The Gummy Project

Company Overview

Launching in April 2022, The Gummy Project (CSE:GUMY) is a purpose-driven Vancouver based company that will sell low sugar, plant-based, gluten-free gummy products with a portion of their profits going to support endangered “Keystone Species” through carefully selected charitable partnerships.

Market Overview

The global market for gummy products is expected to reach a sweet size with experts predicting it could reach $42.06 billion by 2028. Even better, Grand View Research expects it to achieve a CAGR of 12.6 percent over that same period. Healthy gummy products are predicted to drive this market as consumer behavior shifts towards healthier, more sustainable options. More specifically, the key factors will be clean and naturally-formulated gummy products offered by key market participants and increasing customer demand for nutrition with taste and flavor.

In 2021, the gummy industry saw major company acquisitions and a gummy product line launch backed by a celebrity co-creator. Catalent Inc. –– a contract drugmaker that manufactures COVID-19 vaccines –– acquired gummy vitamins maker Bettera Holdings LLC for $1 billion in cash. The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) also acquired Lily’s Sweets which produces sugar-free chocolates and low-sugar gummies. Additionally, celebrity Alicia Silverstone partnered with Garden of Life to launch its first-ever line of USDA organic, vegan, gluten-free and non-GMO gummies.

The report by Grand View Research also highlighted that companies in the gummy industry that outsource manufacturing to Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs) can reduce capital-intensive operations while focusing on research and development, product distribution and branding and marketing activities. Naturally, companies that produce healthier gummy products through outsource manufacturing will likely present an interesting proposition for investors as the market grows.

The Gummy Project’s line of products will be made with a proprietary formula consisting of all-natural flavors, set to launch in April 2022.

The Gummy Project’s line of gummy products will be in the shape of endangered “Keystone Species” (as shown in the above image – bees and sharks, or two or the most critical species on the planet today), or an organism playing a critical role in defining its ecosystem and, in some cases, providing the basis for its ecosystem’s survival. The bee shaped gummies will be a peach flavor and the shark shaped gummies will be a watermelon flavor.

The company’s endangered “Keystone Species” strategy is part of its purpose-driven business model that supports such species wellbeing. Consumers today, more than ever, expect a company to be purpose driven and that they are more inclined to support a company that makes a positive impact on society (e.g., supporting critical issues, giving back to communities, or adopting sustainable environmental practices). Based on a June 2018 survey of 1,006 Americans ages 20 and older, 79% said they have more loyalty to a purpose-driven company, 77% said they had a stronger emotional connection to a purpose driven company, 73% said they are likely to defend a purpose driven company and 70% said they are proud to be associated with a purpose-driven company. The company’s product packaging and brand messaging has been designed to communicate critical environmental issues and The Gummy Project will donate a portion of the proceeds from each unit sold to carefully selected organizations that protect individual “Keystone Species.”

The Gummy Project is also dedicated to environmental sustainability through its innovative packaging. The company’s product packaging is produced through its packaging partner that utilizes a digital printing platform. The Gummy Project’s packaging requires less energy to manufacture, produces less waste and generates a smaller carbon footprint than traditional printing technologies. The packaging process also allows the company to order on demand which eliminates packaging obsolescence, resulting in less unused plastic waste in landfills.

The company is well-primed for success with a strong purpose-driven business model that reduces capital costs while supporting an aggressive marketing strategy and extensive customer experience research. The Gummy Project’s model includes leveraging third-party multichannel logistics and outsourced contract manufacturing with a Canadian-based manufacturer to fulfill e-commerce and wholesale market needs. The Gummy Project also plans to launch an omnichannel marketing strategy through the use of experiential advertising, influencers, social media, SEO and branded merchandise.

The Gummy Project has a well-defined path to growth through the expansion of its product line. The company plans to increase its market share through product launches that also incorporate vitamins, adaptogens and other nutraceutical ingredients. The Gummy Project also plans to develop additional endangered “Keystone Species” gummy products, including elephants and palm trees. The company currently has the basis for a significant inventory launch with 80,000 gummy product bags having been ordered.

Company Highlights

• The Gummy Project is formulating, distributing and bringing to market its plant-based, low sugar, non-GMO, gluten-free, naturally-flavored and halal friendly gummy products as well as other wellness products.
• The Gummy Project’s line of gummy products are sustainably-packaged and feature endangered “Keystone Species” shapes instead of the typical gummy bear mold.
• The endangered “Keystone Species” mold is the basis for the company’s purpose-driven mandate to donate proceeds from each unit sold to its carefully selected partnered organizations that support endangered “Keystone Species”
• The Gummy Project has established a business model that reduces capital costs through third-party multichannel logistics and outsourced contract manufacturing. The company also has plans for an aggressive omnichannel marketing strategy and extensive customer experience research.
• The company has a strong plan for growth with product line and product feature expansion, including new molds and the addition of nutraceutical ingredients such as vitamins and adaptogens.
• The Gummy Project has been selected as the supplier of gummy products to Flair Airlines.
• The Gummy Project launched its new e-commerce site at www.shopgummies.com.
• Gummy Project successfully completed the presale phase and official launch of shipping capabilities across Canada.
• The Gummy Project enters the US market with Hy-Vee Inc. as its first major retail partner.
• The Gummy Project expanded to British Columbia as an approved vendor at Sobeys Inc.

Key Products

Endangered “Keystone Species” Gummy Products

The Gummy Project has plans to develop elephant, gorilla, and palm tree gummy products.

Management Team

The company’s management team consists of experienced leaders with a history of success in the consumer-packaged goods and plant-based industries.

Charlie Lamb - President, CEO and Director

Charlie Lamb was a Canadian corporate and securities lawyer for over 12 years and has extensive experience in cross-border and securities law, including numerous corporate transactions. Lamb has additional experience in the venture capital industry, including supporting entrepreneurs, providing seed capital and leveraging relationships with investment banks and dealers.

Mr. Lamb was previously a director of Love Hemp Group PLC, a brand-led consumer goods company focussed on health and wellness solutions for consumer use cases including sleep, pain, anxiety, stress and recovery. As one of the United Kingdom’s leading CBD brands and the official CBD partner of the UFC, Love Hemp is committed to providing pure, high-quality CBD products to support the health and wellbeing of consumers. Love Hemp offers a range of CBD Oils, CBD Capsules, and CBD chocolates which are 100% Vegan and THC free.

Robert Payment - Director and CFO

Robert Payment is a Chartered Professional Accountant. Payment has 15 years of experience in finance, reporting, regulatory requirements, public company administration, equity markets and financing of publicly-traded companies. Payment’s previous career focus was in manufacturing, natural resource and retail industries.

Mr. Payment was previously CFO and interim-CEO of Love Hemp Group PLC, a brand-led consumer goods company described above.

Anthony Gindin - CMO

Anthony Gindin has more than 20 years of experience as a brand developer and marketing strategist. Most recently, Gindin launched Vejii which is one of the world's largest vegan e-commerce platforms in the US, Canada and now the UK. Anthony has led executive leadership groups of multi-billion dollar corporations through strategic planning processes in the US, South America, Europe, Asia, Middle East and Australia. Today, Gindin is a speaker and published author. Gindin is also the CEO and founder of Futurecraft Consulting where he brings his trademarked Sales & Marketing Ecosystem™ model to executives in North America and around the world.

Kory Zelickson - Advisor

Kory Zelickson has over 15 years of demonstrated innovation and technology experience, launching successful e-commerce and technology start-ups. An engineer by trade, with expertise in midstream processes and innovation. He co-founded the multivendor platform Namaste Technologies, which became a publicly traded company in 2014. In 2018, the company reached a market valuation of +$1B, realizing +20x returns for its initial series of investors.