Episodes

Poorvia Patodia, the founder and CEO of pioneering chickpea snack brand Biena, talks about how a “build to win” philosophy influenced key decisions during a challenging period. She also defines and explains the value of “true differentiation” and shares her take on when founders should raise capital and how to identify distributors with aligned values.

How do U.K. CPG brands compare to their U.S. counterparts? On the ground in London, the hosts discuss their experience at last week’s Cheers! The Drinks Summit event and highlight innovative snacks and beverages they encountered at visits to local retail chains and specialty stores.

In an interview framed as a series of true or false questions, Peter Rahal, the co-founder of protein bar brands RXBAR and David, reflects on his obsessive work ethic and leadership style. He also talks about “the best business strategy” and what he means when he says that happiness is “irrelevant.”

With Taste Radio’s London meetups on the horizon, the hosts have their say on trendy brands, new products and the coming crush of seasonal LTOs. They share their respective takes on David, the high-profile protein bar brand launched by RXBAR co-founder Peter Rahal and whether decaf coffee is about to take off. They also get giddy about green cocktails and a record-breaking advent calendar.

Beth Buckner and Blake Layfield, who lead the innovation unit for iconic Kentucky bourbon brand Maker’s Mark, talk about how the standards set by its founder are integral to new product development and why they eschew trendy concepts in favor of nuanced expressions of the bourbon.

What is the impact of PepsiCo’s $1.2 billion acquisition of Siete Foods on emerging food and beverage brands? Will the deal entice investors to make more bets on new and innovative concepts? Will everyday Americans benefit from the deal? Lots of questions, and the hosts answer them all.