VERNON, British Columbia — True Leaf Brands Inc. entered a supply agreement May 15 with Atalo Holdings, Inc. to utilize its “farm-fresh” cannabidiol (CBD) oil in its upcoming pet product development. True Leaf expects to unveil its new line of CBD products for pets during SuperZoo in August 2019.

The agreement will supply True Leaf with Atalo’s full spectrum hemp-derived CBD oil, which will allow True Leaf to develop a new line of full-spectrum CBD pet supplements. The specific strain to be supplied is regulatory compliant, non-psychoactive CBD containing less than 0.3% THC.

According to True Leaf, the upcoming pet product line will feature calming support for anxious or stressed pets, as well as strength support for dogs with poor hip and joint function.

The CBD oil used in these upcoming products will be processed in Atalo’s US Food and Drug Administration-registered food processing facility and will be non-GMO and pesticide-free.

“Today marks an important milestone in the development of our debut line of CBD products for pets,” said Darcy Bomford, founder and CEO of True Leaf. “We’re developing a best-to-market CBD line with veterinarian-formulated proprietary blends that are tested from seed to shelf. Pet parents will know they are getting the safest, most effective CBD product on the market. With Atalo’s supply of top-quality CBD we are confident that we can meet the growing market demand and continue to be the cannabis-for-pets brand that retailers and pet parents trust.”

Kentucky-based Atalo is a vertically integrated agriculture and biotechnology firm working on research, development and commercialization of industrial hemp. The company also specializes in sustainable agronomics and is known for its pedigreed hemp seed, which is used by Kentucky farmers to manufacture consistent, high-quality hemp products. 

“As one of the largest permitted hemp growers in the US, we are well-suited to supply True Leaf with the highest quality CBD to meet the huge demand for CBD products for pets,” said William Hilliard, CEO of Atalo. “Like True Leaf, we are committed to product excellence based on years of research and development and adhering to stringent quality standards. Many of us on the Atalo team are pet parents ourselves and we are proud to supply a CBD product that will help improve the quality of life for pets.”

The length of the supply agreement is unlimited, or until either party disengages. Sales volumes will be determined “as the agreement matures,” according to True Leaf.

On June 5, True Leaf expanded distribution in the UK through an agreement with OSCAR Pet Foods, as well as in Spain and Portugal through a partnership with Pocurull.

OSCAR Pet Foods will offer home delivery to an estimated 30,000 pet owners in the UK, and Pocurull will exclusively distribute True Leaf products to approximately 1,000 retail stores throughout Spain and Portugal.

“European expansion is a major growth opportunity for us and we are pleased to be partnering with established companies in the EU who share the same stringent standards for delivering superior pet products,” Bomford commented.

Read more about product development, ingredients and formulation.