Sandro Piancone can be described as a serial entrepreneur. A specialist in food distribution, he has, during his career, introduced a number of US brands into the domestic market in Mexico and helped them build multi-million dollar sales.
From his San Diego, California base, Piancone sits on several corporate boards, as an expert on trademark and labelling requirements. Now he has turned his talents and attention to the rapidly growing CBD (cannabidiol) industry and is ready to take on the travel retail industry.
He talks to The Moodie Davitt Report about his plans for Hempacco, a new name in the CBD world which, as reported, is set to make its travel retail debut at next week’s IAADFS Summit of the Americas.
Sandro Piancone is quick to outline his mission in travel retail. “We want everyone to know about Hempacco and its products,” he says. “We want to bring CBD and hemp-based products – and I am not just talking about smokables – to the mass market.
“I was at the Summit of the Americas almost eight years ago and noticed the interest in CBD lines. We believe the time is right now to introduce our products and our smart technology vending machine to the travel industry.
“Why? Because all the products are now legal across all 50 US states which is the market we are targeting at the moment. We have the products – smoking related, gummies, roll ons – to meet the needs of adult travelling consumers; those who already enjoy the products and those we are determined to educate.
“In dealing with hemp and CBD products, it’s all about education,” Piancone says. “We have to ensure that consumers are aware that Hempacco’s brands are legal and can be used not only as alternatives to regular cigarettes and tobacco products but also in skincare and wellbeing.”
Hempacco specialises in herb and hemp-based alternatives to nicotine cigarettes. It manufactures hemp smokables, hemp rolling paper and cannabinoid sticks, with a heavy focus on smokable technology. Its product line-up also includes chewable gummies, a moisturising haircare line, facial oils and roll-ons which Piancone believes are a good fit for travelling consumers.
“The gummies are easy to carry, easy to consume and the roll-ons are perfect for anyone suffering from sore neck when travelling,” he says.
The smokables contain no nicotine, are 100% organic and feature biodegradable filters and hemp papers and packs. Piancone points out that The Real Stuff packs are travel size and at a US$9.99 price point “that won’t scare consumers away”. “That said, margins are good for the retailers as well,” he adds.
“We have a motto to ‘disrupt the tobacco industry one hemp cigarette at a time’. We are disrupting a trillion-dollar industry with unique products, and showcasing them in super cool, smart technology kiosks.”
The HempBox vending machine, and an on-shelf ‘fish bowl’ merchandising unit, will be part of the company’s presentation at the Summit of the Americas. The 3 x 3 x7ft HempBox holds all the Hempacco products and can operate 24/7. It is placed, filled and maintained by Hempacco.
“The vending machine incorporates an educational video which introduces consumers to the products and their benefits,” Piancone adds. “Along with the machine, we also produce educational flyers and have invested in training programmes for brand ambassadors and store staff. All of our products are QR coded to encourage consumers to learn more about the brands and the technology behind them.”
Piancone underlines Hempacco’s sustainability credentials. “We have a good story to tell especially at a time when people are becoming increasingly health conscious and trying to cut down or cut out smoking. It is up to us to convince the buyers that these products are really suited for travel retail.”
He is confident that the US travel retail market will be a springboard for Hempacco’s expansion into other regions. The company has just opened a subsidiary in Poland and is preparing to announce plans for Latin America.
“We have a very strategic expansion plan to move in stages. That has to be balanced with our production capabilities and our focus on technology. That’s extremely important to us as we are close to eliminating the smell from the products. I believe there are some people who don’t want to use a product which can be related, because of its smell, to cannabis.
“That’s the Holy Grail of our business and we are very close to our target.” 
