Taste Radio

"Walked out this morning, I don't believe what I saw. Hundred billion bottles washed up on the shore." Those lyrics from the hit song "Message In A Bottle" by The Police probably touched a nerve with Josh White. The young British DJ had become increasingly dismayed by the sight of throngs of single-serve plastic water bottles appearing on exotic beaches.  As he considered the problem, one solution...

Collaborations – the good, the strange, and the wow – anchor this episode. The hosts debate whether a tomato-based wine co-created by Pizza Hut can help change the fortunes of a sluggish industry and discuss an unusual, but effective, marketing campaign featuring a partnership between sex workers and non-alcoholic spirits. This episode features an interview with Bella Hughes and Semira Nikou, the...

Luke Boase launched Lucky Saint in 2018, but he says the brand's potential for an iconic future has always been top of mind. As the leading dedicated non-alcoholic beer brand in the U.K., Lucky Saint is sold in over 10,000 points of distribution in the country, including more than 1,000 pubs and restaurants. That number includes its own bar in London, aptly named The Lucky Saint, which operates at...

Innovative protein brands and proactive meetings. The hosts advocate for both in this episode, which also features an interview with Trey Zoeller, the founder of pioneering whiskey maker Jefferson's Bourbon, a brand recognized by and awarded for its Ocean Aged At Sea expression, a whiskey matured on ships that travel around the world. Show notes: 0:25: Bag It. Face To Face > Email. Take A Minute....

Most Americans eat cold bread. Ismail Salhi and Johanna Hartzheim are changing that dynamic one loaf at a time. Ismail and Johanna are the founders of Wildgrain, a subscription-based service that ships boxes of par-baked frozen sourdough, pastries and hand-cut pasta to customers across the country. The married couple and business partners came to the U.S. after years of living in Paris and wanted...

The world needs plant-based spam. Nootropic beverages will make a comeback in 2025. T-shirts are the best brand swag. It's buy-or-sell time, and the hosts transact in opinions. This episode also features interviews with the leaders of two fast-growing U.K.-based CPG companies: Jack Scott, the co-founder of flavored sparkling water brand Dash, and Kathryn Bricken, the founder of Doughlicious, a bra...

Olivia Ferdi is obsessed with the details.  The co-founder of Trip, a U.K.-based brand of lightly sparkling functional beverages intended to help people relax, Olivia says that a passion for the particulars is a key reason why Trip is the fastest-growing soft drink brand in the U.K. and currently preparing for a major expansion of its retail presence in the American market. Trip debuted in 2019 an...

Another episode, another billion-dollar deal. In this case, the buyer (KDP), if not the brand (Ghost), is somewhat surprising. The hosts have their say. They also highlight a couple spicy collaborations, but are divided on one of them. We also speak with Lexy Prosszer, an investment principal at U.K.-based venture capital firm Btomorrow Ventures, which is focused on investments in innovative, func...

Ben Branson is not the kind of person you'd find at a cocktail party. In fact, he loathes socializing. And, yet, he's deeply invested in its future. Ben is best known as the founder of Seedlip, the pioneering nonalcoholic spirit brand that was at the forefront of the now burgeoning category of zero proof beverages.  In 2019, Ben sold a majority stake of Seedlip to beverage alcohol conglomerate Dia...

It turns out that superheroes and 'saints' enjoy beer and cocktails, particularly when the libations are of the non-alcoholic variety.  The hosts chat about actor Tom Holland's foray into CPG with NA beer Bero, before riffing on an enlightening collaboration between an up-and-coming wine company and personal care brand. We also feature an interview with Megan Klein, the founder and CEO of Little S...

Biena was at a crossroads. Five years ago, the brand's popular roasted chickpeas were widely distributed at natural and conventional grocery chains, including Walmart, Whole Foods and Target, and the brand was making significant headway in travel retail stores. That year, Biena also completed an $8 million Series B funding round and launched an innovative line of chickpea puffs that helped establi...

How do U.K. CPG brands compare to their U.S. counterparts? How do the two markets differ? On the ground in London, the hosts discuss their experience at last week's Cheers! The Drinks Summit event and highlight innovative snacks and beverages they encountered at visits to local retail chains and specialty stores. Show notes: 0:25: What Day Is It? Possessive Peeve. Jacqui x Ox Heart. Club Soda. Iro...

How do you top a $600 million exit? If you're Peter Rahal, you aim for one that's four times bigger. Anything less, he says, would be a failure.  Peter is one of the co-founders of RXBAR, a platform brand of clean ingredient protein snacks created in 2013. Four years after the brand's debut, it was acquired by Kellogg for the aforementioned nine figure sum. Earlier this year, Peter launched David,...

With Taste Radio's London meetups on the horizon, the hosts have their say on trendy brands, new products and the coming crush of seasonal LTOs. They share their respective takes on David, the high-profile protein bar brand launched by RXBAR co-founder Peter Rahal and whether decaf coffee is about to take off. They also get giddy about green cocktails and a record-breaking advent calendar. Show no...

For the first 65 years of its existence, Maker's Mark had no innovation department. The legacy whiskey brand, known for its red wax coated bottle necks and premium, yet approachable, bourbon, had long focused on quality and consistency in favor of new product development. The spirits industry, however, is evolving. Consumers are placing greater value on innovative concepts and embracing creative o...

What is the impact of PepsiCo's $1.2 billion acquisition of Siete Foods on emerging food and beverage brands? Will the deal entice investors to make more bets on new and innovative concepts? Will everyday Americans benefit from the deal? Lots of questions, and the hosts answer them all.  They also discuss upcoming Taste Radio meetups in London ( and how to register for them ), a budding partnershi...

Jeff Church knows the highs and lows of brand-building like few do.  A serial entrepreneur, Jeff co-founded cold-pressed juice pioneer Suja and led its development to a $100 million brand. Jeff also lost over $4 million of his own money in Rowdy Energy, a now defunct energy drink challenger he co-founded with NASCAR driver Kyle Busch. Jeff's experience and perspective on how brands succeed – and t...

  The gang's all here… in San Diego. The hosts convene at BevNET's west coast office where they talk about how Fly By Jing nailed its foray into a popular food category and also highlight the debut of a convenient ethnic comfort food brand and Olipop's upgrade on a legacy soda flavor. Show notes: 0:25: "You Know Things." Saucy Stains. - Jacqui kicks things off with her favorite daily affirmations,...

How do you convince investors to bet over $100 million on your innovative beverage company? If you're Matt Roberts, you start by making them a great cup of coffee. Matt is the founder of Cometeer Coffee, which markets innovative frozen coffee capsules crafted using premium coffee beans sourced from leading specialty roasters. The single-serve capsules can be used to make hot or cold coffee, and ar...

When worlds collide, do consumers benefit? The hosts weigh in on Lunchly, the much hyped new Lunchables competitor launched by uber influencers and entrepreneurs Mr. Beast, Logan Paul and KSI. They also highlight unusual collaborations between fashion and consumer brands, and reach for healthy soups and shots. Show notes: 0:25: LOUIE-ville? Church Time. The Kids Are Not Alright. Breakfast Totes. M...

Kaveh Zamanian is a cool customer.  The founder of Rabbit Hole Distillery, Kaveh's relaxed personality is immediately apparent. That's not to say that he hasn't felt the anxiety and strain of building a brand. As he tells it, Kaveh had spent many nights on his knees "praying to whoever would listen" that his vision for Rabbit Hole would come to fruition. A former clinical psychologist, Kaveh launc...

It's another drag for canna-brands. The hosts discuss an emergency regulation in California that would remove food and beverage brands containing hemp-derived THC from stores in the state. They also wonder about the runway for a trendy flavor and highlight several new and unusual products. Show notes: 0:25: Wine Under A Bridge. London Via San Diego. Explosive Ranch. Is It 1991? Dumplings & Drinks....

At one point during our conversation with Four Sigmatic founder and CEO Tero Isokauppila, he recounts a story about playing golf with the CEO of a large and well-known U.S. retailer. The executive told Tero that Four Sigmatic wouldn't be successful because of its esoteric brand name. It's fair to say that the CEO underestimated the trailblazing company. Founded in 2012, Four Sigmatic pioneered the...

Was Newtopia Now worth a visit? Why are founders flocking to San Diego? Is "Side Hustlers" the new "Shark Tank"? What's going on with instant noodles? And, is drinking pastrami a real thing? All good questions. The hosts have answers. Show notes: 0:25: Naked + Famous. Sippin' In The CPH. Newtopia FOMO. Meet Up. Reese W. Instant Debate. Deli Drink. – Ray and Mike are back after a two-week hiatus an...

He may be nicknamed "The Beverage Whisperer," but when Ken Sadowsky speaks he's heard loud and clear.  A longtime industry advisor and investor, Ken is one of the most respected and influential voices in the beverage business. Ken is currently the executive director of The Northeastern Independent Distributors Association, known as NIDA, a group of wholesalers that operate in states from Maine to...