Episodes

Nationwide Whole Foods distribution. A seven-figure DTC engine. A five-person team.In this episode, Ashley Nickelsen, the founder and CEO of nutrition bar and chocolate brand B.T.R. Nation, breaks down the systems behind her brand’s growth, from using DTC zip-code data to unlock retail expansion, to building a creative-first Meta ads strategy that drives real revenue (not just impressions). 

Is Big Food finally catching up to emerging brands on speed to market? As legacy CPG giants roll out protein- and fiber-forward innovations faster than ever, the team debates whether startups still hold the advantage. Plus, we give a heartfelt sendoff to Jacqui Brugliera as she departs BevNET after 12 years.

After decades in fine dining, renowned restaurateur Jamie Mammano turned his attention to a new challenge: reinventing the tortilla chip.In this episode, he shares how a small tortilla bakery experiment evolved into Mi Niña, one of the country’s fastest-growing premium tortilla chip brands, now sold in thousands of retailers nationwide, including Whole Foods, Target and Wegmans.

The real ROI of Expo West starts long before the show floor opens.In this episode, the team breaks down best practices for exhibitors looking to maximize your time and resources at one of the most competitive trade shows in the world. From building buzz before the event to making your product instantly understandable on the show floor, they outline practical tactics that separate the booths people remember from the ones they walk past.

In this Taste Radio interview, Ray Latif sits down with Jessica Wellnitz, Director of Business Development at Bay State Milling, to discuss how ingredient partners can play a critical role in helping emerging food brands scale with confidence.

Behind nearly every breakout CPG brand is an early believer willing to write the first check.In this episode, Adam Spriggs — a founding member of the early-stage investor community The Angel Group and a general partner at its funding arm, Supernatural Ventures — shares how a casual investing experiment evolved into a 275-member syndicate backing the next generation of emerging brands. Along the way, The Angel Group has invested in standout companies including Painterland Sisters, Poppi, Siete, Goodles, Bachan’s, and Jesse & Ben’s — a track record that underscores its eye for breakout potential.

Once Upon a Farm’s $198 million IPO could signal a new path forward for better-for-you CPG brands — but is going public better than selling to a strategic? We also break down the clash between Kroger’s FoodHealth scoring system and the stricter Non-UPF Verified certification, and what it all means for how “healthy” gets defined at retail.