Episodes

On the cusp of Natural Products Expo East 2021, Taste Radio’s hosts discussed ways that exhibitors can highlight their presence at the show as well as an updated look for BevNET.com, which features a new audio option for articles. They also chatted about several new and upstart products, including a canned cascara, mushroom jerky and cheese balls, along with a couple celebrity-backed tequila brands.

Matthew Parry, founder and CEO of canister-packaged snack brand The Good Crisp, spoke about how he has carefully navigated comparisons to Pringles, how the company’s channel and merchandising strategies have evolved to reach more mainstream consumers, and how he’s balancing rapid growth with a conservative approach to hiring.

Ben Soffer, the Instagram celebrity behind @boywithnojob, discussed the development of his upstart wine-based cocktail brand Spritz Society, how his expertise in influencer marketing helped shape the brand’s vision and business strategy, why authenticity is a common theme in everything he does and how he got up to speed as a first-time beverage entrepreneur.

In this episode, the hosts discussed recent headlines on BevNET and NOSH, including how prebiotic soda brand Poppi leveraged its presence on TikTok in support of a recent $13.5 million round of capital, why MTN DEW’s limited-edition Flamin’ Hot variety works (whether we like it or not) and the potential pitfalls of brand positioned as a better-for-you Hot Pocket.

Vice Ventures founder Catharine Dockery spoke about the massive opportunity for CPG categories, such as cannabis, alcohol and sexual wellness, that have traditionally been shunned by institutional investors, how her firm utilizes non-traditional data to make informed decisions, why she believes a shakeup in beverage alcohol distribution is on its way and why she spends most of her day engaging in new business pitches.

David Klavsons, the CEO of King Juice, the maker of Calypso, spoke about how the company has leveraged its well-recognized lemonade brand, key distribution partnerships and consumer demand for low sugar formulations to achieve rapid and consistent growth in recent years.

In this episode, the hosts discussed the implications of major stakeholder and leadership shifts at Health-Ade, examined what BevNET’s recently held Cocktail Showdown competition revealed about how category insiders are evaluating brands in the space and spoke about several innovative new products, including an elevated PB&J and a wickedly fast-growing plant-based platform.

This week we’re joined by Teresa Tsou and Jeff Martin, co-founders of Pipsnacks, which markets classic salty snacks made with a base of heirloom corn. The pair spoke about the brand’s unique positioning, how they navigated a tumultuous funding round and a key partnership that has boosted its innovation strategy.

This week we’re joined by Benjamin Chesler, the co-founder of Imperfect Foods, a pioneering online grocery service that specializes in selling produce and surplus food that would otherwise be discarded. Chesler discussed Imperfect’s roots and mission to reduce food waste on a massive scale, the process for incorporating branded items into its product selection and how the company communicates quality as a seller of “imperfect” food.

Taste Radio hosts Ray Latif, Jacqui Brugliera and Mike Schneider highlighted several new products and innovative brands sent to the office in recent weeks, including a line of non-alcoholic cocktails billed as “the world’s first plant powered social elixirs,” thin-cut fruit chips, an avocado-based hot sauce, hydration tonics and everything (bagel) in between.