How To Build A White-Label CBD Brand In The UK
A CBD white-label service is a fantastic option for starting a CBD brand in the U.K. With CBD sales growing from £314 million in 2019 to £690 million in 2021, the U.K. cannabis industry is booming and offers numerous opportunities for entrepreneurs.
Similarly, the U.K. became the world’s first country to regulate the public sale of orally administered, legal cannabinoids on April 8, 2022. This groundbreaking move followed the publication of permitted CBD products from the Food Standards Agency.
As a result, now—more than ever before—is the best moment to enter the ever-growing British CBD industry.
In this article, we’ll show you exactly how to build a white-label brand in the U.K:
What Is a White-Label CBD Brand?
A CBD white-label UK business is a company that creates CBD products by letting other companies and individuals sell their products under their labels. It’s highly beneficial for companies that want to sell CBD products but don’t have the resources and licenses.
White-label CBD products UK typically include a range of products, including tinctures, gummies, topicals and capsules. In addition, the white-label service handles the production, packaging, and labeling. However, the client company will focus on sales and marketing.
The Benefits of Starting a CBD White Label UK Brand
Starting a CBD white-label UK business has many benefits for an entrepreneur. Here are some of the top benefits:
– Fewer start-up costs: when choosing to sell white-label products, you can avoid the extensive research, development, and manufacturing costs.
– Quicker time to market: you can significantly reduce the time taken to bring your products to market when creating a white-label CBD brand.
– Access to high-quality products: you’ll ensure high-quality products when selling white-label CBD products with the right supplier.
– Product flexibility: you can customise your products when creating a white-label CBD brand.
5 Steps To Building a CBD White Label UK Brand
There are many things to consider when starting and building white-label CBD products UK. Here are five steps that will help you start a CBD white-label UK business.
1. Research The U.K. Cannabis Industry
Although the CBD industry is quickly developing, it’s heavily regulated and using cannabis for recreational purposes is still illegal. Therefore, it’s essential to completely understand the industry—as with any new business—before you enter the market.
Researching the laws and regulations surrounding the U.K. CBD products will help you avoid legal problems and make informed decisions. Likewise, it’ll help you choose the right suppliers and pick the right branding for the British market.
2. Find a Reputable CBD White Label Manufacturer
Some companies manufacture their own CBD, but others outsource their CBD production to external manufacturers. However, you must find a reputable CBD white-label manufacturer if you’re outsourcing the process.
Here are some essential things to consider when choosing your CBD supplier:
High-Quality CBD Products
Using high-quality CBD products is crucial when starting a CBD white-label UK business. Many British consumers are new to CBD products, so it’s essential to have superb products that deliver the best CBD side effects, such as stress relief and inflammation reduction.
Your CBD products must also be free from harmful contaminants like pesticides, residual solvents, and heavy metals. Many people that are new to cannabis products—such as CBD—feel concerned about potential side effects. However, you can minimise these fears by choosing a top CBD white-label manufacturer.
Compliance With U.K. and European Regulations
You must use a supplier that complies with the U.K. CBD regulations to build a CBD white-label UK business. Therefore, they must offer lab testing, product information, and complete transparency.
If you want to export CBD products to Europe—including Croatia, Spain, France, Germany and the Netherlands—you’ll need a top manufacturer that can meet CBD white-label Europe regulations.
Many EU nations have strict regulations on CBD products in 2023. However, Germany is planning to legalise cannabis and become the first European nation to regulate the sale of cannabis, so this is a promising market for any CBD white label UK company.3
Positive Customer Reviews and Strong Industry Reputation
Find suppliers that have no or very few negative customer reviews or complaints. All companies have the occasional bad review, but a history of customer dissatisfaction is a red flag you mustn’t ignore.
Check the CBD white label manufacturer’s reputation when choosing products for your CBD white label UK business. Ideally, you’ll want a solid reputation throughout the CBD industry. You can quickly grasp their reputation through the internet or via networking.
3. Choose Your White-Label CBD Product Line
Now it’s time to choose your CBD product line, a crucial step towards building your CBD brand. Selecting the correct product line can be daunting—particularly when conquering a new market like the United Kingdom.
There are many CBD product lines, including CBD white label gummies, tinctures, capsules and topicals. Likewise, you must also consider the CBD concentration, the flavours and the type of CBD. You also need to choose between CBD, CBG, CBN, CBC, CBDA, and CBL.
Here’s the truth: you must know the benefits of each product type and the customer you want to target. For instance, CBD oil is more convenient for customers who need immediate side effects, yet edibles are better for customers who may need more powerful side effects.
The CBD industry used to be a ‘one-size-fits-all’ industry, whereby most cannabis fans would consume any CBD product. However, the industry has become considerably more competitive, so your company needs to stand out and choose the right CBD products.
4. Create Your Brand Identity
Once you’ve researched the U.K. CBD market, found an excellent supplier, and picked the ideal product line for your business—you can start building your brand. Remember, creating your brand is critical to your journey because it’ll make your products unique and recognisable.
Choose packaging that suits your brand and type of CBD products. You can work with a designer to fix your labeling. However, ensure all packaging meets relevant U.K. regulations and reflects the contents and dosage of your products.
Here are some tips for branding your CBD products:
– Show customers something different about your CBD products.
– Make an effort to refresh your CBD product line-up
– Show the natural ingredients and beneficial minerals and vitamins you use for your CBD products
– Ensure your cannabis has solid marketing throughout the internet, but avoid breaching any marketing laws surrounding CBD.
5. Ensure Your CBD Brand Is Visible
Once you’ve created your cannabis brand, you must ensure your brand remains visible and ready for industry changes. The CBD marketing laws evolve, and you must stay in the loop. Here are some things to consider:
SEO
White-label CBD companies often outsource the marketing to external companies, but it’s essential to have excellent SEO optimisation.
If you choose to handle the SEO, you’ll need to invest a significant portion of your marketing budget into content, product descriptions, and SEO strategies.
Social Media
It can be challenging to directly market CBD products on major social media platforms—such as Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
However, you’ll need to ensure the marketing team handling your CBD products finds craft and legal ways to get around the CBD censors and advertise your products to millions of British social media users.
Brand Adaptivity
Your brand should always be ready for a change in the U.K. CBD industry. For example, you may need to switch suppliers, add new ingredients and cancel product lines that aren’t delivering the results required.
That’s why it’s wise to have an open mind and be flexible when starting your white-label CBD UK business.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Type of CBD Products Can You White-Label in the U.K.?
You can white-label many CBD products in the United Kingdom, including capsules, topicals and oil tinctures.
Other popular white-label CBD products include:
– Bath Bombs
– Creams
– Pet Products and Pet Tinctures
– Face Serums
– Hemp-Infused Balms and Shaves
– Pet Balms
– Roll-On Balms
However, you must know whether the CBD products are lab tested, high-quality and reliable before white-labelling them in the British CBD industry.
What Licence and Certifications Do I Need To Sell White-Label CBD Products UK?
You must comply with regulations set by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and obtain a Novel Foods licence to sell white-label CBD products in the United Kingdom.
You may also need to register with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and get a licence to sell products with controlled substances like THC.
Final Thoughts
There’s never been a better time to create a white-label CBD company in the United Kingdom as the CBD industry booms, cannabis decriminalises and more people understand the immense health benefits.
There are many rules and regulations for cannabis in the United Kingdom, and the industry is still developing.
However, it can be a supremely lucrative business if you get it right, and that’s why you should follow the tips in this article.