VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 25, 2021 / Sativa Wellness Group Inc. (CSE:SWEL) ("Sativa Wellness" or the "Company") wishes to announce the corporate highlights for 2020 and provide plans for 2021.
2020 Highlights
- Completed the reverse takeover of StillCanna Inc. (the "StillCanna Acquisition") in the third quarter of the calendar year, creating a vertically integrated European seed to consumer cannabidiol ("CBD") company. The StillCanna Acquisition added a CBD manufacturing facility in Poland to the Company's asset base and increased the Company's cash on the balance sheet by C$4.3 million as of the date of closing.
- Successfully integrated the operating systems, control environment and governance framework of StillCanna Inc. with Sativa Group PLC's operating systems, control environment and governance framework to create Sativa Wellness Group Inc.
- While the ongoing COVID pandemic affected sales and forced closure of our retail stores and the CBD production facility in Poland, the Company adjusted by:
- Reducing staffing levels and cutting costs across the business;
- Utilising the UK production facility to produce hand sanitiser under the Goodbody brand and white label products for restaurants and businesses; and
- Utilised the Company's retail premises in Bath and Bristol to offer COVID testing services.
- Upgraded and launched to market Goodbody Botanicals and Goodbody Wellness product ranges, including the new online site goodbodystore.com.
- In the second quarter, the Company launched the UK FSA Novel foods accreditation process in order to achieve compliance by March 31, 2021.
- Launched the new corporate website sativawellnessgroup.com in the third quarter.
- Awarded provisional ISO 17025 accreditation for PhytoVista laboratories in the third quarter.
- In the fourth quarter, the Company restarted the CBD extraction plant in Poland producing high quality CBD isolate and distillate.
- Diversified the wellness range of products to include COVID testing in the fourth quarter.
- In the fourth quarter, the Company developed a fully integrated consumer marketing plan that supports and aligns with the trade activity, and refined our route to market strategy to drive sales.
- The Company's third quarter sales increased to C$826,363.
- Achieved record sales in the fourth quarter, an increase of 68% (un-audited) on Q3 results, achieving a record year in 2020, despite declines in sales in the first two quarters due to the impact of COVID 19.
2021 Action Plan
- Achieve UK FSA Novel Foods accreditation deadline on or before March 31, 2021. The Company's dossier is ready for submission for core CBD isolate and distillate plus a full range of Goodbody and white label products.
- Drive Goodbody brand CBD wellness sales growth in the UK and launch in Europe.
- Commence online sales on goodbodystore.com.
- Launch goodbodystore.eu in Europe. A major EU regulation change has provided significant opportunities for CBD sales in multiple countries. The European FSA has re-launched the Novel Foods accreditation process which is in alignment with the UK regulations.
- Expand product range focusing on lower price point products and adding additional cosmetic products to deliver increased consumer and trade sales.
- Complete the simplification of the Company's corporate structure to reduce overhead costs.
- Expand COVID testing services to other parts of the UK. In January, the Company partnered with local pharmacies in Southampton and Cardiff utilising the Sativa systems.
- Achieve positive free cash flow from all operating businesses in the UK and Poland.
- Explore and pilot, other wellness and testing service opportunities.
- Drive sales growth of bulk CBD isolate and distillate to pharma, cosmetic and CBD companies across the UK and Europe, from production output from the Company's plant in Poland.
- Grow white label (private label) sales of the Company's product lines in the UK and Europe, utilising the Company's CBD isolate and distillate and the Company's production facilities. The Company expects a number of competitors to be unable to achieve Novel Foods accreditation, to our competitive advantage.
Although the world is still in the grip of the global COVID pandemic, the Company has held steadfast in our commitment to building a long-term growth company in the European CBD and wellness space. Our commitment to producing and distributing the highest quality and compliant products and services to the market also remains. The Company will continue to explore opportunities to develop its CBD and wellness products and services, as illustrated by the decision to offer COVID testing services.
All the best for a safe, healthy and prosperous 2021.
Kind regards
Henry Lees-Buckley
The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement.
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
Further information regarding the Company can be found under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com.
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
Henry Lees-Buckley
Chief Executive Officer
Sativa Wellness Group Inc.
+44 (0) 20 7971 1255
[email protected]
www.sativawellnessgroup.com
Joseph Colliver
Chief Financial Officer
Sativa Wellness Group Inc.
+44 (0) 20 7971 1255
[email protected]
www.sativawellnessgroup.com
Jason Dussault
Investor Relations and Communications
Sativa Wellness Group Inc.
[email protected]
www.sativawellnessgroup.com
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only the Company's beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of Sativa's control. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes" "plan is" or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur", "will be achieved" or "shortly". The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to information concerning" 2021 Action Plan".
Although Sativa believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. In particular, there is no guarantee that any sales, profits or revenues relating to the plans detailed in this press release, that the Company will achieve novel foods accreditation, that the Company will achieve positive free cash flow in any operating companies, that the Company will be able to execute or capitalize on any opportunities noted in this press release, that the Company will be able to grow sales or expand testing facilities, that the Company will be able to expand the product lines or launch products and websites in the EU, that any cost efficiencies or overhead cost reduction will be attained from a simplification of the corporate structure, or that a number of competitors will not attain novel foods accreditation. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this press release, and Sativa does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
SOURCE: Sativa Wellness Group Inc.