Taste Radio

When RIND Snacks debuted in 2018, founder and CEO Matt Weiss won plaudits for creating an innovative and eye-catching brand of upcycled fruit snacks. Six years later, the New York-based entrepreneur is being lauded for transforming RIND into a vertically integrated healthy snack platform. Industry acclaim is nice, but Matt will say that his primary focus is to create lasting value for his company,...

And, breathe... having combed the cavernous halls of a gargantuan Natural Products Expo West 2024, the hosts had plenty to discuss. From innovative new products and fast-growing categories, to trendy ingredients and exhibitor enthusiasm, this episode provides their first recap of an incredible event. 0:35: We're By The Pool, But Never Touch The Water –  The BevNET Airbnb is a fine, if imperfect, v...

The cultural relevance of reality TV stars is typically short-lived. Kyle Cooke, however, is playing the long game. Best known as a cast member on Bravo's popular television series "Summer House," Kyle is also the founder of Loverboy, a fast-growing brand of premium sparkling hard teas, spritzes and canned cocktails launched in 2018. Loverboy is prominently featured on "Summer House" as it has thr...

A recent Forbes article sparks the hosts' passionate discussion about the role that food and beverage conglomerates should play in the health and wellness of American consumers, both now and in the future. They also opine on whether JuneShine's acquisition of Flying Embers is good for the hard kombucha category, chat about Expo West preparation and highlight a handful of new spicy, sweet and savor...

Former monk. Wellness influencer. Podcaster. Beverage entrepreneur. Jay Shetty, who is one of the most well-known and respected names in the field of self-improvement, is all of those things. But it's an emphasis on purpose – in everything he does – that best defines him. Jay is the author of two New York Times bestselling books, including "Think Like a Monk," and host of On Purpose, one of the mo...

Legacy brands are hard to replace. Consumers trust these products, often because flavor, texture and mouthfeel are known and reliable. And, yet, they've also shown an increasing willingness to swap familiar snacks and libations with those that are lower in calories or sugar and promoted as better-for-you. That dynamic is becoming even more significant among natural and organic brands that have dev...

An innovative brand of high-protein, low-carb and vegan ramen, immi defines disruption. Known for its neon-yellow branding and unconventional social marketing, immi launched in 2021 and has developed a loyal community of consumers who view it as a healthier option than traditional ramen. Available in six varieties, immi is currently sold in over 2,000 retail locations nationally, including Whole F...

Mushrooms are having more than a moment. But how far can fungi go? The hosts discuss the potential for "magic" and functional forms of the trendy ingredient. They also riff on a prediction that cannabis drinks could be "the most common weed consumption method in the next 5-10 years," deride overly enthusiastic terms on LinkedIn and Instagram, and share their respective takes on snacking pasta and...

If it feels like you're navigating constant shifts in how retailer buyers measure traction and determine metrics for success, you're not alone. Jason Burke, for one, has been wrestling with the issue for years. Jason is the founder of The New Primal, a better-for-you meat snack brand that debuted in 2013, and also sauce and seasoning brand Noble Made, which launched in 2023. The New Primal is best...

On the heels of its well-received Super Bowl ad, Poppi is getting a lot of attention. According to a report in Bloomberg, the mid-calorie, prebiotic soda brand is rumored to be an acquisition target, a topic the hosts discussed in the episode. They also chatted about Coke's new Gen Z/TikTok-inspired "Tears Of Joy" soda, a trio of "loaded" cereals and meat sticks inspired by ancestral lifestyles, a...

"The more things change, the more they stay the same" would be an apt slogan for indoor farming pioneer Gotham Greens.  Launched in 2011, the New York-based company operates a nationwide network of 13 high-tech hydroponic greenhouses and markets premium, hyper-local leafy greens, herbs, salad dressings, dips and cooking sauces. The products are sold at over 3,000 retail stores including Whole Food...

Has Starbucks slipped on its own slick innovation? Why are spice-obsessed millennials grumbling about Huy Fong's famous sriracha? And is space a new frontier for food and beverage? The hosts shared their thoughts, opined on the food selection in a $2.5 million Super Bowl suite and sampled several innovative  and new products including nacho-inspired chocolate, nitro-infused cinnamon tea and a sea...

At one point during our conversation, Verde Farms CEO Brad Johnson expressed the simple, powerful value proposition that the organic, grass-fed beef brand offers to modern consumers. "We're simply taking away all of the bad things that a broken food system introduced… to give you the purest version of something you already love." That ethos has helped make Verde Farms into the leading U.S. provide...

In this special presentation of our sister show, the Brewbound Podcast, Naomi Neville, who is departing Allagash Brewing after 14 years of leading and building its sales team, shares her experience with the brand, reflects on the last decade-plus of craft and dishes on where she sees the segment going and what's next for her.

In food and beverage, innovative brands often get the most attention. Novel ingredients, formulations and flavors draw crowds. And, yet, products that are positioned as incrementally better-for-you than existing options might have more runway over the long-term. The hosts discussed the topic in this episode, which highlights several new products and brand extensions launched in recent weeks. This...

Ten years ago, few believed that an upstart brand could revolutionize the sleepy category of cottage cheese, and, by extension, dairy-based foods as a whole. Good Culture co-founder Jesse Merrill was part of that small cohort, and his steadfast belief that consumers want better-for-you and better tasting options in the dairy case defines his company, one some have described as "the next Chobani."...

In this special presentation of our sister show, BevNET & NOSH's Community Call, industry veteran Arnulfo Ventura shares his winning blueprint for achieving exponential growth in CPG. Discover the tactics to propelling growth and strategically positioning a brand for acquisition.

Has "organic" lost its sheen? Based on Nielsen IQ data presented by Whipstitch Capital's Nick McCoy, it would appear so. A veteran food and beverage investment banker, McCoy spoke at a recent event in Vail, Colorado hosted by private equity firm Manna Tree. As part of a presentation on deal flow and trends in the natural products industry, he revealed a shift of the most important product attribut...

By his own admission, Will Nitze doesn't give great advice. His nearly 41,000 Linkedin followers, however, likely have a different opinion. Will cut his teeth in CPG in 2017 when he launched IQBAR,  a pioneering brand of protein bars infused with adaptogenic ingredients that are said to improve cognitive function. The company has since created a portfolio of brain health-centric product lines, inc...

Trademarks are important. Just ask MrBeast. The hosts discussed how a permanent injunction against the YouTuber's Feastables brand could have been avoided. They also spoke about the impact of Uber's shocking decision to shut down alcohol delivery service Drizly, a notable take on ultra-processed food, and the divide between those that crunch beer mints and those who don't. Yes, beer mints. This ep...

What compelled Diageo, one of the largest CPG companies in the world, to invest in non-alcoholic spirit brand Ritual Zero Proof, which at the time of the funding deal was pre-launch and operating in a nascent category? The short answer is that it gave them — and, more importantly, their consumers — options. Launched in 2019, Ritual Zero Proof is a brand of non-alcoholic spirits crafted from natura...

It's often said that compelling social media content is one of the most cost-effective forms of marketing for consumer brands. But the volume of videos and images posted daily on popular social platforms like Instagram and TikTok makes it challenging to capture users' attention. In this episode, the hosts highlighted brands who create consistently authentic and entertaining content as a way to bre...

When an entrepreneur sells their company, it's usually a cause for celebration. But when Alix Peabody, the founder of pioneering canned wine brand Bev, sold her company to global wine and spirits conglomerate E & J Gallo, she knew that not everyone would be cheering. Launched in 2017, Bev is known for its chic label design, better-for-you positioning and promotion of "empowerment and inclusivity i...

When Target embraces emerging categories, we take notice. The hosts discussed the retailer's new curated endcaps of non-alcoholic cocktails and wine and what it means for the nascent set of zero-proof beverages. They also spoke about why Nosh is broadening its coverage (and tapped a new leader to helm the vertical) and how a fast-growing hydration brand and popular sparkling water company have eac...

This special edition of the podcast features highlights from interviews with seven founders, creators and innovators who joined us on the show during the second half of 2023. Our guests include John Fieldly, the chairman and CEO of Celsius; Maya Kaimal, the founder and chief creative officer of Maya Kaimal Foods; Dan Aykroyd, the co-founder of Crystal Head Vodka; Allison Luvera and Lauren De Niro...