Halo Collective Inc. (“Halo” or the “Company”) (NEO: HALO) (OTCQX: HCAND) (Germany: A9K0) today unveiled “Budega™” as the name for its California retail dispensaries the first location of which is expected to open by the end of December 2021 in Westwood, California.

In anticipation of opening the first of ten (10) proposed dispensaries in Southern California by the end of 2022, Halo has hired John Ford as Senior Vice President of Retail. Mr. Ford adds significant experience in the retail sector, including directorship roles with Apple, Microsoft, and Comcast. During his tenure with Apple, Mr. Ford was responsible for launching Apple retail stores in China, and whilst with Microsoft, retail stores in both China and Australia. Most recently, he was the Chief Revenue Officer and Head of Retail for the publicly traded cannabis company Chalice Brands.

“Halo Collective intends to stand apart from competitors in a crowded space with a unique, modern, and sophisticated retail experience focused on the customer experience,” commented Kiran Sidhu, CEO and Co-Founder of Halo. “Our first location is ideally located on Santa Monica Blvd. within two miles of UCLA. The Budega name, an industry take on the “Bodega” concept, popular in urban areas of Los Angeles and elsewhere, represents an easy-to-remember branding opportunity. It is a privilege that LA-based mural artist Teddy Kelly has agreed to paint a custom mural to enhance the aesthetics of the storefront and is part of our goal to engage with the local community. We are increasingly excited about retail opportunities, and Mr. Ford is the ideal person to lead this important initiative.”

Retail dispensaries represent an important step in the vertical integration for Halo in its “Seed to Sale” strategy in California. Upon opening, Halo expects to commence retail sales of its own branded products, as well as a curated selection of coveted brands and related products available to the California market. Additionally, Halo will leverage manufacturing in Southern California at Cathedral City and cultivation procurement, manufacturing, and distribution operations in Northern California.

“Building this retail footprint from the ground up is an exciting opportunity, and I look forward to helping Halo and the Budega retail dispensary differentiate itself in the industry,” commented Ford. “We anticipate making Budega the go-to destination for the large and growing consumer population in Southern California.”

The first Budega dispensary will be located in Westwood at 10461 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA.