Second Cup has partnered with National Access Cannabis to open NAC-branded dispensaries across Western Canada.
NAC will apply for licenses to dispense cannabis products once it becomes legal and then “leverage Second Cup’s extensive Canadian retail footprint to construct retail stores carrying leading cannabis products,” the companies stated in a press release.
“This relationship allows us to quickly expand our footprint in proven high-traffic retail locations across Canada. With an initial focus on Western Canada, we’ll look to work with Second Cup to license select storefronts, utilizing our proven business model to deliver secure, safe, and responsible access,” said Mark Goliger, CEO of NAC.
NAC says some Second Cup cafés could be converted into cannabis dispensaries if they can get a retail license from provincial regulators and gain approval from Second Cup, the franchisee and the landlord.
The federal government is expected to legalize recreational cannabis this summer.
“We remain focused on growing our Second Cup brand and sales through continued product innovation and expanding our network across Canada,” said Garry Macdonald, Second Cup’s president & CEO.
Second Cup was founded in 1975 and the Canadian specialty coffee retailer operates 286 stores across the country including three locations in Vancouver.
NAC currently focuses on supplying legal medical cannabis available by prescription and has nine locations across seven provinces including one store in Victoria.
