Manufacturers that need help getting hemp-based products in retail look to MarketHub, which calls itself the hemp retail category leader. The Denver-based company offers legal, category management, distribution and merchandising expertise. “Brands have to get to a position where they are ready for primetime, ready for retail and everything it takes to do that,” said Blake Patterson, president and CEO. “A lot of these guys were selling the products at fairs.”
MarketHub’s Hemp Health Zones, custom merchandising displays that showcase vetted products, helps businesses make the move from fairs to drug stores. The vetting process means the brands meet certain standards related to corporate structure, sourcing, manufacturing, labeling and other factors.