NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — Kadenwood, LLC, a “seed-to-shelf” company that sells CBD consumer goods in the wellness category, announced Jan. 7 it will enter the pet space and has hired Cristina Weekes as president of its new pet products arm.

The company’s first pet product is expected to launch in early 2020.

Weekes is a market expert and brings more than a decade of experience in the pet category to her new role. Most recently, she served as general manager at Central Garden & Pet. Weekes has also worked with CPG brands including Kraft, Sara Lee and Nabisco.

According to Kadenwood, she has played a role in integrating two pet product companies and her work has earned industry honors such as the 2013 Best New Pet Product of the Year and the 2014 Pet Product Business Award.

“As we continue to grow the Kadenwood brand, introducing product offerings and expanding into new categories, we look forward to tapping Cristina’s deep industry experience and insights in scaling trusted brands within the pet category,” says Erick Dickens, CEO and co-founder of Kadenwood. “With an impressive track record of business development through her M&A success and brand scaling experience in the space, she will be an essential asset in growing the Kadenwood Pet product portfolio.”

Kadenwood made the decision to enter pet after it successfully launched a performance-oriented CBD sports cream, the company said. It is vertically integrated, which allows it to control each aspect of the CBD and product development process, “from farming-to-shelf” as the company puts it.

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