Israel’s Tempo will start producing cannabis edibles

The Israeli beverage company Tempo is entering the cannabis industry and will try to develop a business that allows combining cannabis components in food and beverages in order to produce and market edibles – cannabis-based food and beverages.

It was announced that Tempo had signed a cooperation agreement with NextStage, which is expected to merge with Micromedic, traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange at a value of around $6 million (NIS 21 million). The company registered a sharp jump of over 21% in the share value after the announcement.

Under the initial agreement between Tempo and Micromedic, a new company will be established,  owned 50% each. The intellectual property will belong to this company only and the two companies will not compete with each other in this field.

According to the initial and non-binding memorandum of understanding, the two companies plan to reach a final agreement within 90 days. The parties estimated that the stock exchange approvals required to complete the transaction are likely to be received by the end of next week.

If you want to know more about cannabis, how Israeli companies are expanding their cannabis businesses, and to find out the latest hemp news, download the Hemp.im mobile application.

The Israeli cannabis edibles market still has many challenges to overcome

The marketing of cannabis-infused beverages in Israel, as long as it contains THC, will only be allowed in the market after legalization since the authorities do not allow medical use of food products. 

Exports abroad, which are allowed for medical purposes only, will probably not be allowed in the near future. Indeed, perhaps beverages containing CBD will soon be marketed as free supplements. The world is still debating whether there is at all a large enough market of customers who would be interested in such drinks.

Avraham Drizin, CEO of NextStage, stated that “We are very happy about the collaboration and see it as a significant step for NextStage. Tempo is an extraordinary force both in Israel and abroad and the entry of industrial companies at this level is critical to the cannabis industry. The cannabis-combined food and beverage market has been growing tremendously in recent years but without one brand standing out above them all. We believe that Nextstage’s technological innovation combined with Tempo’s capabilities and experience will be a major force in the industry.”

Tempo takes the first step in an emerging market already developed in other countries

Nextstage and the public company Micromedic recently announced the completion of the terms of the merger, which is expected to be completed in the coming days with the approval of the stock exchange. 

Tempo is a leading company in the beverage market, owned by the Bar-Bornstein family and the Dutch beer maker Heineken (International Heineken), and is engaged in the production, import, marketing and distribution of various types of beverages.

Furthermore, Tempo has a wide range of local and international brands, including Goldstar, Maccabi, Nesher, Heineken, Barkan Wineries and Segal Wineries, Pepsi, Absolut Vodka, Jameson, Blantine’s, Galilee Cider, San Pellegrino, San Benedetto, Paulner and more.

Tempo will be the first large food corporation in Israel to enter the cannabis business, but in the United States it is a long-standing phenomenon. In recent years, many of the largest alcohol companies in the world have entered into such activity including Constellation Brands, the brewery of Corona, which has invested in the Canadian cannabis company Canopy.

__

(Featured image by Igor Ovsyannykov via Pixabay)

DISCLAIMER: This article was written by a third party contributor and does not reflect the opinion of Hemp.im, its management, staff or its associates. Please review our disclaimer for more information.

This article may include forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “become,” “plan,” “will,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks as well as uncertainties, including those discussed in the following cautionary statements and elsewhere in this article and on this site. Although the Company may believe that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, the actual results that the Company may achieve may differ materially from any forward-looking statements, which reflect the opinions of the management of the Company only as of the date hereof. Additionally, please make sure to read these important disclosures.

First published in קנאביס, a third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

Although we made reasonable efforts to provide accurate translations, some parts may be incorrect. Hemp.im assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions or ambiguities in the translations provided on this website. Any person or entity relying on translated content does so at their own risk. Hemp.im is not responsible for losses caused by such reliance on the accuracy or reliability of translated information. If you wish to report an error or inaccuracy in the translation, we encourage you to contact us.