Business-to-Business Service Designed to
Facilitate and Accelerate Market Development for Producers
and Retailers
TSX: ACB
EDMONTON, Feb. 7, 2018
/CNW/ - Aurora Cannabis Inc. ("Aurora") (TSX: ACB) (OTCQB: ACBFF)
(Frankfurt: 21P; WKN: A1C4WM)
announced today that it has launched a new B2B service, Aurora PRO,
for licensed producers ("LPs") and licensed retailers ("LRs") in
the forthcoming adult consumer market.
Aurora PRO is a broad service offering that leverages Aurora's
purchasing power, quality assurance processes, technological
infrastructure, cultivation know-how, distribution channels, as
well as its best-in-class customer service to help simplify the
sales process and effectively deliver products to market. Aurora
PRO creates a quick, seamless, and scalable platform to facilitate
wholesale B2B transactions, while at the same time offering a broad
range of operational support services and market intelligence to
private retailers.
The execution of Aurora PRO will be by way of a secure internet
portal, with dedicated staff providing additional resources and
in-person services to producers and retailers subscribed to the
service.
Aurora PRO for Producers
Aurora PRO is aimed at producers of any scale, from craft
growers, to larger bulk wholesale-focused LPs. Through transacting
with Aurora, LPs have the ability to overcome distribution barriers
and minimum supply requirements that may prevent them from gaining
access to key provincial markets and getting their product into the
hands of consumers.
Additionally, Aurora and its wholly-owned subsidiary ALPS
(Aurora Larssen Projects Ltd), will be offering cultivation and
operational services to producers, including packaging, quality
assurance and logistics. Aurora PRO enables LPs to focus on what
they do best, producing high-quality cannabis, without having to
invest in, and operate, large sales, support and logistics
operations.
Aurora PRO for Retailers
Through Aurora PRO, the Company also looks to partner with a
wide variety of B2C market participants, including smaller
independent retailers. Aurora intends to develop strong two-way
partnerships with retailers, whereby feedback received translates
into superior service.
The offering will include operational support, such as product
and staff training, as well as consulting aimed to help optimize
the retailers` purchasing strategies. The Company will also be
providing intelligence to help retailers identify and react on
market trends, as well as providing visibility into Aurora's
production pipeline.
In markets where direct transactions between LPs and LRs will be
allowed, the Company will help establish supply agreements,
enabling its customers to secure sufficient product quantities,
especially important in a market that is anticipated to be supply
restricted during the period immediately following consumer
legalization. In these markets, the Company anticipates offering a
wide variety of strains, including those sourced through LPs with
Aurora PRO accounts, ensuring that its retail customers have the
ability to stock products that resonate with their respective
markets.
Management Commentary
"Aurora PRO is an innovative concept designed to facilitate
win-win relationships among trusted partners," said Terry Booth, CEO. "We believe that Aurora PRO
will provide a compelling, reliable and easy to use option for
producers that are seeking market access for their products, while
providing retailers with a responsive partner to help establish,
develop and fine tune their operations. In a market expected
initially to be supply restricted, Aurora PRO partners will have
significant competitive advantages that will help them build market
share and customer loyalty."
About Aurora
Aurora's wholly-owned subsidiary, Aurora Cannabis Enterprises
Inc., is a licensed producer of medical cannabis pursuant to Health
Canada's Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations
("ACMPR"). Aurora operates a 55,200 square foot production
facility in Mountain View County, Alberta, known as "Aurora Mountain", a 40,000
square foot production facility known as "Aurora Vie" in
Pointe-Claire, Quebec, and an
800,000 square foot production facility, known as "Aurora Sky", at
the Edmonton International
Airport. Aurora is also completing a fourth facility of 48,000
square feet in Lachute, Quebec,
and will shortly begin construction on a 1,000,000 square foot
production facility in Odense,
Denmark, to be known as "Aurora Nordic", via a joint venture
with Alfred Pedersen & Søn
ApS.
Aurora also owns Berlin-based
Pedanios GmbH, the leading wholesale importer, exporter, and
distributor of medical cannabis in the European Union. Aurora
offers further differentiation through its wholly owned
subsidiaries BC Northern Lights Ltd. and Urban Cultivator Inc.,
industry leaders, respectively, in the production and sale of
proprietary systems for the safe, efficient and high-yield indoor
cultivation of cannabis, and in state-of-the-art indoor gardening
appliances for the cultivation of organic microgreens, vegetables
and herbs in home and professional kitchens.
In addition, Aurora holds approximately 17.23% of the issued
shares in leading extraction technology company Radient
Technologies Inc., and has a strategic investment in Hempco Food
and Fiber Inc., with options to increase ownership stake to over
50%. Aurora is also the cornerstone investor in two other licensed
producers, with a 22.9% stake in Cann Group Limited, the first
Australian company licensed to conduct research on and cultivate
medical cannabis, and a 17.62% stake in Canadian producer The Green
Organic Dutchman Ltd., with options to increase to majority
ownership.
Aurora's common shares trade on the TSX under the symbol
"ACB".
On behalf of the Boards of
Directors,
AURORA CANNABIS
INC.
Terry
Booth
CEO
This news release includes statements containing certain
"forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable
securities law ("forward-looking statements"), including, but not
limited to, statements with respect to the performance of the
Company. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by
words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend",
"believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential",
"proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain
events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are
only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the
conclusions or making the projections contained in the
forward-looking statements throughout this news release.
Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates
of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject
to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that
could cause actual events or results to differ materially from
those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Company is
under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or
obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise,
except as expressly required by applicable law.
Neither TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that
term is defined in the policies of Toronto Stock Exchange) accept
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release
SOURCE Aurora Cannabis Inc.