Episodes

Tom Spier and Dayton Miller, managing partners of BFG Partners, a venture capital firm with investments in several high-profile and fast-growing brands, including Olipop and Graza, dive deep into investment strategy, their evaluation of fast-growing categories, how they assess gross margin in the near- and long-term lifecycle of a brand and what a polished pitch says about a founder.

As expected, commerce reigned at the annual Coachella music festival, but which food and beverage companies stood out? We have a report. Also, Laura Merritt of Diageo Beer Company discusses how Guinness’ non-alcoholic Zero variety is helping the brand cultivate a new generation of consumers.

Elizabeth Stein, the founder/CEO of better-for-you granola and breakfast brand Purely Elizabeth, explains how to create something that retail buyers perceive as unique and incremental to a category, her two most important considerations when raising capital, and the impact of hiring the "right" people.

Momofuku built its reputation as a company that was always willing to stir the pot. It may, however, regret stirring this one. The hosts leap into the fray with their own takes on a hot and developing story. They also riff on Japanese TikTok, ASMR videos of people eating and a new spirit brand that, according to the founder, may make your brain “bounce that ass.”

What role can bars and mixologists play in protecting Earth’s fragile environment? It’s a question that Torres Brandy is attempting to answer via its innovative Zero Challenge competition, which is designed to promote a new paradigm in hospitality by aligning cocktail culture with environmental responsibility.

What happens when a small, but influential, retailer unexpectedly closes all of its stores? What does its closure say about the trends it embraced? The hosts discuss. They also test out a “nu” machine that produces on-demand plant-based milk and highlight a motley crew of RTD beverages.

Marguerite Zabar Mariscal, the CEO of Momofuku, the admired restaurant group founded by David Chang, and Momofuku Goods, a brand of restaurant-quality pantry items inspired by modern Asian cuisine, explains how “a conscientious objection” to complacency has fueled constant improvement and why she’s intent on building companies that have “optionality.”