For more than eight years, KND Labs has been a trusted name in cannabinoid manufacturing, known for consistency, compliance, and the ability to scale complex products without cutting corners. But as the cannabinoid and functional wellness markets mature, so has KND’s role within them.
Today’s brands face challenges that didn’t exist a few years ago. Consumers expect cleaner labels, better taste, and differentiated functionality. Regulators expect airtight documentation and repeatable processes. And founders expect manufacturing partners who can move fast without sacrificing rigor. KND Labs is evolving to meet those expectations.
As we move into 2026, our shift reflects an expanded focus on functional ingredients, advanced flavor technologies, and cannabinoids beyond CBD. It is not a departure from KND’s roots, but a natural progression of its mission: to help brands bring high-performing, compliant, and scalable products to market with confidence.
From CBD Manufacturer to Ingredient Innovation Partner
KND Labs was built on cannabinoids, and cannabinoids remain central to our expertise. What has changed is the scope of what brands now require from a manufacturing partner.
Early-stage CBD products were often defined by speed to market. Today’s products are defined by repeatability, sensory experience, regulatory durability, and long-term brand viability. That shift demands more than ingredient supply. It demands partners who understand how ingredients behave in real formulations, at real scale, under real regulatory scrutiny.
KND Labs has expanded its capabilities to support this new reality. In addition to cannabinoid isolates and distillates, the company now offers a broader portfolio of functional ingredients, formulation-enabling technologies, and end-to-end manufacturing services. These offerings are designed to solve practical challenges that show up during product development, scale-up, and commercialization.
Rather than operating as a transactional vendor, KND integrates with partner teams to manage execution, compliance, and consistency across the product lifecycle. For brands navigating increasingly complex formulations and markets, that partnership model is no longer optional.
Expanding Beyond CBD: The Rise of Novel Cannabinoids
As the cannabinoid category matures, brands are looking beyond CBD for differentiation. Cannabinoids such as THCV, CBG, CBN, and CBC are gaining attention for their distinct functional profiles and emerging consumer interest.
THCV, in particular, has become a focal point for brands exploring energy-forward, metabolic, and lifestyle-positioned products. However, novel cannabinoids introduce additional complexity. They often come with sharper flavor challenges, tighter formulation tolerances, and evolving regulatory considerations.
KND Labs supports these cannabinoids with the same rigor applied to CBD: controlled processing, consistent specifications, and full documentation. More importantly, the company helps brands understand how these compounds behave in finished products, from beverages and gummies to capsules and tinctures.
As cannabinoid innovation accelerates, success depends less on access to ingredients and more on the ability to formulate, manufacture, and scale them responsibly. KND Labs’ expanded cannabinoid portfolio reflects a commitment to helping brands do exactly that.
Solving One of the Industry’s Hardest Problems: Flavor
Flavor has quietly become one of the most critical factors in cannabinoid product success. Even the most compelling functional claims fall short if a product tastes unpleasant or inconsistent from batch to batch.
Cannabinoids are notoriously difficult to formulate from a sensory perspective. Earthy, bitter, and lingering off-notes are common across CBD, THC, THCV, and other compounds. These challenges are magnified in beverages and low-sugar formats, where there is little room to hide flavor defects.
Historically, brands have relied on masking agents, heavy sweeteners, or aggressive flavor systems to compensate. These approaches often introduce new problems, from label concerns to instability and reformulation cycles.
KND Labs has taken a different approach by addressing flavor at the ingredient level rather than treating it as an afterthought.
Introducing ClearIQ™ Flavor Modulation
KND Labs has expanded its functional ingredient portfolio with ClearIQ™, an advanced flavor modifier developed by Myco Technology and distributed through KND’s platform.
ClearIQ™ is produced through mycelial fermentation of mushrooms and functions as a clean-label flavor modulation solution. Rather than masking undesirable flavors, it enhances positive flavor notes while suppressing bitterness and earthy aftertastes commonly associated with cannabinoids.
This technology is particularly impactful in formulations containing CBD, THC, THCV, and emerging cannabinoids, where off-notes can dominate the sensory experience. ClearIQ™ is compatible with beverages, gummies, tinctures, capsules, and other delivery formats, making it a versatile tool for modern product development.
By incorporating ClearIQ™ into formulation workflows, KND Labs enables partners to reduce reliance on sugar, artificial masking systems, and excessive flavor loads. The result is a cleaner label, a more balanced taste profile, and a product that consumers are more likely to repurchase.
Why Flavor Innovation Matters for Beverages and Edibles
Cannabis beverages and functional drinks represent one of the fastest-evolving segments in the market. These formats appeal to consumers seeking alternatives to alcohol and traditional wellness products, but they demand a higher level of formulation precision.
Small variations in emulsions, cannabinoids, or flavor systems can dramatically affect taste, stability, and mouthfeel. Inconsistent flavor is one of the most common reasons beverage products fail to scale successfully.
By pairing advanced flavor modulation with pharmaceutical-grade manufacturing controls, KND Labs helps brands develop beverages and edibles that hold up in real-world conditions. This includes maintaining flavor consistency across batches, reducing reformulation during scale-up, and meeting the expectations of both regulators and retailers.
Flavor is no longer just a sensory detail. It is a core component of product performance, brand credibility, and commercial success.
Manufacturing Built on Compliance and Partnership
While KND Labs’ ingredient portfolio has expanded, its foundation remains unchanged. Compliance, consistency, and accountability are embedded into every service the company offers.
KND operates FDA-registered, cGMP-certified, ISO 9001:2015, API-certified, and NSF-registered facilities, with additional certifications including USDA Organic and Kosher for select products. These standards apply across cannabinoid and non-cannabinoid manufacturing alike.
Beyond certifications, KND Labs differentiates itself through how it works with partners. Teams are embedded early in the development process to anticipate regulatory challenges, optimize formulations, and design manufacturing workflows that scale efficiently.
Whether a partner is launching a first product or expanding an established portfolio, KND Labs is structured to provide the same level of rigor and responsiveness at every stage. This partner-first approach has become increasingly valuable as brands navigate tighter margins, stricter oversight, and more competitive markets.
A Broader Vision for Functional Ingredient Manufacturing
KND Labs’ re-introduction is also about diversification. The company’s non-cannabis functional ingredient division continues to grow, supporting applications across wellness, nutrition, beverage, and pet products.
This expansion strengthens supply chain resilience, accelerates innovation, and allows KND to apply its compliance-first mindset across multiple categories. For partners, it means working with a manufacturer that is not dependent on a single market or trend, but built for long-term relevance.
As functional ingredients and cannabinoids continue to converge, KND Labs is positioned to operate at that intersection, offering brands the tools they need to innovate responsibly and scale confidently.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “re-introducing KND Labs” mean?
It reflects an expansion of KND Labs’ role in the market. While cannabinoids remain core, the company now offers a broader portfolio of functional ingredients, advanced flavor technologies, and formulation support designed for today’s product challenges.
What is ClearIQ™ and how does it work?
ClearIQ™ is a natural flavor modulation technology developed through mushroom mycelial fermentation. It enhances desirable flavor notes while suppressing bitterness and earthy off-notes commonly found in cannabinoid formulations.
Can ClearIQ™ be used in hemp and marijuana products?
Yes. ClearIQ™ can be incorporated into federally compliant hemp products and state-licensed marijuana products, provided all regulatory requirements are met.
Which cannabinoids does KND Labs offer beyond CBD?
KND Labs supports THCV, CBG, CBN, CBC, and emerging or custom cannabinoid solutions, with formulation and manufacturing support available.
Why is THCV gaining attention?
THCV offers a distinct functional profile that supports differentiated product positioning. However, it also introduces formulation and flavor challenges that require experienced manufacturing support.
Does KND Labs provide formulation services?
Yes. KND Labs offers ingredient supply, custom formulation, flavor optimization, co-manufacturing, filling, packaging, and compliance documentation.
Is KND Labs focused only on cannabis?
No. The company’s functional ingredient capabilities extend into wellness, nutrition, beverage, and pet applications, strengthening long-term partnership value.
How can brands get started?
Brands can engage KND Labs at any stage, from early concept development to scaled production. Technical guidance, samples, and documentation are available to support next steps.