NUGL, Inc, the operator of Jamaica’s Kaya cannabis brand, said it is testing the market uptake of protein-infused beverages in partnership with Israeli food technology company Cannibble Food-Tech Ltd.
The pilot programme will see Cannibble provide beverage samples at Kaya Pizza locations across its cafe network. Cannibble provides powdered foods and beverages enriched with alternative proteins.
“Through Kaya’s direct engagement with local consumers and international visitors, we are positioned to gather valuable market insights while continuing to explore strategic opportunities that may enhance our retail and hospitality ecosystem,” said Balram Vaswani, chief executive of NUGL, in a release. “We believe Jamaica represents a unique environment for evaluating innovative consumer products that align with evolving wellness and lifestyle trends.”
Kaya Group operations include four licensed dispensaries, cultivation and processing facilities, wellness destinations and hospitality ventures across Jamaica.
The evaluation will capitalise on Jamaica’s tourism market and major seasonal events, including sports activities, summer festivities and the island’s Independence weekend.
Yoav Bar Joseph, CEO of Cannibble, said: “Jamaica’s global reputation as a leading culinary, wellness, lifestyle and tourism destination provides a valuable environment in which to evaluate consumer trends and gather meaningful market intelligence.”
“This initiative is exploratory in nature and does not constitute a binding commercial agreement,” NUGL stated in its release. Any future distribution, licensing or manufacturing activities would require regulatory approvals, definitive agreements and other customary business considerations.
The move forms part of NUGL’s broader strategy to identify new revenue opportunities through branded products, partnerships and hospitality, while strengthening its ability to evaluate potential mergers, acquisitions and strategic investments across its non-medicinal divisions.
FINANCIAL SNAPSHOT
The company’s latest quarterly results show a mixed performance. For the period ended March 2026, NUGL reported total revenue of US$851,000, up from US$751,000 a year earlier. After interest expenses and other items, NUGL recorded a net loss from continuing operations of US$96,000 for the quarter, compared with net income of US$35,000 in the same period last year. The prior quarter, ended December 31, 2025, showed a net loss of US$166,000 on revenue of US$831,000.
business@gleanerjm.com
