Your next CBD products are here, and they’re made from orange peels.
Former NFL player Chris Hetherington has officially introduced the first orange-derived CBD oil, Peels, that promises a more consistent, pure, and stable texture, as well as zero trace of THC compared to regular CBD products extracted from hemp plants to the U.S. through its direct-to-consumer website.
The launch was made possible after Peels received a $4 million investment from KarpReilly LLC., a Connecticut-based private equity group that has also funded various food and beverage companies, including PepsiCo Greenhouse Accelerator program’s latest winner Spudsy, and functional beverage brands KOIA, LifeAid, KeVita, and Iconic Protein.
Molecularly Identical To Cannabis CBD
Former NFL player Chris Hetherington is the founder and CEO of Peels.
Peels
Peels claims it uses a proprietary process called Cyclic Terpene Assembly (CTA), which combines highly aromatic compounds, terpenes, from orange peels with a naturally occurring organic compound olivetol under heat and pressure in the presence of a catalyst to produce a CBD oil that allows for better absorption due to its crystalline structure.
“Our product is legally labeled as CBD [because] its cannabinoid is molecularly identical or bio-identical to cannabis- and hemp-derived CBD in every way,” Hetherington explained, hence, “they act in the body in the same way, and have the same effects and benefits without the impurities and variability associated with regular CBD products.”
Using orange peels to produce CBD also has a more positive environmental impact especially around sustainability, according to Hetherington. He said: “Orange peels are one of the most commercially available resources because they are often discarded as waste.
“Rather than using arable farmland or millions of gallons of water and toxic pesticides required to grow hemp, we found that we could use a byproduct of the citrus industry that was unused in the processing of citrus into food and beverage products. Our product is contributing to the circular economy of citrus production, and is significantly more sustainable than hemp-derived CBD.”
Making CBD More Accessible To Consumers
The long-term goal for Peels is to democratize the CBD market, projected to reach $19.5 billion in size by 2025 with anticipated FDA’s approval of CBD as a food additive next year, by making it more accessible to the general public since CBD items remain largely excluded from most grocery stores, and under tight scrutiny by professionals who are periodically drug tested, including athletes, first responders, and government workers.
Peels’ goal is to eventually make CBD products more accessible to the public.
Peels
“Peels removes any concerns about failing a drug test. Our mission is to provide the safest, purest, most effective CBD products on the market and to make them a staple in consumers’ daily wellness ritual,” said Hetherington.
He added: “We also hope that Peels can help play a role in alleviating the misconceptions around CBD and its negative association with cannabis and THC. There are still consumers who do not know the difference between hemp, cannabis, marijuana, and CBD. Contrary to what people have thought for many years, not all cannabinoid use is about the psychoactive experience. Some cannabinoids like CBD aren’t known to produce that effect at all.”
From Digital First To Retail
The citrus nature also provides a better chance for Peels to enter brick-and-mortar retailers’ food and dietary supplements aisles in the future due to fewer regulatory hurdles than traditional CBD, and the company plans to launch a CBD immunity shot over the next month with several other product formats being developed in its short-term pipeline.
However, Peels will launch as a digitally native brand, focusing on direct-to-consumer and subscription strategy for now, which will enable it to have more control over the entire customer journey, from discovery to loyalty, Hetherington noted.
“We aim to develop direct feedback loops with customers and get a better pulse on market trends to make data-driven decisions moving forward,” he said.
“This will also give us a much greater opportunity to listen to our consumers, inspire two-way dialog for a high-engagement experience and foster an avenue to educate consumers on our products and science through our website and various marketing and communication channels.”
Hetherington said: “In 2022, there will be significant opportunities for growth with additional capital as we expand our product offerings, distribution, and partnerships.”