BLOOMFIELD, MICH. — Vlasic, one of the largest and most well-known pickle brands in North America, has made a move into pet wellness. Though a shift from pickles to pets may leave some baffled, for the Vlasic family it makes perfect sense.
The Vlasics’ journey into American households began through Joe Vlasic’s milk delivery business, which eventually evolved into the Vlasic pickle brand. As the pickle business grew, so did the Vlasics’ entrepreneurial spirit. Later, Rick Vlasic and his son Willy created Vlasic Labs, a company seeking to revolutionize the plant-based wellness industry through hemp.
Vlasic Labs produces high-quality, hemp-based wellness products designed to meet an array of needs for humans. The company’s products range from creams and roll-ons to bath bombs and tinctures made with cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG), and cannabinol (CBN).
With a deep love for animals, the Vlasics saw an opportunity to build upon Vlasic Labs’ hemp-based solutions for humans by offering the power of CBD to their four-legged companions. Leveraging the well-known Vlasic pickle brand, of which about 90 million Americans purchase annually, according to the company, Vlasic Labs aims to leverage existing consumer trust to offer holistic, hemp-based wellness solutions to dogs.
Rick Vlasic, founder and chief executive officer of Vlasic Labs, with his dogs Yogi and Ozzy.
| Source: Vlasic Labs LLC“Our journey from dairy to pickles, and now to hemp wellness, is driven by a mission to innovate for the betterment of society,” said Rick Vlasic, co-founder of Vlasic Labs.
Vlasic Labs’ foray into pet includes hemp chews and an organic hemp peanut butter flavor, all produced following the same high standards of Vlasic’s pickles. Through these hemp-based dog products, the company aims to make beneficial compounds more accessible at a more affordable price.
The CBD Dog Chews are available in two varieties, Bacon infused with 5mg of full-spectrum CBD per chew, and Beef infused with 5mg of broad-spectrum CBD per chew. The Organic CBD Peanut Butter Flavor is formulated with organic MCT oil and organic broad-spectrum CBD, and is specifically designed for canines that are picky eaters, have difficulties chewing, or those that need a stronger dose of CBD. An 8-oz tub of Vlasic’s Organic CBD Peanut Butter Flavor has 500mg of CBD.
With a deep dedication to quality and transparency, all of Vlasic Labs’ hemp products carry a certificate of analysis (COA), of which consumers can easily access on the company’s website. The COAs are verified through third parties and ensure that top quality, safety and potency standards are met, according to Vlasic Labs. Additionally, each product for dogs contains a QR code on the back of the packaging, providing additional traceability information.
Currently, Vlasic Labs’ hemp-based dog wellness products are mostly sold through dispensary channels in certain states, as well as through other retailers like dog daycares and grocery stores.
Though Vlasic Labs released its hemp-based pet products just one year ago, the company has big plans for continued expansion. According to the company, it is now working with the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC), which has long been a proponent for the safe usage of hemp in animals and pets.
The company is also in the process of making another USDA-certified organic product, in alignment with the Vlasic family’s dedication to quality, and is planning continued expansion of its offerings to include other species, such as cats.
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