Taste Radio

Prebiotic cola, plant-based (and AI-inspired?) pulled chicken and protein-packed marshmallows. The hosts crack open Pepsi's new prebiotic cola and discuss whether a stevia-sweetened "functional" soda can win over classic cola fans. They also dig into Just Meat's big win at Walmart and what it says about the future of meat analogs, and why protein marshmallows might actually work in your next s'mor...

Brand collaborations are exploding, and they're becoming one of the most effective growth levers in CPG. In this episode, the team breaks down why co-branded products are becoming a core strategy for food and beverage brands, what separates meaningful partnerships from gimmicks, and how leaders like Grillo's, Fly By Jing, Graza, and Liquid Death are using them to drive awareness, trial, and catego...

The latest episode of Taste Radio's Elevator Talk spotlights innovative leaders from No Cap!, Lua Coffee, Tizz and The Purple Drop In this installment, founders and CEOs introduce their brands and share recent company updates and milestones. This week's special co-host is Wade Yenny, the vice president of brand management & business development for Vdriven. He offers insightful questions, thoughtf...

What if the biggest opportunity in your industry is something no one else recognizes? In this episode, Eric Tecosky, the founder of pioneering cocktail ingredient brand Dirty Sue, unpacks how a simple gap behind the bar became a first-to-market product, a profitable niche, and a lesson in disciplined focus.  From navigating skeptical buyers to scaling a single SKU for 20 years, ET breaks down the...

A battle may be over, but has the war just begun? Baked into the deal to reopen the U.S. government is a surprising provision: a ban on intoxicating hemp products. What does this mean for the future of THC-infused beverages? The hosts weigh in. We also sit down with Trip co-founder Olivia Ferdi, whose fast-growing relaxation beverage brand recently announced a $40 million funding round at a valuat...

She made olives fun — and the "Sharks" noticed. Nikki Seaman, the founder and CEO of Freestyle Snacks, landed a $300K deal on "Shark Tank" after turning her pandemic frustration over shuttered olive bars into a modern snack brand. In this episode, Nikki explains how she disrupted the "trusty but dusty" olive aisle with bright packaging, tantalizing flavors, and convenient, brine-free pouches. Boot...

What do the hosts make of Caulipower's fitting exit, a tennis icon's investment in a corn-free (!) popcorn startup, and Padma Lakshmi's partnership with a particularly spicy CPG brand? It's a full serving of Taste Radio, complete with a taste-test of high-fiber gummy candy and a $20, creatine-packed cereal.  Show notes: 0:25: Stacking, Bro. A Plant-Based Pioneer. No Corn, Thanks. Celeb Spice. Risi...

The latest episode of Taste Radio's Elevator Talk spotlights innovative leaders from Pantry Gems, Berski, Benni Pops, KiuKiu and Superlova. In this installment, founders and CEOs introduce their brands and share recent company updates and milestones. This week's special co-host is Mia Medina, the founder and CEO of Gather Brands. She offers insightful questions, thoughtful feedback, and strategic...

Every founder dreams of breaking the rules. Few do it with such quiet confidence as Oliver Dixon, the co-founder of better-for-you soda brand Something & Nothing. In this episode, Olly tells the story of how a creative experiment in a London bar became a category-disrupting soda brand now expanding rapidly across the U.S. He explains how his design sensibility and refusal to compromise on flavor h...

The hosts break down Recess' $30 million raise, pound shots of olive oil, and wonder if Ben Stiller's nostalgic soda brand can make it in middle America. Oh, and someone bottled a hot sauce wrapped in a real $100 bill.  Show notes: 0:25: Take Your Best Shot. Deadlines, People. Pivot & Win. A Benny With Every Bottle. Ben's Beer. – The show opens with a sampling of Kosterina's new high-phenolic extr...

Doughlicious is proof that product obsession and strategic growth can make a small brand big. In this episode, Kathryn Bricken, the founder and CEO of Doughlicious, shares how she turned a London-based cookie dough startup into a global frozen dessert powerhouse now in 6,000 U.S. stores, including Whole Foods, Target, and Kroger.  Kathryn talks about perfecting her signature gelato bites, scaling...

The hosts unpack curated snack boxes featuring innovative products from emerging food and beverage brands – from sourdough bites and zaatar crackers to whiskey pecans and candied pistachios. They also share insights on how founders can save big and stand out at BevNET's upcoming events in L.A. Show notes: 0:25: Back Home, Back To L.A. Register, Attend, Win. Here And Now. Hot Dog Chips & Urban Shak...

George Howell may have sold his company to Starbucks — but he never sold out. A pioneer of the specialty coffee movement, George began his journey in 1975 with the founding of The Coffee Connection, a beloved Boston-based chain that helped redefine what American coffee could be. Nearly two decades later, Starbucks acquired the company – but George wasn't finished. In 2012, he re-entered the retail...

Is Target about to normalize THC drinks? The team unpacks a potentially game-changing move by the retail giant, and what it could mean for the future of cannabis beverages. They unpack the regulatory roadblocks and why the move might be a tipping point. Plus, why PepsiCo is calling fiber "the next protein," and a look at fresh CPG innovations, including a surprisingly convenient twist on tomato pa...

The latest episode of Taste Radio's Elevator Talk spotlights innovative leaders from All Día, Grisly's Cosmic, Sipli, Olia and Birdie. In this installment, founders and CEOs introduce their brands and share recent company updates and milestones. This week's special co-host is Andrew Guard, the founder of Right Coast Brands. He offers insightful questions, thoughtful feedback, and strategic perspec...

In a category flooded with fast-followers and flashy branding, Straightaway Cocktails is taking a radically different path: embracing the hard way. In this episode, founder and CEO Cy Cain reveals how the Portland-based brand is carving out a distinct space in the booming ready-to-drink category by prioritizing bar-quality cocktails crafted from in-house ingredients and held to uncompromising stan...

Fresh off an exhilarating meetup in London, the team shines a spotlight on the standout brands that captivated attendees at the event. They delve into how fiber-forward brands are reshaping their categories and why Gen X might be your brand's unexpected secret weapon. This episode also revisits insightful interviews from Taste Radio's San Diego meetup, featuring Sol-ti CCO Shawn Hamilton and visio...

What kind of founder drives a U-Haul full of perishable product through the desert at 3 A.M.… and calls it progress? That's the kind of relentless, purpose-driven hustle behind Forager Project, the plant-based food and beverage company reshaping what dairy-free can taste and feel like. In this episode, co-founders Stephen Williamson and JC Hanley open up about the mission-fueled (and occasionally...

On location in London, the hosts delve into emerging trends and spotlight the brands and entrepreneurs driving innovation in the food and beverage space. Their discussion offers a look at what's gaining traction across the pond… and what may soon be making its way to the U.S. market. Show notes: 0:25: Dine & Dash. Feisty Missions. Not Your Father's Whole Foods. Fizzy Tea FTW? Wedges & Broc. – Ray...

The latest episode of Taste Radio's Elevator Talk spotlights innovative leaders from Statesman Marinades, Harlem Baking Company, Häppy Candy, OKO and Sun Ghee. In this installment, founders and CEOs introduce their brands and share recent company updates and milestones. This week's special co-host isRifle Hughes, the co-founder of Integral CPG. He offers insightful questions, thoughtful feedback,...

The latest episode of Taste Radio's Elevator Talk spotlights innovative leaders fromStatesman Marinades, Harlem Baking Company, Häppy Candy, OKO and Sun Ghee. In this installment, founders and CEOs introduce their brands and share recent company updates and milestones. This week's special co-host isRifle Hughes, the co-founder of Integral CPG. He offers insightful questions, thoughtful feedback, a...

The latest episode of Taste Radio's Elevator Talk spotlights innovative leaders fromStatesman Marinades, Harlem Baking Company, Häppy Candy, OKO and Sun Ghee. In this installment, founders and CEOs introduce their brands and share recent company updates and milestones. This week's special co-host isRifle Hughes, the co-founder of Integral CPG. He offers insightful questions, thoughtful feedback, a...

The latest episode of Taste Radio's Elevator Talk spotlights innovative leaders fromStatesman Marinades, Harlem Baking Company, Häppy Candy, OKO and Sun Ghee. In this installment, founders and CEOs introduce their brands and share recent company updates and milestones. This week's special co-host isRifle Hughes, the co-founder of Integral CPG. He offers insightful questions, thoughtful feedback, a...

Hurray's Girl Beer isn't just another craft brand. It's a calculated rebellion against an industry stuck in the past. In this episode, Hurray's founder Ray Biebuyck joins Taste Radio editor Ray Latif and Brewbound managing editor Jess Infante to share her vision for a beer brand that doesn't just challenge convention, it openly mocks it. Witty, unapologetic, and intentionally unorthodox, Hurray's...

Ten years ago, the idea of canned milk powering a fast-growing brand might have seemed far-fetched. And yet, Slate – which recently announced $23 million in fresh funding – has proven just how powerful a novel concept can be. What can CPG founders – and the industry at large – learn from its rise? The hosts also look back on an unforgettable meetup in San Francisco, where industry veterans, inside...