High Tide Launches Europe’s First Canna Cabana Store in Berlin

BERLIN – High Tide Inc., the Calgary-based Cannabis retailer known for its discount club model, has cut the ribbon on its inaugural European outpost, a Canna Cabana store in central Berlin that sells accessories and lifestyle products tied to Cannabis culture. The 1,500-square-foot location in the vibrant Mitte district, mere steps from Alexanderplatz, Berlin’s bustling transport and retail nexus that draws millions of visitors annually.

This move positions High Tide as the first publicly traded North American Cannabis company to establish a physical retail presence in Germany, Europe’s biggest economy and a market that legalized personal possession and home cultivation earlier this year. For now, the store stocks pipes, grinders, rolling papers, and apparel – items that skirt current restrictions on recreational sales while building brand loyalty ahead of potential pilot programs for licensed shops.

Raj Grover, High Tide’s founder and CEO, called the opening a calculated entry point. “Germany offers scale we can’t ignore,” Grover said in a statement, pointing to the country’s 84 million residents and a medical Cannabis sector already valued at over €1 billion annually. With over 200 stores across Canada and now entering Europe, the company brings a data-driven approach to loyalty programs, driving repeat business and maintaining gross margins above 40% in mature markets.

High Tide’s path to Berlin traces back to 2022, when it first scouted opportunities amid Germany’s coalition government’s push for reform. Zoom-out to 2025, and the firm has layered in medical infrastructure through acquisitions: first a majority stake in Purecan GmbH for import and logistics in January, then Remexian Pharma GmbH for distribution in August. These deals, totaling around €30 million, give High Tide control over supply chains without the regulatory headaches of direct flower sales.

Critics might question the timing. Germany’s adult-use pilots, meant to test commercial retail in select regions, remain stalled in legislative fine-tuning, with no firm rollout until mid-2026 at earliest. High Tide’s accessory-focused debut dodges that uncertainty but risks diluting its core identity as a full-service retailer. Still, the strategy echoes its Canadian playbook: start lean, gather consumer insights, then scale. In fiscal 2025, High Tide posted record revenue of CA$550 million, up 13% year-over-year, fueled by e-commerce and private labels – tools it plans to deploy in Germany via a localized online platform.

For the broader industry, this Berlin bet underscores a shift. North American players, squeezed by U.S. federal inaction and Canadian price wars, are eyeing Europe as a growth vector. With the potential for expansion, Germany’s legal Cannabis market could hit €1.1 billion by this year’s end, drawing rivals like Tilray and Aurora. High Tide’s edge? Its retail experience translating to operational know-how that pure importers lack.

Here at HCN, we’ve seen bold entries fizzle without local adaptation. High Tide’s measured start, blending medical backend with consumer-facing retail, suggests it grasps that lesson. Watch for foot traffic data in Q1 2026; if it mirrors Toronto’s early Canna Cabana numbers, Berlin could anchor a dozen more outposts by 2027. For now, this store stands as a gentle reminder: Europe’s Cannabis door is open, and High Tide* has one foot inside.

*Highly Capitalized Network-HCN reports impartially on developments in the industry and its participants & does not endorse, promote, or take positions on any party, association, or company involved.