Inner Spirit Holdings Opens Additional Spiritleaf Stores to Reach 67 Locations Across Canada and Announces Agreement with Headset and Nielsen to Leverage Data Analytics

Inner Spirit Holdings Ltd., a Canadian company that has established a national network of Spiritleaf retail cannabis stores, announced a number of corporate updates including an agreement with Headset, Inc. and Nielsen Global Connect Canada, both leading data and analytics service providers to the cannabis industry, as well as additional Spiritleaf store openings in Newfoundland and Labrador and Ontario.

The agreement with Headset and Nielsen includes a data analytics and market intelligence platform that represents a deepening of the current relationship with Spiritleaf stores. Headset and Nielsen will be providing point-of-sale data, market intelligence and consumer buying trends that enable a real-time view of sales and store inventory, enhanced purchasing decisions and data collaboration with suppliers. This enhanced data platform presents another great opportunity for the Company to grow both revenue and margin as it is deployed across the Spiritleaf network and with our partners.

“Year to date, we’ve served more than two million customers across the country through our growing Spiritleaf cannabis retail network. We remain focused on the shopping experience at these stores and ensuring we are delivering the most valued brands and products to our communities. Enhancing the relationship with Headset and Nielsen gives us a partner who provides a best-in-class data analytics platform and real-time information to our stores so we have the visibility to make informed purchasing decisions and deliver the right cannabis product to the right customer,” said Darren Bondar, President and CEO of Inner Spirit.

The Company also continues to be active with franchised store openings recently in Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland and Labrador and in Collingwood, Ontario with another expected next week in the community of Hog’s Back near Ottawa. These Spiritleaf stores bring the number of locations to 67 across the country – the most cannabis stores being operated by any single brand retailer in Canada. Grand Falls-Windsor is the third store in Newfoundland and Labrador while Collingwood and Hog’s Back represent the fifteenth and sixteenth stores in the Ontario market. Additional store locations to open in the coming months have been conditionally secured in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Please visit www.spiritleaf.ca for further information on store openings, locations and operating hours.

“We continue to expand the Spiritleaf network based on the excellent support and loyalty of our customers, employees, franchise owners, strategic partners and shareholders. It’s been an extremely active year for the organization and we’ve persevered through challenging market conditions and remained true to our core philosophy. We’ve been fortunate to be recognized within the industry for the premium service we provide and for our knowledgeable and expert staff. We’re very proud of the company we are building so it’s also been exciting to recognize the top performers within our network,” said Bondar.

The Company held its 2020 Spiritleaf Awards with franchise partners, staff and suppliers attending virtually on December 6. The awards celebrated the people and products driving Spiritleaf’s retail business forward. Categories and award winners for 2020 are included below.

Spiritleaf was recently included as the selected cannabis retailer in the official launch of Brightside by ATB Financial’s Friends with Benefits program (www.hibrightside.ca/friends). Brightside is a new banking app and the Friends with Benefits program allows users to earn extra money on their purchases when they spend at various local businesses in Alberta with the Brightside Spend Card. Spiritleaf’s inclusion was based on specific requests from local consumers. All Spiritleaf stores in Alberta are participating in the program.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and with recent restrictions in certain provinces, Spiritleaf stores are operating with enhanced customer service processes to ensure the safety of employees and customers. Spiritleaf’s Select & Collect service enables customers to pre-shop and order online prior to pick-up in store or curbside or via delivery where permitted. Customers can also connect with their local Spiritleaf store through The Collective customer benefits program to further streamline and individualize their shopping experience. The fast-growing and popular Collective program has over 165,000 members.

Inner Spirit Holdings Ltd. is a franchisor and operator of Spiritleaf recreational cannabis stores across Canada. The Spiritleaf network includes franchised and corporate locations, all operated with an entrepreneurial spirit and with the goal of creating deep and lasting ties within local communities.Learn more at www.innerspiritholdings.com and www.spiritleaf.ca.