Cresco Labs

Cresco Labs was founded in 2013 by Charlie Bachtell and Joe Caltabiano in Chicago, Illinois. Starting as a medical cannabis operator in Illinois, Cresco has grown into one of the largest vertically integrated cannabis companies in the United States, operating in 13 states with over 50 retail locations.

What distinguishes Cresco is its wholesale-first strategy. While most multi-state operators (MSOs) focus primarily on their own retail stores, Cresco built the largest wholesale cannabis operation in the US, supplying its branded products to thousands of third-party dispensaries. This approach has made Cresco brands among the most widely distributed in the country.

Creco's brand portfolio spans multiple consumer segments: the flagship Cresco brand targets premium consumers, High Supply offers value-priced options, Mindy's (developed with James Beard Award-winning pastry chef Mindy Segal) focuses on artisan edibles, and FloraCal represents their premium California cultivation.

The company went public on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) in 2018 and has since become one of the most closely watched cannabis stocks. Their acquisition of Columbia Care in 2022 (later partially divested) demonstrated their ambition to become a truly national cannabis company.

Creco's cultivation facilities use advanced growing techniques including LED lighting, automated climate control, and data-driven cultivation protocols that ensure consistent quality across all markets.