Episodes

This week, we dig into Barilla Group’s acquisition of Goodles and how the mac and cheese brand’s success reflects growing demand for better-for-you versions of familiar, legacy products. We also look at David Protein maker Medici Brands’ $2.2 billion valuation following its Series B raise, the launch of its better-for-you candy brand HallPass and how the company is rethinking two of the most familiar formats in CPG. 

What if the smartest growth strategy for your CPG brand is to stop chasing growth?Larry Young spent nearly 50 years in the beverage business before trading corporate boardrooms for a cattle ranch. The former CEO and president of Keurig Dr Pepper and his wife, Colette, now own Texas-based 10-2-4 Ranch, where they’re building a premium beef brand on their own terms.

How do you know when a trend is an opportunity – and when it’s just a distraction?In CPG, the pressure to add protein, fiber, adaptogens, nootropics and every other buzzy benefit can be relentless. But more isn’t always more.

Caulipower’s sale to Urban Farmer in November 2025 marked the latest chapter in one of the most remarkable founder stories in modern CPG. Before the acquisition, the company was generating more than $120 million in annual sales and had established a dominant position in better-for-you frozen food. But for founder Gail Becker, building a successful company was never just about creating enterprise value — and that makes this conversation worth revisiting.

As inflation, margin pressure and shifting consumer behavior reshape the CPG landscape, private label is having a major moment — and brands need to decide how they’ll respond.The hosts unpack why more retailers are embracing private label, how brands can leverage it to strengthen cash flow without undermining their own business, and why saying no to an opportunity could simply hand it to a competitor.

The fastest way to find out if your strategy holds water? Put it in the market. For more than a decade, Cheeky Cocktails has built a following with premium syrups and juices designed to elevate at-home cocktails. 

In this Taste Radio interview, Ray sits down with Luke Colson and Jonathan Segal, co-founders of Vibes Candy, a better-for-you gummy brand born out of a chance encounter at a Venice Beach Whole Foods. The founders share how they set out to build a candy that didn't taste "healthy," instead combining bold, aspirational branding with reduced sugar, added fiber, and small functional touches like chamomile and elderberry across their four core flavors.The conversation digs into how Vibes built retail momentum the hard way, hand-selling in stores across all 50 states before landing distribution with Sprouts, expanding into national e-commerce with Walmart, Amazon, and a new TikTok Shop, and building a loyal following through surf and skate culture and a giving-back partnership with the Hawaii Wildlife Fund. Luke and Jonathan also detail their approach to flavor and texture innovation, including an upcoming spicy-sour launch, and why taste always comes before health claims. Listeners can learn more about the brand and its full flavor lineup at vibescandy.com.