Ascend Wellness is good at picking locations achieving high revenues with a relatively small footprint. The company is exclusively focused on achieving scale in select limited license markets and having key flagship locations with high barriers to entry. Ascend’s has target markets east of the Mississippi River.
FACILITIES:
Maryland: 4 stores.
Illinois: 113,000 sq ft, 9 stores.
Michigan: 28,000 sq ft, 8 stores.
Massachusetts: 54,000 sq ft, 3 stores.
New Jersey: 16,000 sq ft, 3 stores.
Ohio: 2,000 sq ft, 2 stores.
Pennsylvania: 100,000 sq ft with 4 stores and 2 more licenses.
NEWS & PARTNERSHIPS:
2019
The company signed a deal with Cookies allowing them to grow and sell 40 strains from Cookies starting in 2020.
2020
The company launched 3 provisioning centers with 1 being an interactive provisioning center in Michigan.
2021
The company announced a strategic licensing agreement with Edie Parker to produce Flower by Edie Parker and sell their products in their stores in Illinois and Massachusetts.
The company entered into a strategic licensing agreement with Lowell Farms and launched Lowell Smokes at its stores in Illinois.
The company acquired Ohio Cannabis Company with its store in Ohio as well as BCCO for its store in the state.
2022
Chicago Alternative Health Center and Chicago Alternative Health Center Holdings for two stores in Illinois and change to branding to Ascend by Midway from Midway.
The company launched Wynk THC & Seltzer in Michigan through an exclusive partnership with Wynk.
The company acquired Story of PA CR through a roll up of all of the other existing members of the company, allowing for a cultivation and processing facility as well as 6 stores in Pennsylvania.
The company announced a partnership with Miss Grass for the distribution of its line of premium THC products to Massachusetts and Illinois. The company expanded its partnership with Miss Grass and launched its products in its stores in New Jersey .
2023
The company acquired 4 stores from Devi Holdings in Maryland.
2024
The company announced a strategic manufacturing and distribution partnership with Curio Wellness and their products in Illinois, New Jersey and Massachusetts. Curio will in turn manufacture and distribute Ascend’s Ozone products in Maryland and Missouri.
The company launched its edibles-only brand, Effin’ in Massachusetts and Illinois followed by New Jersey.
2025
The company reopened its Detroit-store in Michigan with a deli-style experience, allowing customers to see and smell the flower before purchasing.
The company launched High Wired in Illinois, a brand with infused flower and pre-roll products intended for seasoned cannabis consumers.
The company entered into a partnership with longtime adult-use cannabis advocate Lerone Jones in NJ.
2026
The company entered into a partnership with NuProject for the launch of ROOTS, Readying Opportunities for Operational & Trade Sustainability, a 6-month business readiness program designed to support small businesses within the cannabis industry.
BRANDS:
Simply Herb is the company’s in-house value brand and shows that a good time doesn’t have to come at a high price. The brand offers flowers and pre-rolls in the 18-22% range for the price conscious consumers.
Ozone offers unique, high quality cannabis strains where specific phenotypes have been selected. The brand offers edibles, vapes, flower, glass joints and pre-rolls in the 22-25% THC range for the cannabis consumer looking for quality.
Ozone Reserve offers exotic strains without compromise to the real cannabis connoisseurs in the form ofs edibles, vapes, flower, infused pre-rolls and concentrates 25% and up in THC for the cannabis connoisseur.
Hemma means at home in Swedish and this brand reflects on this homespun ethos thanks to its locally sourced, small-batch cannabis provided in the form of flowers and cured resin vape cartridges.
Tunnel Vision is a cannabis brand focused on the THCV-cannabinoid. THCV is known for effects such as energy and focus. The maybe biggest effect of this strain is its ability to blockout the munchies. The brand offers pre-rolls and flower with the following THCV to THC ratios: 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1.
The Royale brand prides itself on the flowers master-growers are most excited about and hand-trims and hand-manicures the plants that are packed in premium glass jars with individual strain art on the packaging of the premium flower with rich terpene and THC-levels.
Effin’s offers gummies with formulated combinations of THC and minor cannabinoids like THCV, CBN, CBG, and CBD.
High Wired allows you to unleash the full power of cannabis with its infused cannabis products, created for seasoned enthusiasts who demand more.
RETAIL BRANDS:
Ascend Cannabis
The brand offers ordering online for pick up with stores in Michigan and Massachusetts offering delivery. The brand has a loyalty club called Ascenders Club and offers 1 puff point earned per dollar spent.