Manitoba Harvest inks deal to expand hemp powder offerings in Whole Foods

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.

Tilray shares trade as TLRY on the Nasdaq and TSX.