Ice Cream Legends Emack & Bolio’s Team Up With MariMed To Launch THC-infused Ice Cream
BOSTON– MariMed, a multi-state cannabis operator focused on health and wellness, announced a joint collaboration with Boston ice cream brand Emack & Bolio’s to create a line-up of cannabis-infused vegan and dairy ice cream in outrageous flavors.
The ice cream will contain MariMed’s formulations that include the same full spectrum of natural cannabinoids and terpenes from whole plants as are used in MariMed’s award-winning brands, such as Betty’s Eddies and K Fusion. This innovative new category of cannabis products is expected to debut in Massachusetts this year, followed by launches in other legal cannabis markets.
Emack & Bolio’s was founded in 1975 by Boston music attorney Bob Rook as a place for his rock star clients to satisfy their midnight munchies after their late-night gigs. Aerosmith, Boston, U2, James Brown and The Cars were some of the groups Rook worked with back in the day. Emack & Bolio’s has evolved into a cult favorite in Massachusetts and in stores around the world.
“This partnership is gonna rock. The combination of our unique flavors with MariMed’s cannabis expertise is a natural. There is a good vibe between our companies, and our vision is the same. I’ve been wanting to do this since 1975. As the Grateful Dead said, ‘What a long, strange trip it’s been,’” says Bob Rook, CEO & Creator of Emack & Bolio’s.
“We’ve taken great care to grow MariMed infused products to become top-selling brands, with much of our success the result of a craft-like approach to cultivation that is unlike most other national cannabis companies,” says MariMed CEO and President Bob Fireman. “We’re excited to bring our unique formulations and technologies to a collaboration with a brand partner like Emack & Bolio’s, which has such a fantastic history.”
MariMed Chief Products Officer and SVP/Sales Ryan Crandell adds, “Ice cream and cannabis would seem like a natural pairing but deciding to launch this product line now—particularly with the inclusion of vegan SKUs—was driven by the consumer insights that our R&D team is always studying to identify trends that can drive our innovation.”
Crandall points to market intelligence company Modular Intelligence, whose recent study determined that the anticipated 3% growth in the ice cream market over the next four years will be driven by “better for you” product options made of natural flavors, natural sweeteners, and handcrafted ice cream.