Episodes

In this episode, we’re joined by Morgan McLachlan, co-founder and master distiller of botanical spirits and lifestyle company AMASS and also the co-founder of De Soi, a brand of non-alcoholic aperitifs co-developed with music icon Katy Perry. McLachlan spoke about how her career in the film industry guided her focus on creative distilling methods, AMASS’ distinctive branding and positioning, how De Soi is an expression of a new phase in her life and the origins of her partnership with Perry.

Noah Gray, co-founder and CEO of fast-growing tequila seltzer company Onda, spoke about the brand’s origins as a “trade up” concept, the reasons behind strong consumer trial and repurchase, what up-and-down-the-street sales informed the team about effective retailing and merchandising and how he landed meetings with and won over high-profile investors.

Taste Radio’s hosts discussed several recently announced collaborations, including those of high-profile drink brands that have aligned to create new RTD cocktails, a well-known entertainer and an upstart energy drink company and a humanitarian initiative that connects with better-for-you brands. They also chatted about notable new products, including a line of shelf-stable tamales, NA wine and beer and a protein bar with a somewhat odd name.

Alison Cayne, the founder and CEO of Haven’s Kitchen, an innovative and fast-growing brand of refrigerated sauces, spoke about why emphasizing use case and occasion is critical for fueling consumer adoption and repurchase and how effective merchandising of the products has enabled it to become “the ultimate basket builder.” She also explained how to use anecdotal data effectively when pitching to retail buyers and how she found a co-packer that would invest in the brand's future.

This special edition of Taste Radio highlights actionable insights and advice from interviews with six founders, creators and leaders who joined us on the show during the first half of 2022. Our guests include Todd Carmichael, Co-Founder, La Colombe & Loftiwater; Zoe Feldman, GM of Consumer, Momofuku; Adam Bremen, Founder, Keto Krisp; Annie Ryu, Founder/CEO, Jack & Annie’s; Sandro Roco, Founder & CEO, Sanzo; and Kat Cole, President & COO, Athletic Greens.

Taste Radio’s hosts riffed on Bang founder/CEO Jack Owoc’s unforgettable on-stage appearance at BevNET Live Summer 2022, M&A headlines in beer and food, why it’s important to stay connected to our newsrooms and notable new products, including a fizzy drink inspired by Korean cuisine. We also feature our latest edition of The Maxi Minutes in which we discuss what investors don’t want to hear in a pitch.

Ibraheem Basir, the founder and CEO of A Dozen Cousins, a brand of ready-to-eat meals and sides inspired by traditional Black and Latino recipes, spoke about how the brand’s initial focus has evolved, why keeping “a foot in the familiar” is a key tenet of its innovation strategy, the reason the company isn’t vocal about funding and how opportunities have improved while challenges remain for BIPOC food entrepreneurs.