Episodes

Emily Schildt, the founder and CEO of Pop Up Grocer, a specialty retailer known for its short-term locations and carefully curated selection of new and better-for-you products, spoke about its role as an “influencer retailer” and advertiser-first business model, how the company evaluates brand performance and why you might be surprised by its curation strategy.

The hosts assessed the fallout from a highly publicized claim of “copycat” branding (and the accuser’s subsequent apology), recapped a raucous pitch slam and shared a firsthand account of Omson’s rhapsodic rave. They also spoke about a somewhat controversial food and sampled plenty of tasty, trendy products in the studio.

Eddie Simeon, the co-founder of fast-growing mixer, bitters and soda brand Hella Cocktail Co., spoke about how the company has consistently pursued a thoughtful, and occasionally unorthodox, growth strategy that prioritizes strong unit economics and profitability, the synergistic relationship with its primary investor and how Hella’s three-founder team has been the backbone of its success.

The hosts explained how setting the trajectory of your company can often begin with a single pitch and sampled a variety of new innovative products, including bitter libations, zero-sugar sausage snacks and plant-based scallops. We also meet David Garci-Aguirre of Corto Olive, a super-premium brand of extra virgin oil that emphasizes freshness from harvest to plate.

Jake Bullock, the co-founder and CEO of pioneering cannabis-infused beverage company Cann, spoke about the role of community based, on-the-ground education in the brand’s ascendancy, why early-stage fundraising is about “finding the one,” the company’s scrappy strategy for getting product into celebrities’ hands and why he believes brands “need an enemy in all marketing.”

Jacqui Brugliera reported on the food and beverage scene at Coachella 2023, the hosts discussed whether #watertok is a faux controversy and riffed on several notable snacks and libations. We also meet Raffi Vartanian and Patrick Johnson, the co-founders of Ziba Foods, a mission-driven brand of Afghani-grown nuts, seeds and dried fruits that maintains an ethical supply chain from farm to bag.

Noah Simon-Waddell and Ari Raz, the co-founder and CEO, respectively, of The Coconut Cult, explained how they have positioned the plant-based probiotic yogurt brand for scale and mainstream success while maintaining its values and vision, including the impact of meaningful and authentic social content and its direct correlation to surging and organic sales growth.

Does pickleball need its own beverage brand? Why is Jennifer Lopez, who doesn’t drink alcohol, getting into the booze business? The hosts discuss… Also in this episode: Elavi co-founders Michelle Razavi and Nikki Elliott explain how they launched a package revamp for less than $200, and a conversation with Goat Rodeo Capital co-founder Carlton Fowler, an active investor in emerging and growth-stage companies.

Becca Millstein, the co-founder and CEO of Fishwife, a stylish brand of sustainable tinned seafood lauded by Whole Foods buyers and “Vogue” magazine editors alike, discussed the impact of its striking label design on trial and word-of-mouth marketing, scaling a niche concept and how she navigated and learned from a potentially devastating sourcing crisis.

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.