Episodes

This week, members of the BevNET and NOSH editorial teams joined us for a discussion of some of the major news stories, trends and innovation from 2019. Among the topics of conversation were developments in the burgeoning cannabis CPG segment, explosive growth in the oat milk and sparkling water categories and the evolution of frozen food and plant-based meats.

Bryan Crowley, CEO of Soylent, spoke about how his career experience shaped his leadership style and helped frame his vision for the future of the fast-growing “complete food” brand. He also explained how the brand’s mission and growth strategy have each evolved, why it has embraced GMO ingredients and what the notion of “better for you” means for modern consumers. This episode is presented by Flavorman, the beverage architects.

Megan Bent, founder and managing partner of Harbinger Ventures, spoke about why launching the investment firm was about “rethinking some of the fundamentals in how capital is invested,” why funding decisions are “probably more relational than anything else” and why she encourages “bite-sized actions” to support greater diversity in business.

Elizabeth Stein, founder and CEO of Purely Elizabeth, discussed how the brand’s focus on creating delicious, nutrient-dense foods has paid dividends since its launch in 2009. She also spoke about how the company has strategized around opportunities and challenges within a rapidly growing market for natural foods.

Zoe Feldman, the director of Chobani Incubator, spoke about why she’s emphasized the incubator’s focus on diversity as part of its selection criteria, how prior roles as an executive at PepsiCo and in venture capital shaped her perspective on the importance of diversity in business and why “representation is hugely critical” to the future of our industry.

Alix Peabody is the 28-year-old founder of Bev, a wellness-focused canned wine brand that aims to change the narrative around how women are projected and perceived by the alcohol industry. In this episode, she spoke about aligning mission and brand, tapping tech investors for capital, and strategizing around digital content. This episode is presented by Blue Pacific Flavors.