Nick Rinella, CEO of Hippos and former COO of Verdant Distribution in Los Angeles, CA , is an expert in both alcoholic beverage and cannabis product development, distribution and regulation. Rinella’s expertise stems from being a 5th generation beverage distributor spending nearly a decade as the Vice President of Rinella Company, Inc, an independent beverage distributor with notable suppliers like Anheuser-Busch, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Nestle USA, Bronco Wine Company, Sazerac Company and more.

Nick Rinella joined Hippos in 2019 shortly after it was founded. Mr. Rinella is a 5th generation beverage distributor and an accomplished businessman in his own right. His in-depth understanding of CPG products and distribution models can be attributed to his keen understanding of complex business structures, a skill honed while working his way up the company his grandfather founded and through various business endeavors throughout the United States including Verdant Distribution, the first licensed cannabis distribution company in Southern California. Mr. Rinella also formerly sat on the board of, The Policy Committee for the California Distributors Association, Transitions of Western IL, The Associated Beer Distributors of IL and The Great River Economic Council.

\n Mr. Rinella actively served on Missouri’s Amendment 3 Drafting Committee as well as the MoCannTrade Cultivation Subcommittee and is the reason that Missouri has the lowest cannabis tax at 6%. During Mr Rinella’s time in Missouri he along with his team has secured licenses, built out brands, built out and run the countries most efficient dispensary design and have faced and solved complex issues that often turn out to be the demise of most cannabis companies such as equipment failures, unstable genetics, funding, design flaws, tech integrations, and of course people all while maintaining a positive culture to ensure long term success.