C3 Podcast No. 43: Anna-Sophia Kouparanis from Bloomwell Group
Updated: Jun 7
This episode is brought to you by the new Higher Learning LV Core Cannabis course. Learn the 25 most important cannabinoids and eight most common terpenes for an affordable enrollment fee of only $240.
In No. 43 of the Cannabis Commerce + Chemistry Podcast, host Curt Robbins from Higher Learning LV gives co-hosts Dena Putnam from Leafwize Naturals and John Bailey from the Mindset Genesis the week off to go one-on-one with Anna-Sophia Kouparanis from Bloomwell Group in Frankfurt, Germany.
Bloomwell Group is Germany's largest cannabis company, with Kouparanis having helped propel the disruptive player to the number one position. The leading cannabis company now employs more than 250 staff members and is enjoying record revenues. Kouparanis has several years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, with expertise in product procurement, pharmaceutical handling and distribution, and the efficient scaling of businesses in tightly regulated markets like cannabis.
"Kouparanis explained the new two-pillar system in Germany and how it will encourage the medical market there to expand dramatically."
Anna-Sophia Kouparanis from Bloomwell Group
She described how she entered the cannabis industry in 2018 and has worked with her brother, Niklas Kouparanis (CEO) since the beginning to co-found Bloomwell Group and develop it as a holding company through which a number of specialized companies are operated and managed in accordance with the current and future regulatory oversight in Germany.
Kouparanis explained the new two-pillar system in Germany and how it will encourage the medical market there to expand dramatically ("by five to ten fold") after cannabis is recategorized from a strictly regulated and generally prohibited narcotic to a standard pharmaceutical (Rx) treatment with vastly greater opportunities for companies like Bloomwell Group.
She explained that roughly 3,000 of the nation's 19,000 pharmacies have been involved in the distribution of cannabis to patients. About 10 of these pharmacies are online operations that focus specifically on cannabis and feature ample access to cannabis and cannabis products for their participating patients.
"Social clubs in Spain are operated very differently than the coming social clubs in Germany, with the Spanish version allowing onsite consumption, while the forthcoming German social clubs will not."
Kouparanis described the proposed and forthcoming social club structure in Germany that is being planned around the second framework paper to emerge from the European economic leader. The first framework, which was more aggressive and unrestricted, was challenged by the European Union.
German Cannabis Legalization Plan
She explained how, despite the German government's label of social club, she and other industry professionals refer to the coming structure as cannabis clubs, not social clubs. She said social clubs in Spain are operated very differently than the coming social clubs in Germany, with the Spanish version allowing onsite consumption, while the forthcoming German social clubs will not.
Kouparanis cited the fact that she has family in California (her mother) and that she and her brother have visited the Golden State on a regular basis since they were very young. She said the example of California as a cultural and economic leader in the marijuana industry has helped her and Bloomwell Group to better understand their home market in Germany and best navigate it in terms of embracing lessons learned from both California's medical and adult-use cannabis markets.
"We have multiple investors from the U.S. Why not also implement Bloomwell Group into the U.S.?"
Future is Bright for Bloomwell Group
When asked if Bloomwell Group has plans to enter the U.S. market, Kouparanis responded, "why not?!" She emphasized that the fragmented landscape of the American cannabis market makes the selection of the state or states in which to operate the most intense and difficult decision for a company such as Bloomwell Group. "We have multiple investors from the U.S. Why not also implement Bloomwell Group into the U.S.?," said Kouparanis during the exclusive interview.
🎧 Listen to C3 Podcast No. 43 >> Anna-Sophia Kouparanas from Bloomwell Group
This weekly podcast is targeted at cannabis and hemp industry professionals and is strategically free of profanity and crude dialog. This audio session was edited for length and clarity.
To better understand our favorite cannabis research, listen now at Higher Learning LV, on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and most other major podcasting platforms (including Amazon Music, Anchor, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Pandora, and Stitcher).
C3 Podcast No. 43 Show Notes 🎧
Are you a cannabis industry professional? Check out Higher Learning LV's Deep Dive Subscription that features dozens of long-form articles based on the latest peer-reviewed scientific research. Priced to accommodate personal and enterprise training budgets.