logo
Blue Sky Hemp Ventures Sells Hemp Food Division to Fresh Hemp Foods to Focus on Cannabis Extracts and Contract Manufacturing

Blue Sky Hemp Ventures Sells Hemp Food Division to Fresh Hemp Foods to Focus on Cannabis Extracts and Contract Manufacturing

Cision Canada3 days ago
SASKATOON, SK, July 3, 2025 /CNW/ - Blue Sky Hemp Ventures Ltd. ("Blue Sky"), a privately held Canadian company founded in 2017 and a pioneer in industrial hemp whole plant utilization, has sold its hemp-based food division to Fresh Hemp Foods, a major hemp food company, for an undisclosed amount.
"Thanks to a differentiated strategy and disciplined execution, Blue Sky has delivered two consecutive years of positive EBITDA and net earnings—an uncommon achievement in this sector," said CEO Andrew Potter. "After strong growth in both our food and cannabis divisions, we reached a strategic crossroads. With limited physical space and capital, we concluded that monetizing our successful hemp food business would allow us to better scale our cannabis operations and drive long-term shareholder value."
Proceeds from the sale will be used to accelerate expansion of Blue Sky's contract manufacturing services—including vape pens, pre-rolls, and softgels—building on its strong foundation in topicals and oils. The company is also on track to complete EU-GMP certification, unlocking new global opportunities for bulk extracts and finished products.
"Although we had limited resources, our team successfully built a high-growth, EBITDA positive food business over the last few years. I'm incredibly proud of our product innovation, particularly our refined hemp seed oil—an excellent example of our ability to cost-effectively develop new products," said Potter. "This spirit of innovation will continue to drive our cannabis operations. We're confident the purchaser of our food operation will take this food business to the next level, and we look forward to supporting them."
"We welcome Blue Sky's customers and suppliers to Fresh Hemp Foods. Blue Sky has championed whole plant utilization, and we intend to carry that forward alongside our own industry leading sustainability efforts. Fresh Hemp Foods remains focused on bringing nutritious, sustainable hemp foods to more and more customers and consumers," said Jared Simon, President, Manitoba Harvest and Tilray Wellness.
About Blue Sky Hemp Ventures
Founded in 2017, Blue Sky operates a 15,000 sq ft cannabis processing facility in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Following its latest expansion (completed December 2024), Blue Sky is one of the largest independent extractors in Canada, processing approximately 20,000 kg of dry cannabis flower per month. The company now operates two core divisions:
Bulk Cannabinoid Extraction and Refinement
Contract Manufacturing – including oils, topicals, and new offerings such as vapes, prerolls and softgels.
Over the coming months, Blue Sky will continue to convert its facility to full EU-GMP compliance to support global manufacturing and extraction partnerships.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

US tariffs on European goods threaten to shake up the world's largest 2-way trade relationship
US tariffs on European goods threaten to shake up the world's largest 2-way trade relationship

Winnipeg Free Press

timean hour ago

  • Winnipeg Free Press

US tariffs on European goods threaten to shake up the world's largest 2-way trade relationship

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — America's largest trade partner, the European Union, is among the entities awaiting word Monday on whether U.S. President Donald Trump will impose punishing tariffs on their goods, a move economists have warned would have repercussions for companies and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic. Trump imposed a 20% import tax on all EU-made products in early April as part of a set of tariffs targeting countries with which the United States has a trade imbalance. Hours after the nation-specific duties took effect, he put them on hold until July 9 at a standard rate of 10% to quiet financial markets and allow time for negotiations. Expressing displeasure the EU's stance in trade talks, however, the president said he would jack up the tariff rate for European exports to 50%. A rate that high could make everything from French cheese and Italian leather goods to German electronics and Spanish pharmaceuticals much more expensive in the U.S. The EU, whose 27 member nations operate as a single economic bloc, said its leaders hoped to strike a deal with the Trump administration. Without one, the EU said it was prepared to retaliate with tariffs on hundreds of American products, ranging from beef and auto parts to beer and Boeing airplanes. Here are important things to know about trade between the United States and the European Union. US-EU trade is enormous A lot of money is at stake in the trade talks. The EU's executive commission describes the trade between the U.S. and the EU as 'the most important commercial relationship in the world.' The value of EU-U.S. trade in goods and services amounted to 1.7 trillion euros ($2 trillion) in 2024, or an average of 4.6 billion euros a day, according to EU statistics agency Eurostat. The biggest U.S. export to Europe is crude oil, followed by pharmaceuticals, aircraft, automobiles, and medical and diagnostic equipment. Europe's biggest exports to the U.S. are pharmaceuticals, cars, aircraft, chemicals, medical instruments, and wine and spirits. EU sells more to the US than vice versa Trump has complained about the EU's 198 billion-euro ($233 billion) trade surplus in goods, which shows Americans buy more stuff from European businesses than the other way around. However, American companies fill some of the gap by outselling the EU when it comes to services such as cloud computing, travel bookings, and legal and financial services. The U.S. services surplus took the nation's trade deficit with the EU down to 50 billion euros ($59 billion), which represents less than 3% of overall U.S.-EU trade. What are the issues dividing the two sides? Before Trump returned to office, the U.S. and the EU maintained a generally cooperative trade relationship and low tariff levels on both sides. The U.S. rate averaged 1.47% for European goods, while the EU's averaged 1.35% for American products. But the White House has taken a much less friendly posture toward the longstanding U.S. ally since February. Along with the fluctuating tariff rate on European goods Trump has floated, the EU has been subject to his administration's 50% tariff on steel and aluminum and a 25% tax on imported automobiles and parts. Trump administration officials have raised a slew of issues they want to see addressed, including agricultural barriers such as EU health regulations that include bans on chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-treated beef. Trump has also criticized Europe's value-added taxes, which EU countries levy at the point of sale this year at rates of 17% to 27%. But many economists see VAT as trade-neutral since they apply to domestic goods and services as well as imported ones. Because national governments set the taxes through legislation, the EU has said they aren't on the table during trade negotiations. 'On the thorny issues of regulations, consumer standards and taxes, the EU and its member states cannot give much ground,' Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Germany's Berenberg bank, said. 'They cannot change the way they run the EU's vast internal market according to U.S. demands, which are often rooted in a faulty understanding of how the EU works.' What are potential impacts of higher tariffs? Economists and companies say higher tariffs will mean higher prices for U.S. consumers on imported goods. Importers must decide how much of the extra tax costs to absorb through lower profits and how much to pass on to customers. Mercedes-Benz dealers in the US. have said they are holding the line on 2025 model year prices 'until further notice.' The German automaker has a partial tariff shield because it makes 35% of the Mercedes-Benz vehicles sold in the U.S. in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, but the company said it expects prices to undergo 'significant increases' in coming years. Simon Hunt, CEO of Italian wine and spirits producer Campari Group, told investment analysts that prices could increase for some products or stay the same depending what rival companies do. If competitors raise prices, the company might decide to hold its prices on Skyy vodka or Aperol aperitif to gain market share, Hunt said. Trump has argued that making it more difficult for foreign companies to sell in the U.S. is a way to stimulate a revival of American manufacturing. Many companies have dismissed the idea or said it would take years to yield positive economic benefits. However, some corporations have proved willing to shift some production stateside. France-based luxury group LVMH, whose brands include Tiffany & Co., Luis Vuitton, Christian Dior and Moet & Chandon, could move some production to the United States, billionaire CEO Bernaud Arnault said at the company's annual meeting in April. Arnault, who attended Trump's inauguration, has urged Europe to reach a deal based on reciprocal concessions. 'If we end up with high tariffs, … we will be forced to increase our U.S.-based production to avoid tariffs,' Arnault said. 'And if Europe fails to negotiate intelligently, that will be the consequence for many companies. … It will be the fault of Brussels, if it comes to that.' Many expect Trump to drop his most drastic demands Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. Some forecasts indicate the U.S. economy would be more at risk if the negotiations fail. Without a deal, the EU would lose 0.3% of its gross domestic product and U.S. GDP would fall 0.7%, if Trump slaps imported goods from Europe with tariffs of 10% to 25%, according to a research review by Bruegel, a think tank in Brussels. Given the complexity of some of the issues, the two sides may arrive only at a framework deal before Wednesday's deadline. That would likely leave a 10% base tariff, as well as the auto, steel and aluminum tariffs in place until details of a formal trade agreement are ironed out. The most likely outcome of the trade talks is that 'the U.S. will agree to deals in which it takes back its worst threats of 'retaliatory' tariffs well beyond 10%,' Schmieding said. 'However, the road to get there could be rocky.' The U.S. offering exemptions for some goods might smooth the path to a deal. The EU could offer to ease some regulations that the White House views as trade barriers. 'While Trump might be able to sell such an outcome as a 'win' for him, the ultimate victims of his protectionism would, of course, be mostly the U.S. consumers,' Schmieding said.

China retaliates against EU with a ban on European medical devices
China retaliates against EU with a ban on European medical devices

Winnipeg Free Press

time2 hours ago

  • Winnipeg Free Press

China retaliates against EU with a ban on European medical devices

BANGKOK (AP) — China said Sunday that European medical device companies will be barred from selling to the Chinese government as a countermeasure for the European Union's restrictions on the sale of similar products from China. European companies will be excluded if the budget for procurement is above 45 million yuan ($6.28 million), according to a notice from the Finance Ministry on Sunday with the restrictions in place the same day. The move will not apply to European companies that have invested in China and that manufacture goods in the country. China on Friday imposed anti-dumping duties on European brandy, most notably cognac produced in France. While the duties on brandy include several exceptions for major brandy producers, China and the EU have multiple trade disputes across a range of industries. China protested after many European countries levied duties on EVs made in China. Since then, China has also launched investigations into European pork and dairy products. In June, the EU announced that Chinese companies were to be excluded from any government purchases of more than 5 million euros ($5.89 million). The measure seeks to incentivise China to cease its discrimination against EU firms, the EU said, accusing China of erecting 'significant and recurring legal and administrative barriers to its procurement market.' Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. In response, China has said it had 'no choice but to implement countermeasures.' 'China has repeatedly expressed through bilateral dialogues that it is willing to properly handle differences with the EU through dialogue and consultation and bilateral government procurement arrangements,' said a statement from a spokesman with the Ministry of Commerce. 'Unfortunately, the EU has ignored China's goodwill and sincerity and still insisted on taking restrictive measures and building new protectionist barriers.'

Japan to Import Canadian LNG in Bid to Diversify Energy Supply
Japan to Import Canadian LNG in Bid to Diversify Energy Supply

Japan Forward

time7 hours ago

  • Japan Forward

Japan to Import Canadian LNG in Bid to Diversify Energy Supply

このページを 日本語 で読む Amid rising geopolitical tensions, especially in the Middle East, Japan has received some welcome news on the energy front. Mitsubishi Corporation is preparing to begin importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Canada. These shipments will be primarily destined for the Japanese market. This will be the first major delivery of Canadian LNG to Japan, which currently depends on Australia and Malaysia for over half of its LNG imports. With limited domestic energy resources, Japan has been actively working to diversify its LNG supply. Australia, its largest supplier, is projected to face production declines in the coming years. This highlights the need for more stable and reliable sources. Canadian LNG, backed by geographic proximity and political stability, presents a strong alternative. It could play a key role in strengthening Japan's energy security. LNG is natural gas that has been cooled to a liquid state, reducing its volume to about one-600th and making it much easier to transport by sea. Japan does produce some natural gas domestically, mainly in areas like Niigata and Chiba, but this supply falls far short of meeting national demand. Like oil, Japan relies almost entirely on imports for its natural gas. With delays in restarting nuclear power plants, Japan remains heavily dependent on thermal power, which generates around 70% of the country's electricity. Gas-fired power plants are the largest contributors. Compared to other fossil fuels, natural gas produces less CO₂, making it a relatively cleaner option. Because of its key role in electricity generation, any disruption in LNG supply could have serious consequences for the economy and daily life. In fiscal 2024, Japan imported 65.87 million tons of LNG, making it the world's second-largest importer after China. A tanker carrying LNG docking at a pier. (File photo) The new LNG supply will come from the LNG Canada project in British Columbia, a facility developed with investment from Mitsubishi Corporation, Shell, and other partners. Natural gas is extracted inland and transported via a 670-kilometer pipeline to the coast. There, it is liquefied and shipped overseas by tanker. The project represents a total investment of about $14 billion USD and has an annual production capacity of 14 million tons. Mitsubishi holds a 15% stake, giving it rights to around 2.1 million tons per year. If all of that were exported to Japan, it would cover roughly a quarter of the country's projected increase in LNG demand. Mitsubishi was the first major Japanese trading company to enter the LNG business, beginning in the 1960s. Today, it is involved in LNG projects across more than 10 countries. With the addition of Canadian supply, Mitsubishi's annual LNG production capacity has grown to around 15 million tons, the largest among Japanese companies. Katsumi Saito, Senior Executive Officer overseeing the fuel business and related operations, commented, "Our strength lies in the knowledge and development capabilities built on more than 50 years of experience." One of the key advantages of Canadian LNG is proximity. Shipping LNG from Canada's west coast to Japan takes about 10 days — much shorter than the roughly 30 days required from the US Gulf Coast via the Panama Canal. That route can take even longer when canal traffic is restricted by drought. Other shipping routes, such as around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, can take up to 60 days. LNG from the Middle East typically takes about 16 days. In contrast, Canadian LNG avoids major chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz, offering more stable and reliable delivery. Canada also has vast natural gas reserves — enough to meet Japan's current annual LNG demand for about 25 years. Its cold climate makes the liquefaction process more energy-efficient. Canadian LNG has a higher heat content than LNG from the United States. On top of that, there is strong political support in Canada for energy exports, ensuring long-term policy stability. As of fiscal 2024, Australia supplies 38% of Japan's LNG. Although shipping times from Australia are similar to those from Canada, slower gas field development — driven by climate change policies — has raised concerns about future supply. To reduce risks, Japan has also prioritized LNG imports from the United States, Qatar, which has massive reserves, and Russia. The US has significantly increased its LNG exports in recent years. Qatar, however, faces geopolitical risks, especially due to tensions with Iran. Japan continues to import LNG from Russia, but new projects have been put on hold under US sanctions. For instance, Japanese trading firms like Mitsui & Co are currently unable to engage with Russia's Arctic LNG 2 project. Japan's electricity demand is expected to grow as the number of data centers increases, driven by the expansion of artificial intelligence technologies. If decarbonization efforts do not progress, the government estimates LNG imports could rise by 12% by 2040, reaching about 74 million tons. The LNG Canada project marks the first new LNG venture involving Japanese companies in around six years. With global instability highlighting the need for stronger supply chains, Canada's role as a new supplier is a major win for Japan. Further expansion of production capacity is also eagerly anticipated. ( Read the article in Japanese . ) Author: Katsufumi Sato, The Sankei Shimbun このページを 日本語 で読む

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store