#73: For the Love of Wellness: How AXEA is Educating and Empowering Communities
#73: For the Love of Wellness: How AXEA is Educating and Empowering Communities
Sitting amidst the hustle and bustle of Toronto, Ontario, AXEA stands as a tranquil oasis of natural wellness and innovation. This privately owned cannabis company is driven by a profound commitment to humanity and the planet, crafting a future where health and sustainability go hand in hand.
With an array of topicals spanning from soothing creams to luxurious bath salts, AXEA is on a mission to guide consumers toward a more natural, holistic lifestyle. Each product, meticulously hand-crafted from the highest quality natural ingredients sourced from around the globe, embodies AXEA's promise of purity and effectiveness. By marrying the ancient wisdom of plant-based medicine with cutting-edge scientific research, Axea is not just a brand but a trusted ally in your journey toward wellness.
At the heart of AXEA's innovative spirit is Manny Tefoglou, the visionary founder and CEO, whose passion for natural wellness and sustainable living has shaped the company's ethos. His journey is one of determination, resilience, and a deep connection to cannabis.
In our Q and A with Manny, he shares the inspiration behind AXEA, what sets them apart in the industry, and his vision for the future.
What inspired the creation of AXEA, and how did your personal experiences shape the company's vision?
I've always been involved in wellness since I started playing sports in my teens. I realized natural cannabinoids helped me with pain/anxiety and stress. I understood cannabis was not addictive and it didn't harm you when taking it every day, unlike synthetic drugs, which seemed to be the preferred choice those days.
Can you share more about the significance of AXEA's name and how it reflects your brand's identity?
AXEA is a Greek word, which represents value/worth/wisdom. Choosing natural products over synthetics sums up the brand's identity.
How do you ensure that AXEA's products meet the highest standards of purity and effectiveness?
Our products are manufactured in a state-of-the-art GPP facility. We also source the highest-quality raw materials to make sure the products meet our standards. We also use advanced manufacturing tools to help us minimize waste and accuracy.
How does scientific research influence AXEA's approach to product innovation?
We stay on top of the latest research to guide the development of our formulations. We invest in research and development to enable us to come up with new formulations or delivery methods. This commitment helps us to further the AXEA line of products for years to come. We also use a feedback loop from our customers to always make sure that they are satisfied.
What distinct qualities make AXEA stand out?
Innovation and continuous improvement. We are also very big on educating the masses and the communities we are in to ensure they have the knowledge to understand everything they need.
Our ethical views on reducing carbon footprint and using ingredients that cause less harm to the environment are always key, such as sparing the destruction of palm trees and helping to preserve orangutans' natural habitat by using 100% coconut oil in our products.
What are your favourite Axea products and why?
If I were to pick a favorite product, I would go with the Daytime CBD isolate oil. It truly helps with stress, anxiety and pain. It allows me to stay focused and manage my daily tasks. A close second would be the Nighttime CBN/CBD Isolate oil. I have an uninterrupted sleep, waking up clear headed and energized to take on the day.
What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced while growing AXEA, and how have you overcome them?
Some key challenges were supply chain issues which we have vertically integrated over the years and made partnerships with companies that guarantee our product availability and quality consistency for our dear customers and retailers.
We know as this industry became legal, education has been a big part of it for us, as some people still have the social stigma with cannabis. We engage in community programs and educational sessions to bring the latest education and news to them.
Another big challenge we faced was access to capital from Canadian Banks, as their underwriting staff does not recognize cannabis as worthy enough. This is also true with the excise taxes that we are hit with which made the process even harder. We have managed to internally source our needs and we'd like to take this opportunity to thank all the people and retailers across the country that have supported the brand.
What are the future plans for AXEA and how do you see the company evolving in the years to come?
AXEA's vision is to maintain our lead in research and product development as we have a few exciting projects coming. We look towards being more sustainable so we can have a better impact on the environment and the communities we serve. We have exciting expansion plans for international markets as part of our growth strategy. This will also enable us to be able to bring education to more people around the world and engage with a wider audience.
Lastly, is there a message or principle that you hold dear, that you would like to share with the Herbal Dispatch community?
We're thankful that the Herbal Dispatch community is giving AXEA a chance to improve the lives of their patients. At AXEA, the principle that significantly shapes our vision for the future is Wright's law which enables us to push to bring the future today. This cornerstone principle supports our commitment to innovation, sustainability and better accessibility of medicine for patients and the cannabis community around the world.
