CALGARY, Feb. 12, 2019 /CNW/ – High Tide Inc. (“High Tide” or the “Company”) (CSE:HITI) (Frankfurt:2LY) today announced that, subject to regulatory approval, the Company has been selected to assist with the establishment and operation of a retail cannabis store by a second winner of one of the 25 opportunities to apply for a licence to operate a cannabis retail store (the “Second Winner”) as a result of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario’s (the “AGCO”) Expression of Interest Application Lottery conducted on January 11, 2019 (the “Lottery”). Subsequent to previously announcing that the Company had entered into a letter of intent with another beneficiary of the Lottery, the Second Winner and its representatives sought out High Tide’s support to help open a retail cannabis store at a potential location in the City of Hamilton, Ontario.
High Tide has strong reputation as a leading retailer of smoking accessories and cannabis lifestyle products through its Smoker’s Corner shops across Canada, which has recently been enhanced by the opening of several Canna Cabana retail cannabis stores in Alberta. “We are delighted to have been approached by the Second Winner in Ontario. Our decade of operational expertise and knowledge of the cannabis consumer, among other factors, have positioned us favourably to those seeking industry partners,” stated Raj Grover, President and Chief Executive Officer of High Tide. “The Second Winner was looking for the support of an experienced player in the Canadian cannabis marketplace, which continues to validate us as the partner of choice in Ontario,” added Mr. Grover.
High Tide currently has seven operating Canna Cabana stores and continues to advance its next 26 locations under various stages of construction. In Ontario, the Company has also established a significant commercial presence as one of only a few suppliers of smoking accessories to the Ontario Cannabis Store, which is the sole online retailer of recreational cannabis products in the Province of Ontario. High Tide is currently maintaining approximately 20 conditional leases for future locations across Ontario and is targeting having recreational cannabis stores in every province that permits privately-owned retail outlets, as demonstrated by the recent signing of letters of intent to acquire two locations in Saskatchewan.