[00:00:10] Ray Latif: Hello, and thanks for tuning in to Taste Radio, the number one podcast for anyone building a business in food or beverage. I'm Ray Latif, the editor and producer of Taste Radio, and with my co-host for this episode, John Craven, Jacqui Brugliera, and Mike Schneider. Our studio director is now our producer as well, though, right, Amanda Huang?
[00:00:30] John Craven: Yeah, Amanda Huang.
[00:00:31] Ray Latif: Yeah, she's taking over for Nate Brescia, who's away. This is July 2nd, the day of our recording is July 2nd, and we're just a couple of days away from Independence Day! Is that your fireworks or anything? It's illegal in Massachusetts. You can't have that. You can see some really nice fireworks on the Charles River every year. The Boston Pops and the city of Boston get together to produce an amazing fireworks display. The fireworks and the classical music that you're hearing are all working in tandem. It's a nice thing to see. I prefer to stay away from large crowds. What is that called if you're afraid of large crowds? Agoraphobia or something like that? Yeah, we'll go with that. Okay. Yeah.
[00:01:09] John Craven: It's not arachnophobia.
[00:01:10] Ray Latif: It's not arachnophobia. No. One of the phobias. That's one of the fears, spiders. Yeah. You guys did well last week. I wasn't here. I was in Spain. I was in San Sebastian, Spain.
[00:01:18] John Craven: It was Taste No Radio, according to one listener.
[00:01:23] Ray Latif: I did see that. Yeah, it was very nice. No, I had a nice time. Thanks for holding it down. It's a good episode And then we left it in I specifically in the script I specifically said we've pre-recorded It would make sense though because you're the one who was the primary host and so your voice should be heard through it We kind of weird to have my mind.
[00:01:43] Jacqui Brugliera: I was like take it away ray.
[00:01:44] Ray Latif: Yeah, I And then you did. I did. He reappeared. So pro, right? Yes, I did. I think we've all been to Europe at some point. You haven't been this year. Thanks for rubbing it in. Sorry. John was there and you were in the London's and the Dublin's. Jackie, you were in the London's and Dublin's.
[00:02:12] John Craven: I'm going to go to London before the end of the year now.
[00:02:14] Ray Latif: It's going to happen.
[00:02:15] Jacqui Brugliera: You have to plan it.
[00:02:16] Ray Latif: Yeah.
[00:02:17] Jacqui Brugliera: So you're not left out anymore.
[00:02:18] Ray Latif: Exactly. So sad. We need a Taste Radio passport stamp on everyone's Passport.
[00:02:24] John Craven: Yeah. On your arm.
[00:02:25] Ray Latif: On your arm. Yeah.
[00:02:25] John Craven: The thing about London is I might not come back. Oh, well. You guys will all be happy.
[00:02:33] Ray Latif: Melissa has filled in well for those who have been away. But the things you miss, the things you miss when you're gone for a week. I saw an interesting press release on Business Wire that was titled Fashion Meets Flavor Heinz, as in Heinz, the ketchup and condiment company. And Kate Spade, which is a fashion company, debut Red Hot Capsule Collection. So they have joined forces to create something that they are describing as condiment couture. And they've created a capsule collection which, I'm going to read from the press release here, draws inspiration from each brand's signature DNA. Heinz's beloved iconography, an unmistakable ketchup red color, and Kate Spade New York's colorful, iconic, and joyful styles, featuring totes, pouches, small leather goods, ready-to-wear tees, footwear, etc., etc., etc. This new line will elevate all of summer's special moments. Now I know what to get my favorite people for their birthdays and holidays later this year.
[00:03:36] Mike Schneider: I mean, you missed like a more important bit of Heinz news. What's that? The limited release of what they're calling Every Sauce. Have you seen that? I have seen that, yes. Yeah, we need to get that. We do need to get that. I don't know, what is it? A dozen sauces in one bottle? Yeah, it's mayonnaise mustard you like They just know it's a bottle it's like they just mixed a bunch of sauce.
[00:03:59] John Craven: It's like this Requirement you just whatever you whatever you need to just pours it right out. I'm hoping for sambal come on. We need to get this oh
[00:04:06] Ray Latif: Yeah, it actually does not look very appetizing. It looks like a ball of mayo. It probably tastes good. I'm going to stick to Hormaya and Oreos for my sand ball then. Yeah, there you go. It actually kind of looks like, this is going to sound even more gross, a ball of pink mayo. It's got a pinkish hue.
[00:04:23] John Craven: So it's Pepto-Bismol also is involved in the collaboration.
[00:04:27] Mike Schneider: Yeah. It looks like Russian dressing, Thousand Island dressing, depending on where you're from. But it's not that orangey. It's more pinkish.
[00:04:35] Ray Latif: Yeah. So anyway, I'll probably buy a Heinz tomato ketchup t-shirt before I buy that This t-shirt looks pretty legit.
[00:04:47] Jacqui Brugliera: Actually, I bet those are expensive though.
[00:04:49] Ray Latif: Like Kate Spade is a cheap No, I mean, I wouldn't know but it does say Jackie The limited edition collection ranging from $45 to $398 will be available for purchase at select Kate Spade New York stores, department stores, wholesale locations, and online at Kate Spade. They're not paying me. I'm just reading from this. I mean, I kind of, I get that these big companies are trying to stay relevant and hip and doing the things that the kids love, like the Kate Spade bags. The kids love Kate Spade's bags.
[00:05:22] John Craven: I think Kate Spade was the company we're talking about trying to stay relevant.
[00:05:25] Ray Latif: Yeah, actually she's interestingly enough. I think that it is kind of weird. Yeah, and that they're both these big well-known brand names that are kind of on their own Stale no
[00:05:38] Jacqui Brugliera: Yeah, they're trying to be cool again. I mean, I guess a lot of people are wearing branded clothing, you know, or they're wearing like, like, I have my oat milk t shirt. They're identifying with, with condiment. And ketchup is tried and true.
[00:05:53] Mike Schneider: I want a shirt that just says ketchup. Ketchup and block letters.
[00:05:57] Jacqui Brugliera: Yeah, and you can make it for like three dollars.
[00:06:00] Mike Schneider: You know got a man. I'm making what kind of statement would I be making? I don't want one that says cats up though anyway. No, I think Cats up is for losers Mustard that's like my mustard. Yeah, that's pretty good.
[00:06:09] Jacqui Brugliera: Do I have to say I would you know?
[00:06:19] Ray Latif: Chili crisp for sambal or chili crunch.
[00:06:23] John Craven: I'll take any of those.
[00:06:24] Ray Latif: Well, here's what I would say about these Heinz ketchup, Kate Spade combo things. I think it would be better if they paid people to wear a Heinz tomato ketchup t-shirt. I mean, like, why would you be an advertisement for them?
[00:06:40] Mike Schneider: It's the new version of like those vehicle wrap scams that are going around.
[00:06:45] Jacqui Brugliera: Oh, where do they pay you to wrap your cars?
[00:06:48] Ray Latif: Yeah, but they don't really pay you, they just rip you off. I see, I see. I will say, however, the t-shirt that Heinz and Kate Spade have created, also, it's supposed to be one of those single serve packets. So it has a tear here, perforation on the shoulder. They're gonna need a new t-shirt every time. Perhaps. Moving along. Moving right along. Another interesting press release that I saw was titled, and I had to click on this, Sausage Company Attempts to Fix the Internet.
[00:07:21] Jacqui Brugliera: This is ridiculous. I read through this.
[00:07:23] Ray Latif: Yeah. So Johnsonville, which according to this release is the number one national sausage brand. It's a hell of a moniker, isn't it? I mean, you sell your stuff at like Walmart and Costco. Is attempting to fix the internet they have a new national campaign called keep it juicy a new effort so many things wrong with yes That will attempt to tilt social media algorithms toward amplifying human kindness and inspiring stories on the internet. Oh my goodness Hashtag keep the internet juicy officially launched.
[00:07:53] Jacqui Brugliera: Oh Yeah, what I think of juicy I think of like drama like what's the tea? positive
[00:08:00] Ray Latif: You're gonna get a lot of juicy booty But apparently I didn't I didn't realize this it officially launched on June 22nd, which is National positive media day. Mm-hmm. I didn't know whatever. Yeah, no one no one likes that day. Obviously, that's why we have tick-tock and Twitter Or excuse me, X. Twitter, yeah. X, whatever. And we'll run through World Kindness Day, which is on November 13th. There's a new video you guys can watch, too. It features global basketball superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. Did I get that right? Giannis. Giannis. If you like, can I get out of here, please, soon? Yeah, pretty much. Oh, no, I mean he seems to what did he say? he loves America because like America just has like just Amazing food and things you wouldn't necessarily get in Greece because all the food in Greece is yeah, this is funny dude. Yeah, anywho, I gotta say I probably would not have read this except for the headline headlines are great really good headlines sausage company attempts to fix the internet I mean that that whole press release is just it's like I don't know corporate PR gibberish it is maybe if I'm yeah, but that title
[00:09:06] Mike Schneider: Title sure well the titles good clickbait. I mean, but it's not what you guys ray is yeah, the man sounds like something you would write ray.
[00:09:14] Ray Latif: Yeah Folks I am being I'm praising the accused I think your headlines are phenomenal. I do like my headlines sometimes
[00:09:26] Taste Radio: Vibrant Ingredients is the natural ingredient partner powering food and beverage innovation, delivering flavor, function, and protection through a science-backed portfolio. Vibrant delivers purpose-driven solutions that help brands create extraordinary experiences. Discover what's possible with Vibrant today. Visit VibrantIngredients.com.
[00:09:53] Ray Latif: Now, when companies have news, typically they alert the media one way or the other. Sometimes they'll just send us a note and say, Hey, this is going on. Sometimes they write a press release and post that. Sometimes they turn to social media, but sometimes none of those things work very well. Especially if you have some unfinished business, some unsettled debts, perhaps, like a certain retailer, that retailer is Boisson.
[00:10:21] Mike Schneider: Yeah, they posted the other day that they're, well, they said, I think, allow us to reintroduce ourselves and sort of restated their mission minus the retail stores.
[00:10:33] Ray Latif: To be clear, Boisson, a retailer of non-alcoholic spirits and cocktails.
[00:10:38] Mike Schneider: Can you sing that, John? I don't think I could sing it, but they were getting some, some hate from vendors and various brands that I think had been or were claiming that they had been left kind of high and dry, no pun intended, by the closure of the retail stores and asking kind of what the company's going to do. And, you know, I feel like we saw a little of this with Foxtrot as well. And I don't know, in the case of Poisson, like you kind of wonder if it's worth trying to continue forward with that brand name, given that it seems like it's pivoting into some other business of sorts. So, Yeah, definitely some not-so-good social media buzz there.
[00:11:22] Ray Latif: No. So on their Instagram page, which is boisson.sips, the post that John was referring to says, hey, we're Boisson, and we're here to redefine the way you drink, discover the best non-alcoholic drinks, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. And the comment section is brutal. They did respond to some of the comments.
[00:11:44] Mike Schneider: Well, the social media person maybe responded.
[00:11:46] Ray Latif: Yes. Yes. I mean, there was a comment from a brand called Zero Proof Nation. And actually, I don't know if they're a brand as much as they are more of a platform. Right, right. And Zero Proof Nation had said, welcome back. Have you paid brands with their ode yet? Have you offered your former shop employees severance compensation? Do you have an explanation for the total S show from earlier this year? Please don't try to take business away from the bottle shop owners who are at the heart and soul of this community. Not very promising in terms of what they were hoping for, I guess. Sounds like people are angry. Yeah, Boston did respond on social media. They said to expect a more formal update and information coming this week. If there's a specific issue you'd like to discuss in more detail, please send us an email. Maybe they should have done that before they posted this.
[00:12:32] Jacqui Brugliera: Yeah, interesting that they were trying to reintroduce themselves and almost like brush it under the rug.
[00:12:37] Mike Schneider: Yeah. I mean, like I was saying, I think, you know, they're pivoting to like a different business model and no offense to Poisson, but I mean, it's not exactly like at this point it has necessarily positive brand equity, you know, might've just been better to start fresh with something new, obviously easier said than done, but still, you know, they'll have to work that out.
[00:13:01] John Craven: Just don't say from the makers of Poisson.
[00:13:04] Jacqui Brugliera: Yeah.
[00:13:05] John Craven: Comes.
[00:13:05] Jacqui Brugliera: This feels a lot like Foxtrot. I mean, Foxtrot came back and then got a lot of hate. Like, Hey, what's your plan? You know?
[00:13:13] Ray Latif: Boisson did, less than a year ago, receive $5 million in a bridge investment led by Pernod Ricard's venture capital arm. So I wonder how much Pernod is trying to reignite the flames, so to speak, of Boisson versus, you know, just letting the company fold, which I think was the expectation was that Boisson would just be no more.
[00:13:37] John Craven: Well, the company is already up in flames, so I don't think you can reignite that.
[00:13:41] Mike Schneider: I mean, I think it's pouring gas on it, maybe. It's trying to be a distribution company ultimately, right? So like I said, they should have just left that brand equity behind perhaps and started fresh. Perhaps. But we'll see. Maybe next week we'll talk about their response if there is one.
[00:13:57] Ray Latif: I hope there isn't a direct response to what we're saying. Cause I mean, we only may have part of the story and so yeah, I'm sure we'll follow up on that as well. Now, one brand that we recently followed up on is Wet Hydration. Wet Hydration is a brand of, guess Wet Hydration drinks. They make wellness waters. The founder is Spencer Outchul. I think I met Spencer in 2020 during our Elevator Talk series when no one could meet each other in person or anywhere else. And I really loved their brand, really fell in love with it. Wet Hydration just announced a $1.5 million financing round and a redesign of their brand. They have a new 12-ounce can that will debut on July 15th. It looks beautiful. We'll include a photo of this in the show notes. But yeah, this to me definitely feels like a Vitamin water type of play? Vitamin water vibes to that can design.
[00:14:56] Mike Schneider: For sure, for sure. Which is fine. Yes, yes.
[00:14:59] Ray Latif: I mean, I can't recall the last time I saw someone drinking a bottle of vitamin water. Does it exist anymore? I don't know.
[00:15:05] Mike Schneider: I'm saying that sarcastically. Of course it exists.
[00:15:07] Ray Latif: It does, but I really can't remember. But I can definitely see someone holding a can of Wet Hydration. It looks fantastic. Yeah. Nice, nice solid upgrade there. Absolutely. It even has the, although the vertical logo, which is Mike's vein. Turn it this way a Little Saints. Oh, okay. There you go.
[00:15:21] John Craven: Yeah, no, it's looking pretty good. It does have a vitamin water vibe to it. They're a new CMO, and we're friends in a past life, and just wishing them the best. Hopefully this has his stamp of approval on it.
[00:15:35] Ray Latif: Is this your, like, Magic the Gathering days?
[00:15:38] John Craven: No, not when I was 12, right?
[00:15:42] Ray Latif: I don't even want to go there. But anyway, you have some moss? What is that? This is John. I'm referring to by the way.
[00:15:48] Mike Schneider: Thanks for a thanks for clarifying Yeah, I have a bottle of the I think it's called moss plus moss plus yes by one messy case You might have heard of him right right the the famous Lionel Messi.
[00:16:00] Ray Latif: Yes the soccer player I
[00:16:02] Mike Schneider: I was trying to tee that up so you would do one of yours. When I say messy, you go into a quick explainer of who he is.
[00:16:07] Jacqui Brugliera: I kind of did. You kind of did, but it didn't work out the way I wanted it to. I don't know. I don't know if he needs an introduction.
[00:16:12] Mike Schneider: I'm used to hearing messy, messy, messy, messy, messy, messy, messy whenever someone says messy or sees him. They have several flavors. I'm holding the Berry Copa Crush. I've made it known many times I don't like blue beverages. This is the only one I didn't drink so far, but the other couple of SKUs were quite tasty. I think the obvious comparison here will be with a bottle of a beverage we'll call Prime. And this stuff is, I mean, really nice job. It's got the backing of Mark Anthony Brands, which Those of you familiar with the beverage alcohol side might know as the company behind White Claw, Mike's Hard Lemonade and things like... So they're going to operate. They're ready to go. I mean, it's interesting. They haven't really pushed a non-alcoholic brand. So I think this is a well-timed product that maybe while Certain other brands sales have been struggling swooping with another superstar. That's certainly no offense to the folks attached to prime, but a little more, uh, massive as reach.
[00:17:19] John Craven: So, yeah, I mean, seriously. Yeah. Comparing messy to anyone is difficult. It's kind of insane, right? It's kind of saying he's he's a demigod on the earth and you'll notice that his name You don't usually see the celebrity's names on the bottle, but it's right there and that's going to that's gonna make it move Yeah, I mean the certainly the the difference of course, I would say that you know messy as a pitch man
[00:17:44] Mike Schneider: No offense to Messi, but Logan Paul is a very vocal, uh, shameless, uh, plugger of his brand.
[00:17:51] John Craven: So Messi's pitch can just be like this and it works. Like he just show up and he it's done. He's done everything he needs to do.
[00:18:00] Jacqui Brugliera: What's the launch plan. Is that just launching in the U S or is it going to be launching like in South America too?
[00:18:05] Mike Schneider: I mean, they're definitely launching it in other places. I don't know the full reach. I know they're launching it in Canada too, since I know the person who's running it up there. But yeah, I'm really curious to see, you know, what they do with this. You know, it seems like, again, a pretty well put together product, so pretty bullish on it.
[00:18:26] Ray Latif: Yeah. Wet Hydration looks anything like vitamin water. Moss plus messy looks like it could be a prime product.
[00:18:34] Mike Schneider: Yeah, I mean, I think there's a lot of brands that have been in this exact same package with a fully wrapped bottle, so it should fit in nicely.
[00:18:45] Ray Latif: I would say so. Man, I just feel like taking a week and being on the road for a week and all those Pinchos and Yeah, there was a Little Saints of wine involved. But you know what?
[00:19:01] John Craven: You're looking and feeling great. Did you happen to have some amuse while you were on the road? I did.
[00:19:06] Ray Latif: I knew it. I took a bunch of amuse. I knew it. But I need more. I need to jumpstart my system just so that I can be fully amused out. Now more than ever, consumers are looking for ways to boost their immune systems and Amuse gives them that edge. Amuse is the presenting sponsor of this episode of Taste Radio. Amuse is a dietary and food ingredient clinically shown to stimulate immune function at the cellular level. Incorporate Amuse into your innovation strategy and help your consumers optimize their health throughout the year. Learn more at amusehealth.com, I-M-M-U-S-E health.com. Shouldn't their tagline just be get amused?
[00:19:44] Mike Schneider: Amuse-bouche. Amuse-bouche. I like that. There you go.
[00:19:48] Jacqui Brugliera: Yeah, you can eat it. Take amuse before you eat dinner.
[00:19:51] Mike Schneider: Just like a little small helping of amuse.
[00:19:53] Jacqui Brugliera: Yeah.
[00:19:54] Mike Schneider: Did you, uh, speaking of immunity things, did you take like 55 COVID tests when you got back? No, I did take one.
[00:20:01] Ray Latif: You took one?
[00:20:02] Mike Schneider: Okay, well that's one more than most people nowadays.
[00:20:04] Ray Latif: Yeah.
[00:20:04] Jacqui Brugliera: Did you get your green juice every day?
[00:20:06] Ray Latif: No, I didn't I drank some gosh the green juice options in in Europe. Maybe it's just Spain are not great Maybe some verjuice no because everything is made with manzana. You know me and manzana. We don't get along Did they pronounce it manzana or I think you're correct. Yes. Yes.
[00:20:25] Mike Schneider: I mean technically wines like fruit juice, right? It's your cover. Oh
[00:20:29] Ray Latif: Well, then I'm definitely covered.
[00:20:30] John Craven: Yeah, I'd maybe some olive oil some cold press No, we I mean eat trippings Let's drink something good here. We're just talking about not now. I've got a Little Saints Negroni spritz. Oh, yeah, these are pretty solid chill brand racing terpenes Let's go for it Not too shabby. Yeah, that hits the spot. You were just talking about Bosson, Bosson, Bosson, Nine Elk, Nine Elk, all these brands just getting hosed. And I was like, oh, Little Saints, let's have a Little Saints to make this conversation a little more positive.
[00:21:04] Ray Latif: Yeah. Well, Megan Kline, who is the founder of Little Saints, what just happened? Mike just died. I'm laughing.
[00:21:08] John Craven: I just got some. I was laughing at you.
[00:21:11] Ray Latif: Oh, okay.
[00:21:11] John Craven: I've done the wrong vibe.
[00:21:14] Ray Latif: Well, so good while Mike is guys catch his breath there Megan Klein who's the founder of Little Saints? Was actually at bed net live. We sat down with her for an interview as part of the Taste Radio studio Check it out. They've met calm all videos from bed net live are now available for viewing on bed net calm If you're an insider, you can watch all of them If you're not an insider, you can watch some of them, but if you're an insider, you can watch every single one How do you become an insider Jackie?
[00:21:40] Jacqui Brugliera: You just go to BevNET.com slash insider and it walks you right through it.
[00:21:44] Ray Latif: There you go. There you go. So Little Saints, the maker of non-alcoholic sparkling cocktails. This is their Negroni Spritz, which clearly Mike loves. I do.
[00:21:54] John Craven: These are delicious. Little Saints has done a fantastic job of, you know, of making these non-alcoholic beverages that you want to drink. They used to be CBD beverages. They've pivoted into Reishi. The terpenes, I mean, the complexities there, the tastes are there. I mean, it's what you want in a non-alcove.
[00:22:11] Ray Latif: Yeah, it says it lifts your mood, and I'm looking forward to the mood being lifted.
[00:22:14] John Craven: Speaking of things that you want, Ray.
[00:22:16] Ray Latif: Yes.
[00:22:17] John Craven: At the Summer Fancy Food Show, I got to catch up with Olivia Chen, who is the co-founder of Twrl Milk Tea, a line of Taiwanese-style milk teas. T-W-R-L. Co-founded by Olivia Chen and also Pauline Ang, who I didn't see. But Ray, in your Instagram, you claimed that you could eat a thousand of their new bobas. Yeah, correct. And ask for more. 150 here for you. Okay. Go for it.
[00:22:44] Ray Latif: I can't do that right now. I can do it after the show and you can film me for the Instagram. Okay, we'll do it. We can do it then. All right. Yeah. No, these are amazing. They make these little boba pearls and they're strawberry one. And typically I shy away from non-organic strawberry anything, but these were so freaking delicious. It's like a perfect candy slash beverage. It's, it's a cross between food and beverage. It's a perfect pop. The pop of those is amazing.
[00:23:10] John Craven: And what's inside tastes great. I mean, it just makes any beverage a Little Saints more fun.
[00:23:15] Ray Latif: Yeah. I really enjoy that whole area. The, the sort of what they call disrupt destination, what they call that in fancy food show.
[00:23:23] Mike Schneider: Included no no you're talking about. It's an incubator. It's the area like incubator alley kind of Startup village or something yeah, they've rebranded it and confused us all yes Three people who went still don't know but anyway even better more new products section
[00:23:42] Ray Latif: Yeah, I actually loved running into the founder of Oso, which is a new sparkling tea. It's spelled O-O-S-O. And the founder of the company is Oliver Spring. He goes by Ollie. And I met Oli at Expo West. He was working with the Cocotta team, Cocotta the maker of coconut spreads and coconut based snacks. Coconut spread snacks. Yes, they're dunks. And Oli is a former teammate of Jared Golestani, one of the co-founders of Coca-Cola. They both played soccer at Duke. And this brand Ooso Tea, he just launched in New York, O-O-S-O once again. They have two varieties. There's a green tea, mint and lime variety, and there's a hibiscus, currant and ginger variety. Both come in these eight ounce cans. They're both non-alcoholic. And they're intended to be a non-alcoholic cocktail replacement if that's what you want to use it as. In fact, the hibiscus is definitely more of that cocktail replacement kind of product, whereas the green tea, mint, and lime variety is, I think, sort of an everyday variety.
[00:24:52] John Craven: I think the flavor of those pays off as perhaps a non-alcoholic cocktail sort of thing. It's a little confusing. Do you want to be a sparkling tea or do you want to be a non-alcoholic cocktail? I think for this, it's a cute can. It's delicious. I just lean into being a crusher.
[00:25:09] Ray Latif: So they have a little call out that says non-alcoholic. I just jettison that.
[00:25:15] Mike Schneider: You can be high volume. This is seriously a DNS product here. Yeah, totally. Why pigeonhole the use occasion? You know, this ticks a lot of boxes in terms of taste profile, branding, calorie and sugar content. I mean, probably the biggest hurdle really just being that sparkling tea has always been maybe a Little Saints of a challenging product when it's put with the tea set. But this feels like, I don't know, for where we're at with sparkling carbonated soft drinks, I feel like there's some, some room to run for this. And I mean, he's really nailed the liquid on it. Super tasty stuff. I think the branding is cool too.
[00:25:55] John Craven: And it doesn't give me quote a non-ALC vibe. I think that that looked great on the hat, great on the shirt all day, all the time. And also you're just not really pigeonholing yourself into an adult use occasion. I think anyone can enjoy that beverage.
[00:26:10] Jacqui Brugliera: Consumers are making decisions themselves now, you know, bringing what they want to a party. And if it looks cool, they're going to want it in their hands as well. So they can kind of make that decision for themselves.
[00:26:23] John Craven: I mean, you compare that to Little Saints. Little Saints, the flavor, this is advanced. You know, this is an adult flavor. It's a sipper. It's a sipper. Not a crusher.
[00:26:31] Ray Latif: It's a sipper. Yeah. Oso's logo, it looks very much like that current throwback vibe or has that current like throwback vibe where it's like groovy, sort of late sixties, early seventies kind of font.
[00:26:46] John Craven: Retro. The hibiscus ginger currant looks like my grandmother's kitchen.
[00:26:50] Ray Latif: It does actually. Not that I've seen your grandmother's kitchen, I'm only imagining what it would look like. She'd make you some soup and cookies. Yeah. Yes. But yeah, great seeing Ollie at the Fancy Food Show and really love this product. Although I got Scarlet Lung from Pretty Tasty, got a little mad at me, probably just in jest. I think it wasn't just because I did call it Oso as being an early front runner for my favorite new beverage at the Fancy Food Show. Oh, interesting. She's like, are you trying to replace me?
[00:27:20] John Craven: I mean, oh yeah, she's like, you've moved on already. I saw that whole thing go down.
[00:27:24] Ray Latif: That was funny.
[00:27:25] John Craven: It'll be very hard for us to move on from Pretty Tasty. That stuff is very humbly named.
[00:27:30] Ray Latif: Of course, Pretty Tasty, the winner of BevNET Live's New Beverage Showdown, our most recent New Beverage Showdown, a collagen sparkling tea. Yeah, ma'am yes indeed. I brought a Dr Pepper to what was this doing in the cooler. Oh my gosh I don't know it's in your rider remember Dr Pepper is now the numbers now the number two CSD in America isn't that right that probably would make sense. I thought that was the impact no, but coke's number one obviously I think diet coke was number two and then Dr Pepper has made its way into that number two spot Interesting hmm. Hmm. We'll just leave it at that. I guess just leave it at that Before I get into this, Jackie probably has products all over her desk and I'm sure she wants to talk about a few things.
[00:28:15] Jacqui Brugliera: I have a couple of things. We just got two things into the office yesterday. One of them being Michelle's granola. This is a new limited edition collaboration with Simply. which focuses on regeneratively farmed grains. And they're using their specifically their quinoa in this, and this is delicious. It's strawberry and red quinoa. It has coconut pieces. It's just really, really tasty. I've been munching on this all morning.
[00:28:43] Ray Latif: Yeah, I saw some of it upstairs in the kitchen. I'm going to take a bag grab a bag Yeah, that's my breakfast.
[00:28:48] John Craven: Maybe I'll take six and just put them in a closet You might also want to grab a bag of the new fancy pants gluten-free try this you'll you will not think it's gluten-free Those are really good deadly.
[00:29:02] Mike Schneider: I've had way too many I'm not the problem with these if there is a problem I Well, I mean, there's a problem in that, like, you're like, I'm just gonna have one, and then, like, 50 cookies later, you're like... No, you can't.
[00:29:13] John Craven: I know. I had 20 yesterday, and that's not even a joke. Yeah, 20. Yeah, we kept just yeah Duty called first we had to sample them and then Melissa wanted me to try the gluten-free versus the the gluten full and To tell her which one I like better, and I couldn't can I point something out yes, okay?
[00:29:34] Ray Latif: So you had 20 cookies is what you said right don't tell me how many calories it is I'm not gonna tell you make calories. You know I mean I did a lot of cookies. It's not bad actually okay, but It says here that there's five servings per container And it says the serving size is four cookies You ate the whole damn bag.
[00:29:53] John Craven: I know I ate I mean I ate the equivalent of a whole bag of fancy pants yesterday, and whoops I'm I'm not even ashamed. It's they're so good like you only live once so I mean if if I gotta go fancy pants cookies are the way oh well that should be their tagline you only live once and if you gotta go you Just do it eating a bag of fancy pants. Oh, geez.
[00:30:14] SPEAKER_??: Okay.
[00:30:16] John Craven: So good.
[00:30:17] Jacqui Brugliera: Well, you have lots of non-alcohol over there. I have something with alcohol over here. We got a line of Italian style cocktails from Mad Woman. Oh, nice. Which is a very interesting name. And this one actually stood out to me the most because it's a decaf espresso martini, which I haven't seen that that often. I feel like that's something different.
[00:30:41] John Craven: I mean not to be for loco or No, I love that.
[00:30:45] Jacqui Brugliera: I love that cuz like I do love us for summer. Yes But like sometimes I'm I don't want to be up the rest of the night.
[00:30:52] Ray Latif: Absolutely Love that I think that's the only one ever seen. Yeah decaf espresso martini, right? Yeah, we're mad woman Okay, I think we have some of those upstairs to all to try them.
[00:31:04] Jacqui Brugliera: Yeah Yeah
[00:31:06] Ray Latif: Okay, so I got an email about a week or two ago, and it really piqued my interest because it was about a brand called Taco Deli. Now, Taco Deli, according to this email, is a beloved restaurant known for its authentic Tex-Mex flavors. And they just introduced a consumer brand and it comes in three products and they're all going to be available nationally at Whole Foods. They have a chunky salsa, mild. They have a queso, also mild. And they have a creamy jalapeno, which is hot. Creamy jalapeno is AKA salsa doughnut, according to the package here.
[00:31:45] Jacqui Brugliera: That sounds good.
[00:31:47] Ray Latif: Yeah. It's an Austin-based chain. The name, I've never heard of. I thought you said it was an Austin-based chain. Austin. It's probably that too. Austin as in Austin, Texas. Have you heard of this company before, this restaurant?
[00:32:00] John Craven: No, but I want to know more. Keep talking. You're saying so many good words.
[00:32:03] Ray Latif: Well, apparently it has a cult-like following in Austin and they use the same recipes in their restaurants that they do, or they use the same recipes for these products as they do in their restaurants. And yeah, it's going to be available nationally at Whole Foods. I have not tried any of these yet, but the one I definitely want to try is this creamy jalapeno. Are we having tacos for lunch?
[00:32:23] Jacqui Brugliera: It is Taco Tuesday.
[00:32:25] Ray Latif: We should be having tacos. I do not set the lunch plan here. If it's turkey sandwiches, I'm not going to be happy.
[00:32:32] Jacqui Brugliera: Just to let you know. We'll just make it into tacos.
[00:32:34] Ray Latif: You're going to go back to your trailer with all your Dr Pepper. John just sent me a Slack and said, you ungrateful SOB.
[00:32:43] Mike Schneider: I think I called you an uncultured swine. That was right that was right before that was right after I asked you when I could get my souvenirs from your Spain trip And you said sorry, I don't have any so I did bring back some gifts, but none for the well I guess I could you should be throwing away everything in your suitcase putting in like a jamon a beer ago We thought about that bunch of wine
[00:33:14] John Craven: Just a giant leg.
[00:33:16] Ray Latif: I didn't chuck a bag intentionally because I've lost too many bags and I'm just like I'm not doing that if I don't have to. But you bring an extra suitcase for the hamon. No, no. Just carry it on in your backpack. You know, this is the hard part too because everyone who knows me knows that I like to pack a lot of stuff so I fit like seven shirts, four blazers, I don't know. With no vacuum packing. Ten pairs of boxers and socks and things like that.
[00:33:42] Jacqui Brugliera: All into a carry-on.
[00:33:43] Ray Latif: Yes. The good thing is our Airbnb did have a washing machine, so I was vigorously using that thing. Every day. Every day. Their electricity bill is probably, I don't know, 10,000 euro at this point. That brings us to the end of this episode of Taste Radio. Thank you so much for listening. Taste Radio is a production of BevNET.com, Incorporated. Our audio engineer for Taste Radio is Joe Cracci. Our technical director is Joshua Pratt, and our video editor is Ryan Galang. Our social marketing manager is Amanda Smerlinski, and our designer is Amanda Huang. Just a reminder, if you like what you hear on Taste Radio, please share the podcast with friends and colleagues. And of course, we would love it if you could review us on the Apple Podcasts app or your listening platform of choice. Check us out on Instagram. Our handle is BevNetTasteRadio. As always, for questions, comments, ideas for future podcasts, please send us an email to ask at Taste Radio. On behalf of the entire Taste Radio team, thank you for listening, and we'll talk to you next time.
[00:34:48] Lionel Messi: you
