Kiaro Signs Investment and Collaboration Agreement with High Park

EDMONTON, Oct. 16, 2019 /CNW/ – PRESS RELEASE – On the one-year anniversary of consumer legalization in Canada, Aurora Cannabis Inc. announced plans for the roll-out of vapes, concentrates and edibles when they are permitted for sale to consumers in December. The company has prioritized its resources to prepare for a successful initial launch that will support an ongoing replenishment strategy to help ensure consumers across Canada will have access to a diverse portfolio of high-quality derivative products they want to buy.

“Aurora’s Product Development and Insights teams have done tremendous work to formulate new products in a variety of formats that we think will exceed consumer expectations and drive category growth,” said Aurora CEO Terry Booth. “Aurora has built industry-leading cannabis capacity and scalability supported by our consumer research and retail distribution bench strength to launch this next generation of cannabis products into the Canadian market. We are ready to ship product as soon as the regulations allow and are excited for consumers and patients to finally have access to a greater selection of product forms. We are already working on expanding the range of new products beyond those that will initially launch.”

To support the successful launch of vapes, concentrates and edibles products, and to continue to ensure sufficient supply for domestic and international markets, Aurora has established production hubs in Eastern and Western Canada at Aurora River (Bradford, Ontario), Aurora Vie (Pointe Claire, Quebec) and at Aurora Sky (Leduc, Alberta).

These centers are intended to provide centralized production, packaging, logistics and distribution capabilities. In total, they comprise more than 450,000 square feet and are strategically located to efficiently distribute Aurora’s products to markets across the country. In addition, Aurora Air, a 20,000-square-foot manufacturing facility near Aurora Sky at the Edmonton International Airport, will be home to several of the new production lines for edible products. Aurora’s next generation products have been formulated to meet or exceed all regulatory requirements. All new cannabis product forms are subject to a legislated Health Canada 60-day review period that begins on Oct. 17, 2019.

New Product Categories

Vapes

Aurora’s customized extraction process uses a proprietary method that retains a high quantity and quality of terpenes and contains no fillers or dilutive agents. Aurora is bringing a new range of high-quality vape products to market at various price points that are targeted to all major consumer markets including closed-loop, 510 thread cartridges, and disposable single-use units.

Concentrates

From seed to extract, Aurora grows, extracts and produces its concentrates with no fillers or dilutive agents. Products are made completely in-house, from 100-percent cannabis-derived rosin, using a proprietary extraction process. The company intends to produce popular product forms such as shatter, sugar wax and live rosin for purchase by consumers in Canada.

Edibles

Aurora’s new suite of edibles products–which are intended to initially include gummies, chocolates, baked goods and mints–have been made in consultation with food industry experts and food scientists to create cannabis-infused edibles of the highest quality. Cannabis extract is infused throughout the product to provide consistency, texture and a great flavor.

To help ensure Canadian consumers receive the highest quality products, Aurora has selectively partnered with a variety of organizations across some of the edible product categories it initially intends to focus on, including:

Gummies and Candies: TBA

Aurora has established key partnerships with two companies to develop CBD- and THC-infused gummies and candies. These technical partnerships have positioned Aurora to be a leader in the edible category in Canada and in other jurisdictions in the future as regulations allow.

Chocolates: JACEK Chocolate Couture

JACEK Chocolate Couture is an award-winning Alberta-based luxury chocolate manufacturer and retailer committed to innovation, artistry and sustainability. Known for launching seasonal chocolate and confectionary collections, JACEK spreads joy through fine, fashionable chocolate. Aurora has entered into an exclusive two-year global agreement to license JACEK’s IP related to the manufacturing and production of cannabis-infused chocolates. Together, JACEK and Aurora intend to develop infused chocolate squares and high-end decadent caramel filled chocolates.

Baked Goods: WG Pro-Manufacturing & Touché Bakery

WG Pro-Manufacturing specializes in custom co-packing and co-manufacturing of food, confectionary and other consumer packaged goods. Touché Bakery  is an experienced baked goods manufacturer that works with WG to supply baked goods support for co-packing and co-manufacturing. Aurora has entered into an exclusive partnership with WG and Touché, whereby Touché will produce cannabis-infused baked goods and WG will oversee the co-packing and co-manufacturing services in partnership with Aurora’s team at Aurora River, located in Bradford, Ontario. Initial baked goods to be launched include a vegan brownie cookie with additional product formats to rapidly follow.

Anniversary of Consumer Legalization

On the one-year anniversary of consumer legalization in Canada, Aurora acknowledges the hard work and advocacy of patients, champions and the cannabis community that ultimately led to the end of prohibition. Since inception, Aurora has embraced the experience, knowledge and insight of experts from the cannabis community and has drawn on that in every area of its business–including the development of edibles and ingestibles for the consumer market.

In April, Owen Smith joined Aurora’s Corporate Social Responsibility team as a Stakeholder Engagement Specialist for Western Canada. A long-time cannabis trailblazer and activist, Owen was arrested in 2009 for making cannabis-infused vegetable oil products for medical patients, inspired by his sister who was in the final stages of cancer. With the help of community funding, he took his case to the Supreme Court of Canada that unanimously decided restricting medical cannabis access to dried flower infringed upon patients’ right to make choices about their health.

“Because of that ruling, thousands of patients–and now consumers–have the right to access cannabis products that come in a variety of formats other than dried flower,” said Jonathan Zaid, Aurora’s Director of Advocacy and Corporate Social Responsibility. “This is who we are at Aurora. We support and embrace people who push the status quo and help move the whole sector forward. We bring these worlds together to create products people are looking for in the regulated market.”