2025-11-21
The cannabis industry isn't special—it's just late. Mike Hunnewell (Eskar) spent 10 years in the Defense industry and Big CPG before entering cannabis, and his warning is clear: The "Brand Spiral" is here, and it’s going to wipe out 80% of operators. In this episode, we break down the brutal math of retail consolidation. Mike explains why fighting over "a quarter of a penny" is the new reality, why "Spark Plug" programs (bribing budtenders) are a death sentence for your integrity, and why the future of weed looks exactly like the grocery store aisle. 🎧 SUBSCRIBE: https://tr.ee/highfunctioningsubscribe CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 00:19:23 The "Walmart" Warning (Retail History) 00:35:43 The Penny War: Losing Bids to Apple & Samsung 00:43:24 What is "Brand Spiral"? (The Math of Discounts) 01:13:02 Why Private Label Will Eat the Market 02:10:40 The "Spark Plug" Scam: Why We Refuse to Bribe 02:30:15 The Future of GPOs in Cannabis 21+ for all products and services.