Green Growth Brands has cut its workforce as part of an effort to rein in costs for the young cannabis company.

The company, just more than a year old, has about 900 workers throughout the country. Fewer than 50 workers were let go in Columbus, where it has its headquarters. The company pegged the total cut at less than 5%.

The company is building a number of brands around cannabis products, including health and beauty items, dispensaries where people buy cannabis products and what the company calls "lifestyle" brands.

"Green Growth Brands is a startup business, operating in one of the largest and most complex market expansions in history. In an effort to be prudent and responsible with expenses in order to meet our long-term growth objectives, the decision was made to reduce expenses and headcount," Julia Fulton, the company's investor and public relations manager, said in an email.

Green Growth is backed by a branch of central Ohio's Schottenstein family, which also runs shoe and accessories company Designer Brands, where Green Growth's personal-care products containing cannabidiol can be purchased.

The company has been growing quickly, making several acquisitions and rolling out its products to more locations.

Besides Designer Brands, Green Growth products are sold online at ShopSeventhSense.com, at retailers such as Abercrombie & Fitch and American Eagle, mall-based shops and through a partnership with golfer Greg Norman.

As is often the case for startups, Green Growth has been posting big losses.

The company reported a loss of $15.4 million, or 7 cents per share, on revenue of $5.6 million for its quarter ended March 31.

And like other young public cannabis companies, Green Growth shares have struggled this year.

After hitting a high of $5.20 in January, the shares were trading at $1.32 Monday.

mawilliams@dispatch.com

@BizMarkWilliams