Inclusive Cannabis Franchise, Far & Dotter, Announces Selection of First Franchisees

Maryland’s leading cannabis brand announces plans of expansion into Mississippi and New Jersey, inks agreements with two Fund recipients

(August 8, 2022) Timonium, Md. Far & Dotter, the inclusive cannabis dispensary franchise model from Curio Wellness, today announced the signing of its first franchise agreements with the goal to expand into two new states once licenses are secured. Since the 2021 announcement of the Far & Dotter franchise model, the company has received nearly 800 applications from potential franchisees.

 

These highly-qualified individuals are the first recipients of support from Curio Wellness’s Investment Fund (the Fund), which expands diverse ownership and enables economic empowerment through start-up capital for minority business owners to open their own Far & Dotter.

 

The inaugural class of franchisees include Sederia Gray (Mississippi) and Haider Rizvi (New Jersey). Each candidate participated in an extensive, mutual vetting process and demonstrated their drive, community leadership and commitment to wellness. Far & Dotter will assist these franchisees with the dispensary licensing process in each state.

 

“We are thrilled to officially announce our first licensing agreements with these very deserving entrepreneurs — a highly anticipated milestone that we have been working on since the Fund was launched,” said Greg Miller, President of Far & Dotter. “In a complex industry that is fast-moving and constantly evolving, we have solidified ourselves as a highly sought-after partner for those looking to bring a unique dispensary and wellness center model to their community. These individuals represent a highly motivated class of entrepreneurs that will pave the way for national expansion of the brand.”

 

Far & Dotter is providing entrepreneurs with the opportunity to enter and hold stake in the fast-growing cannabis industry, while continuing to grow the brand’s mission of bringing best-in-class products and holistic health services to patients across the country. These engagements also support diverse dispensary ownership and the economic opportunities ownership brings. Far & Dotter and its parent company, Curio Wellness, believe diverse representation and ownership are critical to realizing the full potential of the cannabis industry.

 

For more information about becoming a franchisee and bringing a locally owned and operated wellness center to your community, visit: https://franchise.fardotter.com/.

 

About Curio Wellness 

Founded in 2014 in Baltimore, Maryland, Curio Wellness is a cGMP certified, vertically  integrated medical cannabis company and trusted healthcare partner. Recognized as the  leading wellness brand in cannabis in Maryland by BDS Analytics, Curio is committed to serving  patients with targeted, effective, and reliable cannabis-based medicine. For more information  visit curiowellness.com

 

About Far & Dotter 

Far & Dotter is a trusted expert and ally in the quest for innovative holistic healthcare and a  personalized, unintimidating approach to cannabis education. We support consumers and  franchisees through a contemporary, curated dispensary experience that emphasizes cannabis  quality and pharmacist-led guidance. Our stores are holistic pharmacies and wellness hubs  devoted to empowering local entrepreneurs and providing safe, effective, reliable products and services that enhance quality of life. Far & Dotter was founded by the team at Curio Wellness, a  leading cannabis brand based in Maryland that established our proven, patient-first clinical  approach and our inclusive franchise model. For more information visit fardotter.com.

 

MEDIA CONTACT:

Katie Beecher 

Abel Communications for Curio Wellness 

716-480-6633 (cell) 

kbeecher@abelcommunications.com 

Christine Rhett

Graphic Designer
Your eye for design, Christine will ensure that your content, in-store collateral, and marketing materials are on-brand and visually striking. Christine previously founded her own design company, Chris X Creative, and led visual development for the Nature of Umi wellness brand.

Stephanie Schultz

Digital Marketing Specialist
Your marketing extraordinaire, Steph will support you in developing effective marketing campaigns that expand your customer base and grow your sales. Steph previously led marketing efforts for VOLO Sports and KETTLER Property Management.

Ashley Alberts

Training Manager
Your in-house professor, Ashley develops the training programs and educational content that ensure you are well-prepared to lead a F&D franchise location. Ashley previously served as a training manager for Texas Roadhouse and a Patient Care Advisor at our flagship location.

Andrew Mallinoff

Communications Manager
Your communications confidant and HQ project manager. Andrew previously worked in the political organizing world, managing campaigns and strategic communications for a variety of candidates at the federal, state and local level.

Nathan Podrid

Director of Real Estate
Your expert in navigating the real estate market as a potential cannabis business operator. Nate co-founded One Two Tree Holdings, a real estate investment firm specializing in the cannabis industry. He also served as the Director of Operations Development for Holistic Industries, a multi-state cannabis operator.

Jerel Registre

Fund Managing Director
Jerel comes to Curio having spent most of his career working with firms to drive financial, organizational, and analytical initiatives designed to maximize cashflow and value to investors. Prior to joining Curio, he led a private consulting firm that worked with small- and medium-sized businesses to drive financial and operational improvements by evaluating capital opportunities and identifying operational efficiencies.

Erica Tarnowski

Senior Director of Franchising
Your welcoming party and guide through the franchising process. Erica is steeped in experience in the franchising world, both inside and outside the cannabis industry. Before joining our team, she served as Director of Business Development at 919 Marketing and Franchise Development Manager for Unity Rd Cannabis Dispensaries.

Anthony Darby​

President​
Anthony Darby is the acting President of Retail at Far & Dotter and a three-time CEO within the medical cannabis space, having led multiple local dispensaries as well as consulting for cannabis start-ups nationwide. Anthony’s passion in providing high quality alternative medicine paired with his entrepreneurial experience, hands on industry knowledge, and understanding of unique challenges faced by cannabis operators has helped position him to lead the national expansion of the dispensary franchise developed by Curio Wellness and oversee brand marketing strategies to create heightened brand awareness as Far & Dotter scales.

Wendy Bronfein​

Founder
Wendy is the Chief Brand Officer and Director of Public Policy at Curio Wellness. As a member of the executive leadership team, Bronfein drives the company’s legislative agenda across multiple states, oversees the Curio brand, and all corporate communications. Under her leadership, Curio Wellness has become Maryland’s leading medical cannabis company, securing 90% brand awareness within the first year of operations.

Michael Bronfein​

Founder
Michael is the Chief Executive Office of Curio Wellness and an entrepreneur and investor focused on innovation and competitive advantage in healthcare services, healthcare technologies, software, and distribution. He has founded, co-founded, invested in, and rapidly grown a number of leading healthcare service companies, including NeighborCare, Remedi SeniorCare, and Sterling Partners.