Taste Radio

The tagline for Ithaca Craft Hummus is simple and direct: "This Hummus Tastes Fresh." For founder/president Chris Kirby, the mission to build a disruptive yet profitable brand is just as clear cut. Launched in 2013, Ithaca's ultra fresh flavor -- derived from cold-pressed ingredients and non-thermal pasteurization -- has helped the brand build a consumer following and gain placement in thousands o...

If you've ever sipped on a craft cocktail, chances are that the drink was influenced by one of a handful of bars at the forefront of modern mixology. That short list includes Death & Co., a venerated haunt in New York City's East Village that has become a mecca for cocktail enthusiasts. Known for its inventive libations and sleek ambiance, Death & Co.'s focus on delivering an elevated drinking exp...

In this episode, we're joined by Ashleigh and Trey Lockerbie, the co-founders of organic kombucha brand Better Booch, who joined us for a conversation about the good, the bad and the ugly of a brand revamp. In March, the Los Angeles-based company unveiled a new look designed to broaden its appeal and position itself as a more premium, craft offering. It wasn't, however, an overnight process; the L...

This week, we're joined by Greg Vetter, the co-founder of Tessemae's, which produces organic dressings and condiments made with simple and clean ingredients. Vetter and his two brothers launched the brand in 2009 and got off to a hot start; in its first week at Whole Foods, Tessemae's broke the retailer's record for sales in a single week. In the years that followed, Tessemae's continued its rapid...

In this week's episode, we're joined by entrepreneur and investor Mark Rampolla for a discussion on the positive habits that have shaped his personal life and career. As part of our conversation, Rampolla, who is the founder of Zico coconut water and the co-founder of venture capital firm Powerplant Ventures, spoke about why he consistently reviews long and short-term goals and the importance of t...

There's an old saying that "leaders are born, not made." That might be true, but even for the most innate leaders, wouldn't it be helpful to learn from others' experiences? Alan Murray thought so. As a young executive working for carton manufacturer Tetra Pak, Alan wrote a guide for people in similar roles about how to lead effectively and position themselves for success.  The guide has served as...

This week, we're joined by Grant Gyesky, the co-founder and CEO of Rise Nitro Brewing Co., a fast-growing brand that has made waves in the emerging segment of nitro-infused coffee. Launched in 2015, Rise is known for its high-quality, organic nitro cold brew coffee and innovative line extensions, including citrus-infused coffee and oat milk lattes. The company has gradually expanded distribution b...

Steve Hughes' influence on the development of the natural food industry is impressive. As the founder and former CEO of Boulder Brands, he helped develop and nurture a range of next-generation natural food companies, including evol and Smart Balance as well as pioneering gluten-free brands Udi's and Glutino. Following the sale of Boulder Brands to Pinnacle Foods in 2015, Steve co-founded Sunrise S...

In this episode, we're joined by Mike Cessario, the founder and CEO of Liquid Death, a canned water brand whose heavy metal vibe and edgy marketing has generated considerable online buzz and attracted  funding from a range of prominent investors. As part of our interview, Cessario spoke about the rapid rise of Liquid Death, which earlier this year raised $1.6 million in a seed round that included...

If you were an entrepreneur whose company was recently acquired for millions of dollars, what would be your next move? If you said, "Get on a boat and sail the Carribbean," then you're in good company. That was David Smith's plan. After 13 years on the grind, Smith, the co-founder of organic tea brand Sweet Leaf Tea, was ready to relax.  But after a few months at sea, he grew restless and soon fou...

This episode features an interview with Evan Holod, the CEO of Michel et Augustin US, the American arm of the French snack maker, who explained how the company reimagined its brand positioning and product packaging for American audiences.   Known for its indulgent snacks and quirky branding, Michel et Augustin entered the U.S. market in 2016. While the brand achieved some early traction, including...

In this episode, we sat down with one of the most influential doctors in America, Andrew Weil. Known as a pioneer of integrative medicine, an emerging field that incorporates traditional and alternative forms of treatment, Dr. Weil is a best-selling author who has long advocated for an approach to health care that focuses on general wellness and healing. As part of our interview, Dr. Weil discusse...

In this week's episode, we're joined by Kate Weiler and Jeff Rose, the co-founders of maple water pioneer Drink Simple, who discussed how they prepared for and successfully executed upon a major rebrand. Founded as Drink Maple in 2014, the company was one of the first in the U.S. to market maple water, a beverage derived from maple trees and often promoted as a natural source of hydration. The com...

The poet Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote that "life is a journey, not a destination," an adage that would seem to have particular meaning to Dave Burwick. Over the course of his thirty-plus years in the beverage and wellness industries, Burwick has been a soda marketer, helmed a legacy diet company, led a cult coffee brand, and, today, heads the best-known name in craft beer. The collective experience h...

Beryl Stafford was at a crossroads. The founder of Bobo's, an innovative snack brand known for its oat-based bars, Stafford launched the Boulder-based company in 2003 and gradually built it into a successful business. By 2015, Bobo's was generating $8 million in sales and attracting interest from several private equity firms and strategic investors. Stafford realized it was time to bring in new fu...

If you've ever lived in New England, you're probably familiar with Teddie Natural Peanut Butter. A cupboard staple in homes across the region, the brand's flagship product contains just two ingredients: roasted peanuts and salt. There is, however, a secret way of making the peanut butter, according to Mark Hintlian, the company's president, CEO and third-generation owner, who joined us for an inte...

When the pursuit of success comes at the expense of your mental health, it's time to reevaluate your priorities. That's the perspective of Ann Yang, the co-founder of upcycled produce company Misfit Foods, who recently stepped away from a day-to-day role to focus on her well being. In an interview included in this episode, Yang, 25, opened up about how the stress of entrepreneurship led to unhappi...

Travis Grillo heard it over and over: "you're crazy." It's a line that many entrepreneurs are familiar with, but Grillo's plan to launch a fresh pickle brand was met with particular derision. Unfazed by the naysayers, in 2009 he opened a small food cart in Boston selling pickle spears to the city's denizens and tourists. The cart became a cult sensation, and Grillo, who used to wear a pickle-shape...

Two years after launching his plant-based protein bar brand No Cow in 2015, founder/CEO Daniel Katz was burning the candle at both ends, sleeping in his office and working 18-hour days, seven days a week. He was just 20 years old and primarily running the business on his own, but was already accustomed to the hustle and grind of entrepreneurship, having launched several businesses in his teens. Ev...

When offering his take on the man affectionately nicknamed "The Beverage Whisperer," Vita Coco co-founder/CEO Mike Kirban might have said it best: "I don't believe there is anyone in the beverage world that needs a reference letter less than Ken Sadowsky." As one of the industry's best known and most respected insiders, Sadowsky is a longtime investor and advisor to many high-profile and category...

Ray DeRosa, the founder and CEO of dandelion-based tea brand Lion Tea, knows that it's an uphill battle getting consumers to understand why they should drink his products. How do you communicate the detoxifying and digestive health benefits of the beverages without a significant financial investment in consumer education that start-up companies like his rarely have?  As DeRosa explained in an inte...

Immersed in the booming business of esports, G Fuel, a fast-growing brand of gamer-focused energy powders and ready-to-drink beverages, is pressing all the right buttons. Since its debut in 2014, G Fuel's rapid ascent has mirrored that of competitive video gaming, an industry expected to top $1 billion in revenue this year. Having amassed a loyal following of esports participants and enthusiasts,...

In this episode, we're joined by Rizal Hamdallah, the Global Chief Innovation Officer of Ocean Spray, for a discussion about how companies of all sizes can use innovation to positively impact the food system. Hamdallah recently arrived at Ocean Spray from Tyson Foods, where he served as managing director of the company's Innovation Lab, an incubation unit designed to rapidly bring new and potentia...

If you're familiar with yerba mate, you're probably familiar with Guayaki.  Founded in 1996, Guayaki was one of the first companies to introduce yerba mate -- a naturally caffeinated herbal infusion native to South America -- to U.S. consumers. In the years since, the brand, which markets a range of ready-to-drink and loose leaf products, helped create a loyal and rapidly expanding market for the...

This week's episode features interviews with the founders of three innovative brands and focuses on how each landed placement in their dream retailers. Jesse Wolfe, the founder of dressing brand O'Dang Hummus, Lisa Curtis, the founder of Kuli Kuli, a brand of moringa-based foods and beverages and Tyler Noyes, the co-founder of meat snack brand Kalahari Biltong, discussed their respective paths int...