That’s why no one predicted Alberta to be sitting atop the country’s cannabis retail throne one year post legalization — but the fact is that the province is far and away Canada’s leader when it comes to private cannabis stores.
To date, Alberta has issued 317 retail licenses, and 283 private cannabis stores are currently open for business. Compare that to 85 in BC and less than 30 in Ontario, and it’s no wonder why Alberta’s been dubbed the country’s retail cannabis capital. In fact, the cities of Edmonton and Calgary alone are beating out other provinces’ numbers, having greenlit 48 and 65 retailers, respectively.
These retail operations come in all shapes and sizes. But from single-location, independent shops to large, multi-location operators, more than half of all private Alberta retailers have one major thing in common: they trust Cova as their point of sale and inventory management solution.
“As an independent operator in Canada’s most competitive cannabis market, there is no space for a small business mindset,” says Mack Andrews, co-owner of Aylmer Nelson Cannabis, one of Calgary’s top independent stores. “We needed a POS system that had enterprise-level functionality and allowed us to effectively manage our inventory, track key metrics, and streamline workflows. It did not take long to understand that working with Cova was the right answer, and they have acted more as a partner than simply just a vendor.”Having established itself as a leader in cannabis retail technology across multiple U.S. markets over the past few years, Cova has been available to Canadian retailers since the start of legalization. The POS — engineered specifically for the cannabis industry — simplifies and automates compliance with features like a built-in ID scanner, purchase limit alerts, and product equivalency conversions. These safeguards not only reduce human error, but also prevent sales to minors and diversion of product to the illicit market.
What’s more, Cova’s system generates the provincial reports required by the most recent AGLC reporting updates with a single click, ensuring retailers stay compliant and saving them hours of time that would otherwise be spent compiling these reports by hand.
Here are a few more ways in which Cova POS helps cannabis stores across Alberta stay compliant with provincial regulations:
Here at Cova, we’re proud to be the POS of choice among Alberta’s cannabis stores. And as the province continues to grow its marijuana retail footprint even more in the years ahead, we can’t wait to continue serving our clients — and helping them better serve theirs.
Want a live look at why Cova is Alberta’s preferred cannabis retail technology provider? Tap the button below to book a free demo today!