Episodes

Taste Radio’s hosts pondered the potential of innovative, imaginary concepts; examined why discontinued brands and products, including a line of high-profile energy shots, failed to make it; and riffed upon a bevy of new snacks and drinks. This episode also features an interview with Alexandra Dempster and Isabelle Steichen, the co-founders of Lupii, an innovative platform brand that markets lupini bean-based foods.

Mark Olivieri, the CEO of OWYN, a brand of plant-based protein and nutrition beverages projected to generate $85 million in 2023 revenue, discussed the role that data has played in its development and trajectory, how the company sources and implements a variety of information and insights into its business strategy and what he attributes to success at driving repeat purchase.

This week, the hosts discussed the relevance and sustainability of consumer trends and how to identify fads versus enduring concepts, extolled the virtues of Taste Radio VIP and highlighted two upcoming can’t-miss industry events. This episode also features an interview with Honest Tea/Eat The Change co-founder Seth Goldman, who discussed lessons learned from 25 years as an entrepreneur.

Culinary icon Padma Lakshmi, who is an investor in lassi brand Dah!, spoke about why she doesn’t make a distinction between delicious and better-for-you food, how her role in the company aligns with her advocacy for ethnic cuisine and her criteria for investing in consumer brands. This episode also features an interview with Sanzo founder Sandro Roco who shared what he’s learned about leadership, raising growth capital and working with mass retailers like Target.

A bursting-at-the-seams episode of Taste Radio includes the hosts’ arguments for and against online grocery shopping, a brief report on a permanent pop-up, a candy brand’s unrecognizable revamp and why they’re bullish on banana flavor, but not blue colored beverages. The team also shared their take on seed-centric sweets, cascara’s communication breakdown and their enthusiasm for ethnic drinks and snacks.

Pete Maldonado and Rashid Ali, the co-founders of better-for-you meat snack brand Chomps, discussed how their consistent emphasis on strong unit economics and profitability, along with an ambition to thoughtfully and patiently develop a billion-dollar brand, have positioned Chomps to become a prime-time player in healthy snacking and how the pandemic impacted their decision to bring in an institutional investor, despite their long reluctance to do so.

Back home and in the studio, the hosts shared additional highlights — and unexpected sights – from Expo West 2023, including introductions to several innovative and early-stage brands. Also, Mason Dixie Foods founder/CEO Ayeshah Abuelhiga discussed lessons learned as an entrepreneur, including those about raising capital, customer service, and sexism and bias in the food industry, among other topics.

Melissa Facchina, the co-founder of growth equity firm Siddhi Capital, spoke about the pervasiveness of "bad information" circulating on Linkedin and her belief that the vast amount of capital invested in food and beverage brands over the past decade has been to the detriment of the industry. She also explained why a great operations strategy is the key to making healthy food more accessible, and how she defines “a rockstar, unbelievable company.”