Taste Radio

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 throughout the show’s past five seasons during which Kyle has given viewers an inside look into the brand’s development.

“Summer House” has been a boon for building awareness and eliciting trial of Loverboy, but Kyle points out that the brand wouldn’t have the traction it does without delivering on the better-for-you ingredients and flavor that consumers are increasingly seeking out from RTD alcoholic beverages. Consumer demand has generated plenty of retailer interest; the brand is currently available nationally at Kroger, Whole Foods and Total Wine & More. 

In this interview, Kyle speaks about how he has cultivated an authentic connection between Loverboy and its consumers, how ingredient quality generates new interest, the reason that merchandise has become a key profit center for the company, and why, despite having 470,000 followers on Instagram, he wants to “make a better effort” on social media.

Show notes:

0:35: Kyle Cooke, Founder & CEO, Loverboy – Kyle and Taste Radio editor Ray Latif reminisce on their first meeting as contestant and host of BevNET’s first Cocktail Showdown competition, why he prefers the title of “entrepreneur” more than “reality TV star,” and how his dedication to being a television personality is directly related the development of Loverboy. He also explains how the company converts novelty interest into loyal consumers, what dictates brand aesthetic, why he’s confident in Loverboy’s ability to compete with the leading hard tea brand and how he assesses alignment between Loverboy consumers and viewers of “Summer House.” Later, Kyle talks about how merchandise “cements Loverboy as a lifestyle brand” and why his celebrity sometimes works against him in pitch meetings.

Brands in this episode: Loverboy, Twisted Tea, Mid-Day Squares, Nectar Hard Seltzer

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 savory snacks and libations. 

Show notes:

0:35: Super Random. Unofficially Ready. A Majority Stake. What To Do About UPF. Karma, Cake. – Jacqui’s thrifty sensibilities kick things off, before the hosts talk about NOSH’s multi-part guide to Expo West and offer their two cents on a big ‘booch deal and why it makes sense. Errol Schweizer’s opinion piece about why now is the time to reinvent processed foods has Ray once again leaping onto his soap box, stirring the pot and pointing fingers, while John, Jacqui and Mike offer their own perspectives on the subject. Ray shares a new snack and dip with John, Mike gets everyone’s tongue tingling, Jacqui has a perfect snack for Coachella and a new line of “petit” and easy bake cakes gets a big thumbs up. 

Brands in this episode: Oatly, Pacific Foods, Juneshine, Flying Embers, Crooked Owl, Saffron Road, Stouffer’s, Hungry Man, Annie’s, Simple Mills, Banza, Trix, Iggy’s, Ithaca Hummus, Utz, Mike’s Hot Honey, Tingly, Koko & Karma, Gateaux, C4

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 most popular podcasts in the U.S. He’s known as a life coach to the stars, praised by the likes of Gwenyth Paltrow, Matt Damon, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck. He also has a vast following on social media, with over 15 million followers on Instagram and nearly 5 million subscribers on YouTube.  

In 2021, Jay and his wife Radhi Devlukia-Shetty, herself a popular fitness and plant-based foods influencer, launched Sama, a brand of tea sachets made with natural and adaptogenic ingredients. That concept evolved into Juni, a four-SKU line of ready-to-drink sparkling teas made with a “Super 5” blend of adaptogens and nootropics, including green tea, lion’s mane, acerola cherry, reishi mushroom and ashwagandha. The beverages, which contain no sugar and five calories per 12 oz. can, recently landed chainwide distribution at Sprouts.

In this episode, Jay speaks about how Juni fits into his purview for mental health and physical wellness, the criteria he uses to identify alignment with potential business partners, and how the intersection of human behavior and evolution of social media impacts consumer habits and their motivation to try new things. He also explains why three “F”’s are key to Juni’s positioning and marketing strategy and what he means when he says that happiness is “overrated.”

Show notes:

0:35: Jay Shetty, Co-Founder, Juni – Shetty speaks with Taste Radio host and editor Ray Latif about his affinity for weekends and why boredom isn’t a bad thing, before engaging in a rapid fire game of word association (hear his take on purpose, love, authenticity, leadership and entrepreneurship). Jay then discusses the origins of Juni and its ties to his childhood, the use of adaptogenic ingredients, his expectations vs. reality of starting a beverage business, how the brand is attempting to make “goodness” accessible, fun and versatile and why he urges entrepreneurs to “have real clarity on why you’re doing what you’re doing and what that is.” He also talks about Juni’s rebrand, why he believes in the adage “the obstacle is the way,” how he incorporates Juni into his social media content and the effectiveness of different social platforms on building awareness and driving trial. Later, he explains why he’s interested in listening to this interview in a few years, whether he perceives stress differently now that he is a beverage entrepreneur and why he “revels in uncertainty.”

Brands in this episode: Juni

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 developed products that taste remarkably similar to – and, in some cases, better than – the familiar items that have become refrigerator and pantry staples.

In this episode, the hosts highlight several entrepreneurial brands that are winning over consumers and retail buyers with healthier ingredients and comparable taste to that of traditional counterparts. They also discuss Liquid Death’s Death Dust, a new line of drink powders that (surprise, surprise!) have generated some controversy.

Show notes:

0:35: John Isn’t A Star Wars Guy. Blue Damn Raspberry. Stickers Of Approval. Expo Secrets Revealed. – John returns to the studio after a few days at the Magic Kingdom (yes, Disney does cocktails), Ray gives him a welcome home present and shocks the other hosts with his praise for candy of a certain flavor. Mike once again gets frustrated with perfection and explains why DNS praise will likely be in demand at Expo West, Ray and Jacqui tease a secret schedule at the event, the hosts collectively crunch on pita chips and pasta snacks and wonder if “Death to Plastic” is passé.

Brands in this episode: Joyride Candy, Elavi, Fuel, Remedy Organics, Fruit Riot, Better Sour, Behave Candy, Smart Sweets, Pepperidge Farm, Revive Kombucha, Ruby, Zesty Z, Stacy’s Pita Chips, Vintage Italia Penne Straws, S’noods, Liquid Death, Prime

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 Foods, Sprouts, HEB, The Fresh Market and Wegmans. Immi has pulled in nearly $14 million in outside capital, including funding from R&B icon Usher and professional tennis star Naomi Osaka.

It might be easy to view immi’s rapid start and assume that its founders have done most things right. But as with many young brands, a lot of things went wrong before immi eventually found its footing. Patience, the founders’ overarching vision to “create a nourished and happier world,” and consistently reminding themselves that challenges may lay ahead have been keys to the company’s current trajectory.

In this episode, co-founder Kevin Lee spoke about how immi’s emphasis on community building has paid off, how the brand recovered when its first batch of products were poorly received, why the company doesn’t stress about a financial return on its investment in social media and why monthly strategy calls end with urgency about the unknown.

Show notes:

0:35: Kevin Lee, Co-Founder, immi – Kevin spoke with Taste Radio editor Ray Latif about why immi has generated so much enthusiasm within the industry, why he urges founders to place equal focus on community-building and brand-building and how honest, open communication with its consumers and investors helped the company navigate an early misstep. He also discussed immi’s fundraising strategy and why it’s selective about choosing investment partners, the brand’s unorthodox approach to content creation and why #hopecore is a key theme, how its admired “ramen on the street” social series finally found an audience and his admission that fear is personally challenging but an important aspect of business planning.

Brands in this episode: immi, Bloom Nutrition

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 Ritz “White.” 

We also feature an interview with Amy Racine, the beverage director for New York-based hospitality group JF Restaurants, about the evolution of on-premise drinking culture. Amy speaks on how current trends in wine and spirits influence beverage strategy, the impact of consumers becoming more educated and informed about higher quality adult beverages and why she compares growing demand for no and low-alcohol drinks to that of vegetarian food.

Show notes:

0:43: Dr. Evil Craven. Jacqui Uses Eventbrite. Mike Is A Propaganda Hunter. Cannabis On Tap? Crunch Time – John was out of town, but his presence – and tweets – were felt. Jacqui gives a rundown of a not-so-secret magic mushrooms convention, Mike gets mad at the government (again!), and the hosts collectively wonder about the potential for mushroom and cannabis drinks poured next to beer. They also share their takes on adaptogen-infused energy drink and soda brands and sampled S’noods, a new “chef-driven, globally-inspired noodle snack.”

34:03: Interview: Amy Racine, Beverage Director, JF Restaurants –  Amy oversees the beverage selection at all JF Restaurants properties, which are helmed by Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur John Fraser. JF Restaurants operates several fine dining destinations in New York, Los Angeles and Tampa and recently opened an innovative food hall in Downtown Boston. Amy leads new cocktail development and curates wine lists as part of an overall focus to present unique and well-paired options for guests.

Brands in this episode: Calexo, Magic Cactus, Wynk, Cann, Drippy, Poppi, Ritz, Melting Forest, Popadelics, Good Dirt, S’noods, Date Better, Brazi Bites, Nommii, Seedlip

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 known for its 100% grass-fed beef sticks, along with all-natural chicken and turkey varieties, and is carried at retailers nationwide including Whole Foods, Sprouts, Giant, The Fresh Market and Lazy Acres. Noble Made markets a range of clean ingredient products including reduced-sugar BBQ sauces, dairy-free buffalo sauces, meat seasonings and a “Sloppy Joseph” skillet sauce, many of which are available at the same retailers as The New Primal.

Although Jason and his team have built The New Primal into one of the best-selling natural meat snack brands in the U.S., he is consistently evaluating its retail strategy and ways to enhance its products’ standing among buyers and consumers. 

In this interview, recorded during a leadership event hosted by Manna Tree, a Vail-based private equity firm that led The New Primal’s $15 million Series B funding round in 2021, Jason spoke about how to demonstrate incremental value during pitch meetings, the impact of mission as a differentiator, why he views multinational and legacy brands as his chief competitors and how he is increasingly using his personal platform to create and develop authentic relationships with consumers.

Show notes:

0:43: Jason Burke, Founder & CEO, The New Primal – Jason and Taste Radio editor Ray Latif chatted about their last conversation for Taste Radio before the entrepreneur discussed the decision to launch Noble Made. Jason also discussed how data influences The New Primal’s retail strategy, how to establish a defensible position when competing against large CPG companies, how to generate brand enthusiasm to develop loyal consumers and how he’s creating a more visible presence for himself and his brands via social media and podcasting.

Brands in this episode: The New Primal, Noble Made, Slim Jim

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, among other recently launched products.

This episode also includes an interview with Ross Iverson, a managing partner with private equity firm Manna Tree and Gotham Greens co-founder and CEO Viraj Puri and who discuss their relationship as mission-driven investor and entrepreneur.

Show notes:

0:35: Super Ad. John & Jacqui’s CPG Adventures. Expo West VIPs. Ray Rants. Fruitcake & Liver. – The show opens with a review of Poppi’s “Big Game” commercial and why AriZona Beverages has never produced one. John and Jacqui spoke about attending a trio of recently held industry events in San Diego before the hosts collectively discussed the benefits that Taste Radio VIPs can encounter at Expo West, a  diet soda intended to appeal to Gen Z consumers, and a new line of cereals launched by General Mills that got Ray standing on a soap box. They also munched on beef heart and liver-based meat sticks and chocolate-coated fruitcake and sipped on collagen tea.

30:44: Ross Iverson, Manna Tree & Viraj Puri, Gotham Greens – Manna Tree, a global investment firm that describes itself as “committed to improving human health through nutrition,” led Gotham Greens’ $87 million Series D round which was announced in 2020 and also participated in the indoor farming company’s $330 million Series E round, completed in 2022. In this conversation, recorded during Manna Tree’s Leadership Summit, held in January, Gotham Greens co-founder and CEO Viraj Puri joined Ross Iverson, a managing partner with Manna Tree, for a conversation in which they shared insights into a relationship in which both are aligned on mission, purpose and profit. 

Brands in this episode: Gotham Greens, Poppi, Pepsi, Olipop, BodyArmor, AriZona Beverages, Huy Fong Foods, Safety Shot, Fishwife, Souzu, Cien Chiles, Mooski, Nguyen Coffee Supply, Coca-Cola, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Cocoa Puffs, Trix, Onyx Coffee Lab, Sweet Nutrition, Beatrice Bakery, Country Archer, Slim Jim, Moshi, Aura Collagen Tea, GT’s

“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 Foods, Kroger, Albertsons, Sprouts and The Fresh Market.

According to the company, Gotham Greens’ farms use up to 95% less water and 97% less land compared to conventional farming as a way to provide “sustainable supply chain solutions to its diverse retail and foodservice customers.” Investors have bet big on Gotham Greens’ business strategy and vision: since 2009, the company has raised $440 million, including a $330 Series E round that was announced in September 2022.  

The funding has helped Gotham Greens grow from a single urban rooftop greenhouse in Brooklyn to one of the largest hydroponic leafy green producers in North America. Yet while its operations evolve and footprint expands, Gotham Greens co-founder and CEO Viraj Puri says that the company remains rooted in its core principles and that his passion and conviction for the brand are as intense as ever.

In this podcast, recorded during a leadership event in Vail hosted by Gotham Greens investor Manna Tree, Viraj spoke about how he has maintained focus amid the company’s evolution, managing new and complex responsibilities as CEO, assessing when to step on the gas (and when to release the pedal),  and what he considers to be his biggest mistake and best decision.

Show notes:

0:43: Viraj Puri, Co-Founder & CEO, Gotham Greens – Viraj and Ray chatted about wearing beard nets and the entrepreneur’s weekly consumption of Gotham Greens products before he shared his perspective on how the company has grown since 2011. He also explained the impact of trust and hiring his evolution as a CEO, how he communicates belief and scaling potential to employees, incorporating investor input on business strategy and why retailer strategy is tied to the geographical location of Gotham Greens’ greenhouses. Viraj also discussed opportunities in foodservice and the company’s partnership with Sweetgreen and why he encourages group thought, but errs on the side of satisfying customers.

Brands in this episode: Gotham Greens

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 moss-based chocolate pudding.

Show notes:

0:35: No Sun S.D. Yo, TCHO! Mike Is Stuntin’. Lots Of Selling. BFY Candy Bar FTW. – Jacqui and John shared deets from a recent Naturally San Diego community meetup, Mike and Ray showed two distinct ways of sampling sriracha and the hosts collectively wondered about the runway for olive oil-infused coffee. And while they didn’t all love cheese-flavored chocolate and had different opinions on pop rock-infused Oreos, they showed love for two emerging brands with sweet sensibilities.

Brands in this episode: Chef’s Life, TCHO, Jolly Moss, Starbucks, Huy Fong, Roland Foods, Oatly, Harney & Sons, Partanna, Evolution Fresh, Fireball, Coca-Cola, Oreo, Mountain Dew, Lesser Evil, Funyuns, Harken Sweets, Snickers, Mars Bar, Gigantic Candy

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. provider of USDA certified organic, 100% grass-fed and 100% free-range beef, offering ground beef, steaks and stew meat. The Massachusetts-based brand sources beef from a network of family farmers in Uruguay, Australia and North America and touts its adherence to sustainable and substantiated business practices, including regenerative agriculture.

In 2020, Manna Tree, a Vail-based global investment firm whose mantra is to improve human health through nutrition, acquired a minority stake in Verde Farms for $15 million. At the time, Manna Tree noted that “consumers today are more keenly attuned to the impacts of their purchase decisions from a health and sustainability standpoint” and described Verde Farms as well-positioned to meet them where they shop. The brand is currently represented in several major retail chains, including Target, Harris Teeter, BJ’s, The Fresh Market and Albertsons. 

In an interview recorded during Manna Tree’s recent leadership summit in Colorado, Brad spoke about how Verde Farms is attempting to democratize access to organic and grass-fed beef, why consumers view brand attributes in a holistic way, weighing investor expectations vs. mission-based goals, and why the company invests significantly in customer and consumer service.

0:43: Brad Johnson, CEO, Verde Farms – Brad spoke with Taste Radio editor Ray Latif about his background in Colorado and the meat business, Verde Farms’ origin story and how the company attempts to communicate feeling and emotion. He also discussed Verde’s pricing strategy, competition within the premium meat segment, why education and branding are the keys to its marketing strategy and how the brand is assessing opportunities in foodservice and growing consumer demand for clean label protein. Brad also explained how the company defines success and its role in promoting regenerative agriculture. 

Brands in this episode: Verde Farms, The New Primal

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 episode also features a conversation with Good Culture co-founder and CEO Jesse Merrill and Steve Young, a managing partner with private equity firm Manna Tree, about the synergy between profit and purpose.

0:35: Jan, We Hardly Knew Thee. Expo What? VIPs Always Get Perks. Granola, Beans, Oats & Vibes. – Upon the arrival of a new month, the hosts looked ahead to Expo West 2024 and noted benefits that Taste Radio VIPs can receive at the event. They also chatted about Poppi’s new TV advertisement, sampled a new line of “cookie granola,” spoke about why a “basic” oat milk might resonate with Gen Z consumers and lauded luxury brownies and cold-brewed tea.

31:54: Interview: Steve Young, Managing Partner, Manna Tree & Jesse Merrill, Co-Founder/CEO, Good Culture – During Manna Tree’s Leadership Summit in Vail, Colorado, Steve and Jesse sat down with Taste Radio editor Ray Latif for a conversation that began with a review of morning routines and why the Good Culture CEO no longer wakes up with anxiety. The discussion shifted to the interaction between investor and entrepreneur, balancing core values and business fundamentals, and why patience is a key aspect of their relationship. Jesse also explained why Good Culture prioritizes “consumer love and consumer demand” and why they both agree that “mission drives return” on investment.

Brands in this episode: Good Culture, Poppi, Olipop, Culture Pop, Pepsi, Coke, Athletic Brewing, Ithaca Hummus, Nature’s Bakery, Fig Newton, Somos, Heyday Canning, A Dozen Cousins, Purely Elizabeth, Oatly, MALK, Lexington Bakes, Honey Mama’s, Erva, Weekday Vibes

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.”

Launched in 2015, Good Culture markets a variety of cultured dairy products, including its flagship line of certified organic, pasture-raised, stabilizer and additive-free cottage cheese, along with sour cream, cream cheese and milk. A certified B Corporation and partner of 1% for the Planet, Good Culture products are sold nationally at Whole Foods, Target, Ralphs, Walmart, Sprouts and Kroger.

In 2022, the company completed a $64 Million Series C funding round led by mission-driven private equity firm Manna Tree which also included investment from actress Kristen Bell. At the time, Good Culture was generating $70 million in annual retail sales and targeting $100 million in sales for the fiscal year.

In this episode, Jesse spoke about how Good Culture aligns mission and values with business fundamentals, why proof of concept and velocity are keys to its growth strategy, being maniacal about delivering on the products’ key attributes and how the best advice he ever received has benefited the company. 

Show notes:

0:43: Interview: Jesse Merrill, Co-Founder & CEO, Good Culture – Jesse spoke with Taste Radio editor Ray Latif amid Manna Tree’s Leadership Summit in Vail, Colorado and discussed his transition from the beverage industry into food, how he addressed early naysayers of Good Culture, holding ground on mission and values with retail partners and investors and why timing is critical when saying “yes” or “no.” He also explained why non-promotional “velocity is the number brand health metric,” why the company waited until it had established enough equity with its core business before innovating in other categories, how he views realistic versus ambitious goals and how both the worst and best advice he ever received impacted Good Culture’s development.

Brands in this episode: Good Culture, Annie’s

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 attributes for consumers of natural brands, and how Gen Z and Alpha’s current spending patterns can inform brands about where to invest their resources.

The Manna Tree event also featured fireside chats with General Mills M&A director Andrew Petz and Holly Adrien, who leads natural and organic strategy for Kroger and is the retailer’s innovation manager, each of whom shared insights about their respective roles amid an evolving landscape for natural products.

Ray attended the event and shared takeaways in this episode, which also includes the hosts’ assessment of Nutrabolt’s investment in supplement brand Bloom Nutrition and the acquisition of plant-based creamer brand nutpods. The hosts also riffed on a handful of new products, including Heath-Ade’s new soda brand Sunsip.

Show notes:

0:35: When In Vail, Vest Up. Time To Invest In Sustainable Packaging? A Good Match. Jacqui’s Peas. – The hosts commented on Ray’s unusual outfit and lack of ski plans before he gave a summary of business presentations from Manna Tree’s Leadership Summit, held earlier in the week. Amid the synopsis, they chatted about why a high-profile cereal company was struggling to find an acquirer, best practices for connecting with retailer buyers and a few expectations for Expo West. Ray shared his take on Health-Ade’s latest attempt at soda, while John and Mike spiced things up with new hot sauces and chili crisps and Jacqui shared her passion for peas.

Brands in this episode: Gotham Greens, Health-Ade, The New Primal, Good Culture, Verde Farms, C4, Bloom Nutrition, nutpods, Sunsip, Red Clay, Truff, Muci, Bhuja, Magic Spoon

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, including zero–sugar hydration powders and instant mushroom coffee. IQBAR is carried in over 10,000 locations, including Walmart, Sprouts, Wegmans, BJ's Wholesale, Vitamin Shoppe and H-E-B.

Over the past six years, Will has chronicled his experience as an entrepreneur via daily posts on Linkedin where he shares words of encouragement and lessons learned from building an upstart brand. But he’s careful to contextualize insights and advice – including those about IQBAR’s successful ecommerce strategy and its unorthodox approach to financing – as specific to his business and not necessarily applicable to other brands.

Nevertheless, he has the attention of many founders who praise his candid takes on the food and beverage industry. Will is equally forthright in the following interview, in which he shares and explains his perspective on everything from fundraising (“Bootstrapping is the worst thing you can do.”) and staffing (“How can we build a $50 million brand with a staff of six?”) to retail strategy (“Choose channels that scale well.). 

Show notes:

0:43: Interview: Will Nitze, Founder & CEO, IQBAR – Nitze spoke about his recent move from Boston to Miami and why IQBAR has always been a remotely operated company, how posting daily content on Linkedin has helped grow his following and why he’s cautions founders active on the platform not to confuse some information with actionable advice. He also explained how trial and error has been the best education on how to build a brand, the value of e-commerce success in landing distribution at brick and mortar retailers, how his realization that “people don’t really want brain food” impacted business strategy and why he hates hiring employees. Later, he explained why you can’t negotiate well without telling really good stories, how innovation impacts investor interest and how to assess timing when launching brand extensions.

Brands in this episode: IQBAR, Nutpods, Reese’s

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 episode also features an interview with Mike and Janell Bass, the co-founders of Ponyboy Slings, a brand of ready-to-drink craft bourbon cocktails, who shared insights and advice on how to prepare for and win a pitch slam competition.

Show notes:

0:41: New Cap. $1.1 Billion - It’s A Writeoff! The Demonization Of UP Food. Snackable Croutons. – Ray’s new hat went unnoticed, but Drizly’s looming closure was anything but. Jacqui commented on an eye-opening take on ultra-processed food penned by Nosh’s Monica Watrous and the hosts collectively said the phrase “Deez Nuts” approximately 50 times. They also snacked on croutons and date pops (or are they bites?), sipped on non-alcoholic espresso negronis and ate Miller Lite-flavored breath fresheners.

26:46: Interview: Mike and Janell Bass, Co-Founders, Ponyboy Slings –  Mike and Janell Bass are the founders of Ponyboy Slings, an upstart brand of bourbon-based canned cocktails that won BevNET’s 2023 Cocktail Showdown. In this interview, they spoke about how they assessed the opportunity to participate in the competition, why aligning presentation and stage performance was critical to their victory, how creating a list of potential judges’ questions was a key part of their preparation, and why they encourage pitch slam contenders to practice their pitch while washing dishes.

Brands in this episode: Ponyboy Slings, Heaven’s Door Spirits, Feastables, Dee’s Nuts, Rise Brewing Co., Mountain Dew, Liquid Death, AriZona Beverages, Heyday Canning, Kooshy, Joolies, Myna, St. Agrestis, Bad Idea, Miller Lite, Altoids

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 natural botanicals and designed to mimic the flavor and burn of a classic spirit. The brand markets gin, whiskey, tequila, rum and aperitifs and is available nationally at retailers including Total Wine and Binny's Beverage Depot, as well as select Kroger banners and Hy-Vee locations. 

Shortly before the debut of Ritual Zero Proof, the brand received a minority investment from global beverage alcohol company Diageo via its partnership with Distill Ventures, a venture capital firm and accelerator that invests in disruptive distilled spirit companies and non-alcoholic beverage brands. 

In a press release about the deal, Ritual Zero Proof co-founder Marcus Sakey noted that “Americans want more choice,” and that non-alcoholic spirits represent an endurable shift in consumers’ ability to choose what and when they want to drink, a statement echoed by executives at Diageo and Distill Ventures. 

In this episode, Sakey spoke about the impact of Ritual Zero Proof’s business strategy, liquid and branding in how Distill Ventures evaluated the company. He also spoke about how the brand became an anchor in an increasingly crowded category, the evolution of its marketing strategy, and how he assesses challenges from and advantages over new and existing brands.

Show notes:

0:43: Interview: Marcus Sakey, Co-Founder, Ritual Zero Proof – Sakey spoke with Taste Radio editor about Ritual Zero Proof’s recent partnership with restaurant chain Uno Pizzeria & Grill and why he isn’t abstaining from alcohol during “Dry January.” He also discussed the inspiration behind the brand, the undrinkable original kitchen recipe, how hustling to get the attention of a Distill Ventures executive paid off, why sampling is often challenging but critical to converting skeptics and building relationships with consumers, and how the company considers ways to improve taste and aroma. 

Brands in this episode: Ritual Zero Proof, Athletic Brewing, Guinness

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 break through the clutter and develop a sustainable connection with their audiences.

Show notes:

0:35: Wrestleball, X Ain’t The Spot, Ray Loves Wendy’s, Dank & Dry, The Year of Better-For-You Chex Mix? – Within the first five minutes of the episode, John shared his strange social media habits, Jacqui said that she? likes “roughing people up” and Ray explained why he thinks Twitter (err X) is toxic. The hosts heaped praise on several brands whose social media strategies they admire, and pointed out specific posts as examples of how to generate humor and enthusiasm in authentic ways. They also sampled a Whistlepig’s non-alcoholic, cannabis terpene-infused bottled cocktail, a spicy honey and an even spicier hot pot condiment, and discussed the variety of new Chex Mix-style products coming to market.

Brands in this episode: Fly By Jing, Deux, Omsom, Elavi, Gay Water, immi, WhistlePig, Ol’ Stiles, Mike’s Hot Honey, Sauz, Marimix, Hot Pot Queen, Chex