[PRESS RELEASE] – NEW YORK, Aug. 20, 2025 – FLUENT Corp. announced the commencement of operations at its new 68,000-square-foot indoor cultivation facility in Buffalo, N.Y. This facility doubles FLUENT’s New York cultivation capacity and further strengthens its premium wholesale portfolio across the state.
Alongside this expansion, FLUENT has entered into an exclusive partnership with Connected New York Inc., a part of the Connected International Inc. family and the California-based industry leader recognized for its award-winning brands, cutting-edge cultivation, advanced research and development, and proprietary genetics. Within the Connected portfolio are three premium brands: Connected Cannabis, AlienLabs, and Smoken Promises. Under this Partnership, FLUENT will serve as the exclusive provider of these brands in New York, bringing some of California’s most sought-after cannabis products to the state.
“Our mission is to cultivate exceptional cannabis that reflects the highest standards of quality and consistency,” FLUENT Interim CEO David Vautrin said. “With this new facility, we are pairing cutting-edge technology with Connected’s master grower expertise to unlock the full potential of their genetics. The result will be flower rich in flavor, potency and purity. We are committed to setting a new benchmark for premium flower in New York, where demand for top-shelf product is growing at over 80% year-over-year, according to BDSA data.”
Connected CEO Caleb Counts said, “We are excited to introduce Connected Cannabis, AlienLabs and Smoken Promises to New York's cannabis community. Partnering with FLUENT gives us the platform to bring our proven genetics to one of the most discerning markets in the country—same standards, same quality, no compromises. We believe the demand is real, and we’re here to earn our place on New York shelves.”
As one of California’s first cannabis brands, AlienLabs is renowned for its exotic, indoor-grown flower. Known for pushing boundaries on quality, the brand takes pride in crafting unique strains where each variety offers a distinct flavor and experience. Connected Cannabis has built its reputation through innovative cultivation techniques, producing quality cannabis and creating strains that have made it a standout in California and other mature markets.
Smoken Promises, while more accessibly priced, maintains the craftsmanship and authenticity of its sister brands, offering consumers a reliable, high-value option without compromising on flavor or consistency.
Connected Cannabis and AlienLabs premium branded products are expected to reach retailers and consumers in the fourth quarter of 2025. In addition to these new offerings, FLUENT and its wholesale division, ENTOURAGE, will continue to feature their growing portfolio of in-house brands, offering a wide range of consumption methods for both adult-use customers and medical patients across the state.
For more information, visit the ENTOURAGE booth at the Revelry NYC trade show in September, or online at getFLUENT.com. Follow FLUENT on Instagram @Fluent_FL.
More information on Connected can be found at connectedcannabisco.com or on Instagram @connected.california. Learn more about AlienLabs at alienlabs.org or on Instagram @alienlabs. To find out more on Smoken Promises go to smokenpromises.com or on Instagram @smoken.promises.
