The name Vlasic conjures up certain vinegary images: storks with pickles, crunchy snacks and Michigan's agricultural history. What it may not inspire is the thought of cannabis products.
But that's exactly what the Vlasic family is doing. Under the name Vlasic Labs, the family behind America's largest pickle brand is on a new mission: creating CBD products for both pets and people.
Rick Vlasic of West Bloomfield and his son Willie Vlasic, 28, of Farmington Hills, co-founded Vlasic Labs four years ago to provide safe, high-quality, non-psychoactive cannabis products. did.
Willy Vlasic said in an interview that he had been a licensed caregiver in the booming cannabis market for several years, but was hesitant to jump into the market because his parents were raised in a time when cannabis products were illegal. said. After convincing legal changes, Willy Vlasic said his family has come to believe in CBD as an alternative health product to help with things like sleep and chronic pain.
More on Michigan Cannabis: Michigan cannabis sales increase as Ohio joins recreational cannabis market
“Once it became legal in Michigan, my father started taking it more seriously from a business standpoint, my mother started using topical ointments and creams, and even her mother started using it. '' Willy Vlasic said. “I couldn't believe that my family was using something that was a derivative of cannabis and had nothing to do with cannabis, but that's how they got used to it.”
Willy Vlasic started with a small CBD extraction business, but wanted to take it to the next level and start offering finished products in-house. Willie and his business partners came up with the idea of calling the company Vlasic Labs, in honor of the family's history of successful business. His father, Rick, who founded the company with him and is its CEO, had to think about it.
“My father thought about it for a week about whether we should take that step,” Willie said of giving the company the family name. Willie said he consulted his grandfather, Robert Vlasic, who with his family built the pickle company into an American tradition, and asked for permission to use the company's name.
“We told him it was CBD, but it didn't get you high. It wasn't marijuana. And he was just so excited that we knew that We wanted to use the name and carry on the family legacy and run the family business. It was just a bonus that we could help people and provide assistance to others. I moved forward.”
And as they move forward, Willey said business is booming.
“Family Name is held to high standards. At the end of the day, we want to provide consistently high quality, safe products at affordable prices.”
Willy Vlasic said he saw a hole in the market where CBD products were associated with less regulated products sold over the counter and at gas stations. His goal at Vlasic Labs is to make labels accurate and well-tested products that can help people.
More: Michigan's minimum wage to increase to $12.48 an hour next year after court ruling
“Last week we were able to stock 59 new stores in four states, which is great. Business is cool and we want to be a good family business” Willy Vlasic he said. “But when I give one of our roll-ons to a grandma and she tells me that her pain is relieved, that's more rewarding than any sale or over-the-counter sale or handout.”
In addition to selling products to help people, they also sell CBD dog chews and USDA organic pet peanut butter. He said he has been feeding his dogs the product for years and believes it keeps them happy, healthy and perhaps employed.
“My dog also uses this product. The picture on the bag is my dog, Yogi. He is our director of dog affairs,” said Willy Vlasic.
And Ozzy, the 14-year-old golden retriever pictured on the peanut butter package, also enjoys CBD, which helps relieve joint pain and anxiety during thunderstorms and fireworks displays, helping him focus on work.
“Ozzy, he's our chief morale officer and he takes his job very seriously,” Willie Vlasic said.
Breaking news reporter Liam Rapleye can be reached at LRappleye@freepress.com.
