Easthampton, Massachusetts-based cannabis company Insa Inc. plans to ramp up its expansion in Orlando and elsewhere in Florida.
The firm opened its first location in Orlando at 7500 E. Colonial Drive, its fourth Florida dispensary. Insa plans to add several more dispensaries in 2023.
Why this matters: Cannabis continues to be a growing industry for investment and new jobs in Florida and metro Orlando.
Already, Insa has leased a space at 640 Lee Road in Winter Park and plans to start construction this month. The new dispensary will open this year, pending regulatory approval.
Insa’s growth comes as Florida’s medical marijuana market continues to expand.
As of Jan.13, 2023, Florida has about 783,416 approved medical marijuana patients and 517 approved dispensaries, according to the Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use. That has grown from Jan. 14, 2022, when the state had 661,496 approved patients and 398 approved dispensaries.
Here, Patrick Gottschlicht, co-founder and COO of Insa, spoke with Orlando Business Journal on what is next for the company and more:
What does Insa have planned for expansion in Orlando and beyond?
Our main production facility is in Auburndale, and Orlando is right around an hour’s drive from there. We like the area and think it will be a good market for us. Location wise, it works from a delivery perspective.
How many medical marijuana dispensaries will Insa open in Orlando and Florida?
We [want to reach] 11 stores by the end of March-ish this year. A second one is going to be in Orlando on Lee Road. Beyond those, we don’t have any other plans just yet.
How does Florida’s growth as a medical marijuana market compare to others?
Florida’s a much bigger market and a bigger state with a bigger population base. Other than that, there is a lot of similarities and we’ve seen a lot of our patients from Massachusetts who live in Florida for half the year, so we think it’s a good fit. We feel a lot of our products will do well.
Has the pandemic shifted how customers interact with Insa’s dispensaries?
We give the option for patients who want to order online and pick up. We always prided ourselves on having fast service times for patients, out the door in three minutes, or we offer kiosks for people who don’t want to interact as much.
What does Insa usually look for in a retail footprint?
Our sweet spot is around 4,000 to 5,000 square feet. It has varied, based on location and size of the building. We like to build them out larger so we have more opportunities to display products and allow the customers to walk around the store, interact with sales associates and get a full customer experience.
H/T: www.bizjournals.com
