Munzberger, Love Hemp’s chief partnerships officer.
Mr Munzberger, comments, “The expansion into Manchester will provide the perfect space for a fast-growing business like Love Hemp to thrive.
“We’re looking forward to bringing stars like Anthony Joshua and our UFC ambassadors for photo shoots and press days.”