More Whole Foods stores to carry topical CBD products

This month, Whole Foods Market is expanding its distribution of topical cannabidiol (CBD) products to another 13 states.

Whole Foods said yesterday that, with the rollout, it will have topical CBD products available at 359 stores in 29 states and the District of Columbia. The Austin-based specialty grocer operates 483 U.S. stores overall.

New states where Whole Foods stores sell topical CBD items include Arkansas, Arizona, California, Georgia, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia.

“Our shoppers have expressed a growing interest in CBD products,” according to Jennifer Coleman, global senior category merchant at Whole Foods.

Whole Foods said it’s also adding exclusive CBD bath items from Pacha Soap Co. (left), including CBD Mineral Soak, CBD Whipped Soap, CBD Bar Soap and CBD Froth Bombs. The retailer noted that the new CBD products meet its body care quality standards, which ban parabens, phthalates, triclosan and more than 100 other questionable ingredients used in conventional body care products. (Photo courtesy of Whole Foods.)

From Oct. 4 to 6, Whole Foods plans to offer beauty and body care products–including topical CBD and the new Pacha Soap Co. bath items–at 25% off as part of the chain’s fall Beauty, Bath and Body Care Sale. Prime members get an extra 10% off the discounted price.

“We’re thrilled to roll out topical CBD products in even more stores and to share new, exclusive items from our longstanding supplier partner Pacha Soap Co.,” Coleman commented.

Other states where Whole Foods stores carry topical CBD products include Alabama, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin.

Late last year, the federal government changed its classification of cannabis with the enactment of the Farm Bill. The legislation removed hemp from the Federal Controlled Substances Act’s definition of marijuana. That meant hemp was no longer a controlled substance under federal law, even though marijuana remains a Schedule I drug.

Under current federal law, CBD and THC can’t be added to a food or marketed as a dietary supplement. The Food and Drug Administration maintains regulatory oversight of food, cosmetics, drugs and other products within its jurisdiction that have CBD, THC or the cannabis plant as an additive.

The CBD product market’s potential, however, has drawn the interest of retailers large and small, though many remain uncertain about the regulatory framework regarding the sale and labeling of hemp-containing products, even as various CBD offerings make their way into stores.

According to a study by CPG sales and marketing firm Acosta, 28% of consumers use CBD products on an as-needed or daily basis. CBD product sales to consumers are projected to reach $20 billion by 2024, Acosta said in its “The CBD Effect: A Rapidly Emerging Consumer Trend” released last week.

This piece originally appeared on Supermarket News, a New Hope Network sister website. Visit the site for more grocery trends and insights.