Shangri-La Dispensaries said it's opening new cultivation and manufacturing facilities in Connecticut, which will add significant production capacity for the company’s national retail growth.
The 40,000-square-foot Stratford plant is designed to produce 1,000 pounds of finished, trimmed flower monthly and employ 80 workers to run the cultivation, processing, compliance, packaging, and administrative operations. Production is scheduled to begin this summer and will quickly reach maximum capacity. Additionally, the new 10,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Waterbury will process the trimmed flower into finished consumer products in all categories.
Shangri-La CEO Nevil Patel said his company has invested close to $25 million in cultivation and manufacturing technology.
About 20,000 square feet of the Stratford plant will be dedicated to cultivating premium cannabis plants. The remaining 50% is reserved for post-harvest processing, including three high-capacity dry rooms, dedicated curing and vault rooms, and several manufacturing rooms.
All cultivation rooms are outfitted with Next G3N double-tiered racking systems, increasing the total canopy footprint to 25,000 square feet. Each tier has under-canopy airflow systems to ensure consistent temperature and humidity across the plant canopy. Access to the upper level is easier thanks to a full-length mezzanine system. The company is also installing Desert Aire RTU systems for dehumidification and climate control, and high-performance LED fixtures.
Rhythm Control System, a next-generation platform, will give staff granular control over every element of the grow environment. It will allow them to set and adjust environmental parameters weekly, tailor lighting, humidity, and temperature to each cultivar's ideal conditions, and control and automate irrigation, fertigation, and crop steering strategies.
All cultivation rooms will be fully sealed and feature washable floors, walls, and ceilings for maximum cleanliness and compliance. It will use HEPA-grade filtration systems and Reactive Oxygen Species air purification, dramatically reducing airborne contaminants and promoting a clean, pathogen-free environment. To maintain genetic integrity and plant health from day one, all plants are started from tissue culture, ensuring the cultivars are pathogen-free and uniform.
Shangri-La's new manufacturing facility is a dual-licensed site—approved for both cannabis product manufacturing and food and beverage production. The facility will house hydrocarbon extraction, solventless extraction, distillation, vape production, gummies production, a commercial kitchen, fulfillment and distribution operations, as well as non-THC storage. Hydrocarbon and distillation labs are expected to be fully operational by the end of the year, with a weekly processing capacity of 600 pounds of biomass and 50 liters of oil, respectively.
Currently, the commercial kitchen is producing up to 150,000 confectionery units per week, with plans to scale rapidly. It will support multiple product lines, including gummies for the exclusive Borealis and Asteroid brands. With high-clearance ceilings and a layout designed for industrial scalability, the space is ready to accommodate automated packaging systems and beverage line integration in the future.
The manufactured products will be branded under the Borealis and Asteroid brands, which will represent a significant milestone for Shangri-La’s product expansion in the country. The facility also presents a valuable opportunity for cultivators and brand operators seeking a trusted partner for material processing and high-volume packaging.
Shangri-La is actively seeking white-label partnerships and collaborations with multi-state operators looking to enter the Connecticut market. With robust infrastructure, significant production capacity, and a flexible licensing framework, the Waterbury facility offers a strategic launchpad for brands aiming to establish or expand their presence in the Northeast.
