BlueBird Botanicals


Dec, 2018 by Cannabiz Wholesaler

Founded in 2012 by CEO Brandon Beatty, Bluebird Botanicals’ vision has always been driven by the deepest respect for the hemp plant and the plethora of benefits it can provide global communities.

Bluebird quickly became known as “the company that cares and does things right.” With an overarching focus on quality, it has grown into one of the largest hemp extract manufacturers and retailers in the world. After passing its current Good Manufacturing audit with a score of 99%, Bluebird is well positioned to continue its exponential growth in this increasingly competitive market.

Cannabiz Wholesaler spoke with Sales Director Katie Thompson about the past, present and future of her company, and the industry.

CANNABIZ: What do you see shaping the industry today?

THOMPSON: “Education, activism and consumer demand. As our industry expands, the need for education will always be a priority until they are teaching the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in biology class. Efforts by the leaders in the industry have resulted in many lobby days in DC, helping educate and be a resource for those with questions. Our customers are on our side. They step up and email their representatives, and attend seminars and lobby days, to make sure their stories are heard. This sense of community in the cannabis industry is stronger than any other that I’ve experienced.”

CANNABIZ: Where is the industry going right now in your view?

THOMPSON: “If you hate your job, add cannabis. There are so many experts from so many different fields breaking into the cannabis industry and bringing that expertise to the table. I see the industry continuing to expand and refine. We will see a lot of companies start and fail fast because they are not paying attention to regulations. We will continue to see hemp and cannabis weave their way to the mainstream; the formats will be refined, as well. We are also seeing these experts having to pivot on their ‘normal’ approach and tactics, shaping the way business is done. This is a different game.”

CANNABIZ: What affect is Washington, DC, having at present?

THOMPSON: “DC is helping through the 2018 Farm Bill, supporting the industry’s efforts to promote full legalization of hemp and hemp products. Groups like the U.S. Hemp Roundtable are leading the conversation, and plan to develop standards for industry regulation, which are necessary for our industry’s success. I feel that DC is helping bring the conversation to light, and misconceptions are being discussed.”

CANNABIZ: Predict the future for us; how will the industry evolve over the next few years?

THOMPSON: “The health-and-wellness trend will continue to shape the industry. Hemp is one of the healthiest foods, and if you think kale and quinoa were big trends, get ready for hemp. As we, as consumers, pay more attention to our endocannabinoid system, we will be buying products -- cannabinoids/ terpenes -- based off our ECS needs. Sustainability and ultra-transparency will also shape our industry. We are already seeing the demand for transparency in Indiana and the QR code system they are implementing.”

CANNABIZ: How does Bluebird intend to navigate these various forces?

THOMPSON: “Continue to be the best in the industry. We always knew the importance of traceability and testing products like ours, so we always go above and beyond to extensively test our products and share those third-party test results with our customers. We are on the board of directors of the U.S. Hemp Roundtable and many other key industry organizations defining regulations for our industry. We will continue with this strategy because it is so important to us that we provide the best quality products to our customers.”

CANNABIZ: How are you competing?

THOMPSON: “Quality control. Both of our manufacturing facilities are registered with the FDA and licensed with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. We manufacture our products following cGMP guidelines (FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practices), and in April of 2018 passed a third-party cGMP audit with a 99% rating. Eurofins Scientific, a world-renowned laboratory testing organization, conducted the audit.

“Every single bottle that leaves our facility has a full set of third-party certificates of analysis associated with it that is available online for our clients and partners to see. Each set of testing for ingestible and vape products includes a separate analysis for the cannabinoid profile, potential microbial life, mold, heavy metals, residual solvents, and pesticides/herbicides/ insecticides.”

CANNABIZ: How are you innovating?

THOMPSON: “Strategically. We must constantly monitor regulations and take the extra step of precaution with our products. We service many different channels, all with their own sets of needs and regulations, and plan to further support those channels as we expand. Bluebird uses a science- and trenddriven approach to product development and marketing. We will continue to be actively engaged in the industry, and look for that next-level certification to keep setting us apart.”

BlueBirdBotanicals.com

B2B Cannabiz Wholesaler: Fall 2022 Issue Out Now!







Cannabiz PARTNERS:






dac