Many cannabis retailing sites call themselves “dispensaries,” a pharmaceutical-tinged word that connects to their role in selling medical marijuana. But Joyleaf, in Roselle, N.J., very intentionally draws its design and merchandising inspiration from supermarkets rather than pharmacies. That’s hardly surprising considering the pedigree of its Founder, CEO and Executive Chairman, Jason Ackerman, who founded and served as CEO of Fresh Direct for over two decades.
Joyleaf, which opened in late 2023, is organized and merchandised by type of product rather than by brand: all the edibles, for example, are grouped together as a category, as they would be in a supermarket. Products are displayed out of their packaging (though behind glass), allowing customers to see exactly what they’re buying, supplemented with information cards providing product details. Additionally, the entire 2,500-square-foot selling space is designed to encourage browsing.
Ackerman shared how his experience and retailing philosophy informs Joyleaf’s upscale, female-friendly store.
Retail TouchPoints (RTP): What attracted you to cannabis retailing?
Jason Ackerman: After I left Fresh Direct, I was looking for an industry and found cannabis to be extraordinarily close to food retailing. [They both start] with agriculture and farming, which is where the quality starts; then there’s the packaging and
