Taste Radio

Nine years ago, ALOHA was effectively bankrupt despite having raised $70 million. Today, the protein bar brand generates more than $200 million in revenue. How did the company pull off one of CPG's more remarkable turnarounds?  In this episode, CEO Brad Charron reveals the strategy behind ALOHA's resurgence, from rebuilding its product and brand to spending years earning shelf space at Whole Foods...

Protein soda and hard sports drinks are making moves—but is either category built to last? With protein soda betting on big demand for functional fizz and hard sports drinks racking up eye-popping sales, we debate which category has the bigger upside. We also discuss what Constellation Brands' $75 million acquisition of Spikedade signals for beverage alcohol and the news that Justin Timberlake and...

Building a $100 million CPG brand without venture capital takes more than a great product — it takes conviction, discipline, and a willingness to play the long game.  In this episode of Taste Radio, Loren Castle, the founder and CEO of better-for-you refrigerated dough brand Sweet Loren's, breaks down how she built a profitable business by challenging category conventions, winning over major retai...

Can Coke become the new… Poppi? The beverage giant is testing prebiotic versions of its stalwart brands, raising questions about the next phase of functional soda — and what it could mean for Olipop. The hosts dig into the launch, consider whether mineral water is finally having its mainstream moment, and examine the rise of dynamic grocery pricing and new laws aimed at putting guardrails around i...

In the latest episode of Taste Radio's Elevator Talk, leaders from five emerging CPG brands -- Cirrus 9 Candy, Nymbl Ice Cream,  Hol Health Club, Windsong Bliss and Le Lick -- introduce their businesses, share what's changed since launch and offer a look at where they're headed next. Joining regular host Ray Latif, editor and producer of Taste Radio, is Caroline Grace, the founder of Product & Pro...

Grocery store aisles are inundated with claims, benefits and buzzwords. Amara has taken a different approach: start with whole-food ingredients, use proprietary food technology to make them snackable, and let consumer needs drive what comes next.  Launched in 2017, the organic kids' food brand is best known for its superfood smoothie melts and also markets fruit bites, breakfast oat melts and baby...

One misleading social post can spark a frenzy – but can brands keep playing with consumer trust? We unpack the curious ruse of a beloved emerging brand and the growing debate around "rage bait."  We also dig into Whole Foods' latest LEAP cohort and what its emerging-brand picks reveal about the next wave of CPG. Plus, we sample functional freeze pops and flavored dried mango, and hear  from the fo...

In the latest episode of Taste Radio's Elevator Talk, leaders from five emerging CPG brands -- Nirvana, On the Brightside, Pini Sparkling Cider, Wook Water, and Brica -- introduce their businesses, share what's changed since launch and offer a look at where they're headed next. Joining regular host Ray Latif, editor and producer of Taste Radio, is Rifle Highes, the co-founder of Integral CPG, who...

How do you repair an industry that's steadily lost relevance with younger consumers? If you're the founders of Wonderwerk, you go where they live and breathe – and throw a party. Founded in 2017 by longtime friends Issamu Kamide and Andrew Lardy, Wonderwerk was built around a simple idea: make wine that speaks to how millennial and Gen Z consumers actually drink. Now, following a national relaunch...

Kroger is drawing a line on pricing — and some of the biggest brands in CPG are finding themselves on the wrong side of it. We dig into the retailer's standoff with Red Bull, the removal of Boar's Head products from select stores and what Kroger's growing embrace of private label could mean for brands negotiating with major retailers.  We also discuss HopLark's recent bankruptcy filing, recap our...

Scaling a CPG brand isn't just about finding more ways to grow – it's about knowing which opportunities are worth pursuing. Hero Bread is taking on some of food's most entrenched categories with baked goods and pasta that deliver the taste and texture of traditional carbs with zero grams of sugar along with added protein and fiber. With products now in more than 9,000 retail locations, including W...

The most overlooked aisle in the grocery store may be ripe for reinvention. Riff is betting on it. We dig into the new shelf-stable meal kit brand launched by Sir Kensington's co-founder Mark Ramadan and Eleven Madison Park chef Daniel Humm. We also discuss Battle Bars' attempt to broaden its appeal in the protein bar category and what investor network The Angel Group wants to see from emerging CP...

Building a thriving CPG brand wasn't Katie Lee's plan. It was a crisis response that evolved into a national business. When the COVID-19 shutdown threatened her four St. Louis restaurants and the livelihoods of 150 employees, the chef and restaurateur created a line of frozen pizzas simply to keep her team working. That pizza became the foundation for Katie's, a CPG brand that has grown from rough...

This week, we dig into Barilla Group's acquisition of Goodles and how the mac and cheese brand's success reflects growing demand for better-for-you versions of familiar, legacy products. We also look at David Protein maker Medici Brands' $2.2 billion valuation following its Series B raise, the launch of its better-for-you candy brand HallPass and how the company is rethinking two of the most famil...

In the latest episode of Taste Radio's Elevator Talk, leaders from five emerging CPG brands -- Tamarind Heads, Cozy, Samsara, Jöey Nordic Seed Crisps and Nadas Empanadas -- introduce their businesses, share what's changed since launch and offer a look at where they're headed next. Joining regular host Ray Latif, editor and producer of Taste Radio, is Can Koyuncu, the co-founder and CMO of Chapter...

What if the smartest growth strategy for your CPG brand is to stop chasing growth? Larry Young spent nearly 50 years in the beverage business before trading corporate boardrooms for a cattle ranch. The former CEO and president of Keurig Dr Pepper and his wife, Colette, now own Texas-based 10-2-4 Ranch, where they're building a premium beef brand on their own terms. In this episode, Larry and Colet...

How do you know when a trend is an opportunity – and when it's just a distraction? In CPG, the pressure to add protein, fiber, adaptogens, nootropics and every other buzzy benefit can be relentless. But more isn't always more. We dig into why some brands are winning by keeping things simple, how Purely Elizabeth has managed to embrace trends without losing its identity, and why Pathwater's evoluti...

Caulipower's sale to Urban Farmer in November 2025 marked the latest chapter in one of the most remarkable founder stories in modern CPG.  Before the acquisition, the company was generating more than $120 million in annual sales and had established a dominant position in better-for-you frozen food. But for founder Gail Becker, building a successful company was never just about creating enterprise...

As inflation, margin pressure and shifting consumer behavior reshape the CPG landscape, private label is having a major moment — and brands need to decide how they'll respond. The hosts unpack why more retailers are embracing private label, how brands can leverage it to strengthen cash flow without undermining their own business, and why saying no to an opportunity could simply hand it to a compet...

The fastest way to find out if your strategy holds water? Put it in the market.  For more than a decade, Cheeky Cocktails has built a following with premium syrups and juices designed to elevate at-home cocktails.  Now, founder and CEO April Wachtel is pushing the brand into a first-of-its-kind functional tonic, and shares how real-world feedback is reshaping everything from where the product belo...

What does it take for an emerging CPG brand to go from promising to investable? Brian Folmer, founder of FirstLook and FirstLook Ventures, offers a behind-the-scenes look at how he evaluates the next generation of consumer brands. FirstLook is a "Shark Tank in a box" platform that vets hundreds of brands before putting a select group of products in the hands of nearly 100 investors, while FirstLoo...

The latest episode of Taste Radio's Elevator Talk spotlights emerging leaders from Gold Crush Cocktails, Roadie Brew, Ample Hydration, Pesche and Gingerbug, who introduce their brands, share recent company updates, and highlight key milestones. This week's special co-host is Dayton Miller, a managing partner with venture capital firm BFG Partners. Dayton brings insightful questions, thoughtful fee...

Chicago's CPG scene is thriving, and we got a taste of it firsthand. Fresh off our latest Taste Radio meetup, we spotlight the city's vibrant brand community and sample a fascinating lineup of products discovered at the highly touted, unceremoniously shuttered and ultimately resurrected Foxtrot Market. The haul includes a wildly complex salted lemonade, a Mexican-inspired sparkling tonic, a soda-m...

Functionality is everywhere – but are consumers buying the benefit or seeing right through it?  This week, we dig into the rise of protein- and fiber-enhanced snacks from Khloud, Doritos and Smartfood, the growing buzz around colostrum, and a troubling new study on avocado oil authenticity. Plus, we explore the enduring appeal of pickle flavor, Grillo's winning collaboration strategy, premium date...

The latest episode of Taste Radio's Elevator Talk spotlights emerging leaders from Oddball, The Spice Drops, Good Greed, Little Twists, and Gamsa Foods, who introduce their brands, share recent company updates, and highlight key milestones. This week's special co-host is Yola Blake Page, the founder Violet Thread Strategy, an Austin-based independent brand consultancy. Yola brings insightful quest...