Three Western Canadian cannabis companies have been recognized as some of the best in the country in the annual ADCANN Awards.
Kelowna cannabis company BLK MKT by Avant has won the 2022 Cannabis Brand of the Year for Canada, while South Vancouver’s THC Canada was recognized as Independent Brand of the Year. Spiritleaf, based in Alberta, was named National Store Brand of the Year.
“When we started the company back in 2017, we had a mission to build Canada’s most iconic cannabis brand, that would also be supported with consistent and quality products,” said Avant Brands CEO Norton Singhavon.
“BLK MKT winning the ADCANN 2022 Cannabis Brand of The Year award has been a result of our relentless efforts to achieve our mission. We are deeply humbled by this accomplishment and would like to thank all our consumers, budtenders, retail accounts and provincial buyers for your continued support in the brand and vision.”
The annual ADCANN Awards aim to celebrate the best in cannabis marketing, branding and advertising – recognizing people’s choice over a judge’s decision.
Also taking home the win this year for Canada were:
Craft Brand OTY: Carmel – “With their team of cannabis experts, led by their head grower Drew, Carmel has built a portfolio of rare genetics grown to push the plants to their limits,” ADCANN says of the Craft Brand of the Year. Sharing staples such as Animal Breath and Drew’s Dark Helmet, “their iconic orange bag is not only stylish but contains all the nitty-gritty of the plant’s processes for the curious cannabis connoisseur.”
Accessory Brand OTY: Canadian Lumber – Recognizing the importance of the right paper for those rolling their own joints, ADCANN saluted Canadian Lumber’s line of rolling papers. “With imagery reminiscent of the old ‘Canadian Lumberjack’ trope and three different high-quality papers to choose from, it’s no wonder they’ve made such a splash in our Northern smoke circles.”
Independent Store Brand OTY: THC Canada – While reminiscent of an Apple Store, South Vancouver’s THC Canada retains their connection to cannabis culture, using features like cultivar information and sensory orbs that let your nose guide your choice, creating a space for consumers to truly connect with their products.
National Store Brand OTY: Spiritleaf – A growing force in Canada, boasting “a competitive rewards program, a killer collection of cannabis, and some of the best budtenders in the industry,” Spiritleaf’s inviting stores feature screens, sensory orbs and helpful budtenders to guide consumers, ADCANN notes, also saluting Spiritleaf’s “easy-to-use online platform for those who prefer digital.”
Best Packaging Design: Wyld – To help reduce the packaging associated with cannabis products and support its sustainability platform – including its quest to reach net zero emissions – Wyld released its innovative packaging to the Canadian masses. “While their bags may look similar to the industry-standard mylar bags, Wyld’s packaging is fully compostable while still easy to use and read – earning them their ADCANN Award.”
Best Social Media: Cruuzy – “While many brands are scared to engage online due to Health Canada regulations and Meta’s terms of service, Cruuzy demonstrates what excellence is in cannabis social media,” ADCANN notes. “With a clear, California-inspired brand image in mind, all of their posts work to build this image in the consumer mind.”
Marketing Campaign OTY: Color Cannabis, “Just Add Color” – While known for quality cannabis, Color Cannabis’s brightly coloured nitrogen-sealed mylar bags have stood out since their arrival in Canada.
Through their ‘Just Add Color’ campaign, Color shared “the thought and time that went into the selection of each bag’s colour, and how each colour fits the ‘vibe’ of the cannabis sealed away,” ADCANN notes. “While many brands struggle to pick a single colour, Color has created a rainbow across dispensary shelves.”
Social Good Campaign OTY: Reef Organic, ‘Be True to You’ – Reef’s three-month ‘Be True to You’ campaign included a True Colours variety pack of edibles where a portion of sales went to 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations around the country. Continuing their inclusivity commitment beyond the summer campaign, Reef has also created and shared resources such as The Power of Inclusive Language and Inclusive ID Screening for cannabis retail.
Agency OTY: Sister Merci – Toronto’s full-service creative firm Sister Merci has worked with some of the biggest names in cannabis, including Canopy, Hexo and KIND. Notes the ADCANN team, “With a team with countless years of experience and a unique eye for design, Sister Merci shows you don’t need to be the biggest agency to make the most significant impact.”
Agency Marketer OTY: Noah Parker – Partner and VP of Operations at The Influence Agency, Noah Parker “is no stranger to cannabis marketing – finding compliant yet engaging ways to introduce brands to the public,” ADCANN says. “With cannabis becoming legal all across North America, we’re all sure to see Noah’s work on a billboard or screen sometime soon (if you haven’t already).”
Brand Marketer OTY: Drew Campbell – This was both a second nomination and a second win for the VP of Marketing for The Organic Green Dutchman, who joined the cannabis industry in 2018 after time with many of Canada’s major communication and retail brands.
For the full list of the 2022 ADCANN Awards, visit adcann.ca/blog/2022-adcann-award-winners
– With files from Brittany Webster, Kelowna Capital News
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