Taste Radio Insider

In this week’s episode, we sat down with Rise Nitro Coffee Co. co-founder/CEO Grant Gyesky who spoke about how the fast-growing brand considers innovation and distribution amid an evolving market for RTD coffee, why first-time entrepreneurs often make better decisions than industry veterans, and why it’s critical to choose the right advisors.

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. Cessario spoke about his experience as a creative director for Netflix and how it played into the brand’s development, why he views Liquid Death as a rebuke to extreme marketing, and why truly innovative ideas always sound crazy.

Evan Holod, the CEO of Michel et Augustin US, the American arm of the popular French snack maker, explained how the company reimagined its brand positioning and product packaging for American audiences.

In this episode, Kate Weiler and Jeff Rose, the co-founders of maple water pioneer Drink Simple, spoke about how they prepared for and successfully executed upon a major rebrand. As part of our conversation, they explained why they only conducted one focus group, the hidden costs of a brand revamp, and how investors were involved in the process.

Bobo’s founder Beryl Stafford and company CEO T.J. McIntyre spoke about their work dynamic, how they assigned responsibilities and guidelines for their respective roles and why “the one thing that really serves as the foundational element of who we are is the actual bar.”

Misfit Foods co-founder Ann Yang opened up about how the stress of entrepreneurship led to unhappiness and depression, and, ultimately, her decision to leave the company. She also explained how therapy has become a critical part of her life, her belief that we live in a culture that “mythologizes who the entrepreneur is,” and the resulting pressure to build “a personal brand.”

No Cow founder/CEO Daniel Katz spoke about his passion for entrepreneurship and the genesis of his plant-based protein bar brand, which he launched with no business plan or extensive market research. He also discussed why his initial “play the numbers” retail strategy worked, why he rarely asks for advice, and why he decided to return as CEO less than a year after stepping down from the role.

Ray DeRosa, the founder of dandelion-based tea brand Lion Tea, understands the struggles of consumer education. In this episode, he explained how he’s tackled this issue by using a simple, yet powerful and efficient method to create brand loyalists. He also spoke about why “finding the partners that are going to provide you extraordinary support in the early days ultimately make you successful.”

Rizal Hamdallah, the Global Chief Innovation Officer of Ocean Spray, explained why he’s bullish about the future of personalized nutrition, how the company attempts to “develop and deliver innovative products that consumers didn't even know they needed,” and why he’s critical of how some brands are promoting sustainability.

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 O’Dang Hummus, Kuli Kuli founder/CEO Lisa Curtis, and Tyler Noyes, the co-founder of Kalahari Biltong, discussed their respective paths into popular chains, including Publix, Walmart, Sam’s Club and Wegmans, and revealed key steps along the way.