Taste Radio

Grind, persist, evolve, repeat.  Greater Than co-founders Mark and Jon Sider lived the routine for over a decade, tenacious in the belief that their sports drink brand offered consumers a healthier alternative to Gatorade and that, eventually, their hard work would pay off. Fourteen years after they started the company, the process is showing progress, albeit in a completely different way than the brothers imagined. In a pivot cemented in 2021, Greater Than shifted its positioning to that of a natural electrolyte drink for nursing mothers. The shift was derived from organic demand and word of mouth among new moms who claimed that the beverages kept them hydrated amid breastfeeding.  It was an unexpected turn for the brand, but one that has given it new life and a massive boost in revenue. Greater Than has generated over $8 million in DTC sales in each of the past two years, a surge that has been recognized by Inc. Magazine, which listed the company among its Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing privately hel

Taste Radio’s hosts discussed the relative value of making resolutions and shared advice from a highly successful entrepreneur on how to set achievable goals. They also spoke about the arrival of 2023 trade shows, an effective way that early-stage brands can build awareness and riffed on a handful of new products and brand updates. Show notes: 0:40: Bass Basics, Talking Trends… With Family, Send Us Your News – The episode kicks off with a CTA about reviews and free tees, before Jacqui revealed plans to start “slapping” a certain instrument and the hosts chatted about industry-related conversations with family and friends. Ray highlighted a past episode with Zico founder Mark Rampolla and encouraged attendees and exhibitors of the upcoming 2023 Winter Fancy Food Show to reach out and also extolled the value of BevNET’s Elevator Talk series. Brands in this episode: Zico, De Soi, Somi Energy, Sayso, Barr Hill

This special edition of the podcast features highlights from interviews with six founders, creators and innovators who joined us on the show during the second half of 2022. Our guests include Alison Cayne, the founder and CEO of Haven’s Kitchen; Dan Lourenco and Ryan Hughes, the co-founders of Ghost; Anna-Lena Kamenetzky, the founder and CEO of Touch Capital; Ibraheem Basir, the founder and CEO of A Dozen Cousins; Chitra Agrawal, the founder and CEO of Brooklyn Delhi; and Maxime Pouvreau, the founder of Petit Pot.  0:47: Interview: Alison Cayne, Founder & CEO, Haven’s Kitchen – Let’s kick things off with Alison Cayne, the founder and CEO of fast-growing refrigerated sauce brand Haven’s Kitchen. In this clip, pulled from an episode published on July 12, Alison spoke about how she created an office environment that motivated her team to return to an IRL work setting, why the brand’s innovative package design is both an asset and a limitation and navigating the challenge of uneven retail pricing.  12:04: In

At 26, Jack McGarry thought he’d reached the zenith of his career.  Three years after he co-founded modern Irish pub The Dead Rabbit, the Lower Manhattan bar topped the list of the World’s 50 Best Bars, an awards program akin to the Oscars for nightlife hospitality. McGarry had been maniacally focused on earning the title, and while it cemented him as an industry star, a sense of hollowness – exacerbated by heavy drinking – soon followed.  In the years since, however, he has abstained from alcohol and focused on The Dead Rabbit as a bar that would carry on the tradition of Irish pubs as a communal gathering space. He’s also been a leading voice in highlighting mental health and education throughout the bar and restaurant industry. Those priorities will be incorporated into The Dead Rabbit’s expansion, in which the company will open new locations throughout the U.S., beginning next year in Austin and New Orleans. The overarching goal is to champion authentic Irish pubs by incorporating modern art, music and ot

With a new year on the horizon, the hosts shared their expectations for the food and beverage industry in 2023, including the most pertinent opportunities and challenges faced by growing brands. They also opined on the value of Twitter for entrepreneurs and executives and highlighted notable and new products. This episode also features the second edition of Special Ops with Andrew Guard, in which the operations expert offers guidance on timely issues affecting food and beverage companies. Show notes: 0:51: Messi, Marty, Musk and More. – The episode opens with a chat about the 2022 World Cup final and congratulations to current and former colleagues, before the hosts discussed Twitter’s current turmoil and debated the social platform’s usefulness for CPG founders and operators. Later, they offered their predictions for 2023 and how entrepreneurs can stay ahead of potential problems and spoke about a range of innovative brands and products. 19:52: Special Ops with Andrew Guard, Part. 2 –  Guard, the founder of

Their flagship products have a suggested retail price that is nearly double those of legacy and competing brands. And, yet, Serenity Kids is outpacing them all. Launched in 2018, Serenity Kids markets shelf-stable, low sugar baby and toddler food made from organic and ethically sourced ingredients, such as regenerative farmed meats. The brand’s pouches and grain-free puffs are sold in almost 8,000 stores across the U.S., a footprint that includes Walmart, Whole Foods, Target, Kroger, Wegmans and Sprouts. According to the company, Serenity Kids’ revenue has increased 150X year-over-year since its debut and has raised $11.5 million in funding to date. Founders Serenity and Joe Carr note that sales growth and investor confidence are indicative of a shift in buying patterns from parents seeking nutritious, premium products for their children. In this episode, the Carrs spoke about their path to entrepreneurship, how a non-traditional focus group and decades of declining quality in the baby food aisle gave them co

How do you measure, in financial terms, the value of design? PepsiCo chief design officer Mauro Porcini has been on the receiving end of the query dozens of times throughout his career. While he has long employed metrics to appraise the cost and impact of a particular product label, promotion or installation, his preferred answer is simpler and Spiderman-esque: great design inherently creates great value. Now in his 11th year at PepsiCo, Porcini is the creator of the company’s award-winning Design and Innovation Center, which holds sway across the drink and snack giant in everything from new product development and experiential marketing campaigns to brand revamps and fashion collaborations. Porcini’s perspective that design should strive to address real and useful human needs is a core tenet of the Center and highlighted throughout his book “The Human Side of Innovation: The Power of People in Love with People,” which draws upon his experience at PepsiCo and in prior roles, including as the head of global de

Taste Radio’s hosts reflected on the BevNET’s Winter 2022 events through the first day of BevNET Live, and highlighted the winners of various competitions held throughout the week, community as a key theme in panels and presentations and the fuel that kept Ray, John, Jacqui and Mike going amid a whirlwind schedule.  Show notes: 0:39: Spiked Coconuts, Bleary Eyes, Chez Jay, Ray’s Llama – The episode kicks off with Mike as Ray’s literal echo, before the hosts congratulated two brands with sun-inspired names and Jacqui noted two well-received speakers. They also shared a few extensive thoughts on BevNET’s Cocktail Showdown 3 competition, an unpleasant “upper crust” and two of Best of 2022 award winners that had their fair share of doubters.  Brands in this episode: Sunboy, Sunnie, Resist Nutrition, Velvet Llama, Sans, Robin Road Cocktails, Howie’s Spiked, Spirited Hive, Cometeer, Remedy Organics, Biolyte, EriTea, Bonbuz, Liquid Death, Sanzo 

For many consumers, mindful drinking is top of mind. A 2021 omnibus survey conducted by market research firm NielsenIQ showed that 22% Americans are cutting back on their alcoholic beverage consumption, citing health and wellness and shifting interests as two core reasons. Concurrent with a rise in interest for sober or sober-curious lifestyles is the emergence of a new cohort of non-alcoholic spirit and cocktail brands, including Lyre’s. Launched in 2019 by entrepreneurs Mark Livings and Carl Hartmann, Lyre’s markets non-alcoholic analogs of the world’s most popular spirits, including bourbon, gin and tequila. Positioned as premium, sophisticated spirit alternatives without any compromise, Lyre’s  blitz-scaling strategy has enabled it to become the world’s leading non-alcoholic brand with distribution in dozens of countries.  Investors have taken note of Lyre’s growth: last year, the company completed a new funding round at a $360 million valuation and was led by D Squared Capital and Morgan Creek Capital Ma

Andrea Hernandez is one of the most respected influencers in food and beverage, but it’s not a title she covets. She’d rather be called “cult leader.” A former marketing executive with over a decade of experience in the food industry, Hernandez is the creator of Snaxshot, a multifaceted digital platform that has followed and forecasted some of the most notable trends in the food and beverage industry over the past two years.  Launched in 2020, Snaxshot’s popular blog and newsletter are known for their well-researched and witty content. Both are ad-free and community-funded, and while Hernandez often highlights brands aligned with her perspective that food and drink should be delicious and uncomplicated, Snaxshot’s independence provides her with a platform to be candid, and, occasionally, controversial. Over the past two years, Snaxshot has become a valuable and influential resource for entrepreneurs, industry professionals and consumers. Its newsletter has over 35,000 subscribers (affectionately known as “sna

On the cusp of BevNET’s winter conferences in Santa Monica, the hosts spoke about how attendees can utilize the variety of resources available at the events and leverage connections with the BevNET team to engage with like-minded founders, industry executives and investors. They also hinted about a mystery speaker that no one will want to miss and riffed on some of their favorite new products sent to the office in recent weeks. Show notes: 0:45: Prep Work. An A-List Mystery. And The @BevNETMike Award Goes To…  – Ray got it right (finally!) to kick off the episode before Mike and Jacqui shared their favorite parts of the winter events. The hosts then spoke about early-stage founders that were doubted when they launched their businesses but have since created iconic brands. Ray offered his (potentially TMI) pre-event grooming habits and discussed his love for a limited-time “boozy” ice cream and spicy varieties of plant-based chicken nuggets, Mike munched on meat sticks, bars and tamales, John highlighted honey

There are fast-growing brands, and then there is Bachan’s.  Launched in 2019, Bachan’s markets a line of soy-based condiments that it describes as “Japanese Barbecue Sauce.” Admired for their versatility, the products are commonly used for cooking barbecue and also as a marinade, finishing sauce and in stir-fry. Founder and CEO Justin Gill developed the brand based off of a family heirloom recipe and named it as an homage to his grandmother. Bachan’s fanatical consumer following has driven its ambitious retail strategy. Its four flavors – The Original, Hot and Spicy, Yuzu, and Gluten-Free – are available at over 11,000 stores across the U.S., including Costco, Whole Foods, Publix, Sprouts, Target, Kroger and The Fresh Market. Nationwide distribution has sparked surging revenue. Just three-and-a-half years after its debut, Bachan’s expects to generate $35 million in sales by the end of 2022. Investors have taken note: in September the company announced a $13 million Series A funding round led by private equity

When Tacombi founder and CEO Dario Wolos reflects upon the origins and development of his Mexican-inspired restaurant chain, he gets a bit nostalgic.   Launched out of a retrofitted VW bus parked on the shores of Playa del Carmen, Tacombi was born out of Wolos’ passion to share Mexican culture through authentic food, hospitality and experiences.  Sixteen years after selling its first taco, Tacombi is in the midst of a major expansion during which it will open at least 75 new locations across the U.S. over the next five years. The growth plan is supported by a $27.5 million funding round that the company completed in December 2021 and was led by Enlightened Hospitality Investments, the growth equity fund affiliated with restaurateur Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group. Meanwhile, Tacombi’s consumer packaged goods brand, Vista Hermosa, which markets tortilla chips, corn and flour tortillas and a new line of frozen burritos, is rapidly expanding its retail footprint to over 800 stores including Whole Fo

In this episode, the hosts explained why founders who regularly attend industry events are often better positioned to support their brands than those who don’t, riffed on the impact of sleek and clever packaging and marveled at a sparkling water brand’s latest LTO. This episode also features an interview with Michael Lewis, the founder and general manager of oomph!, a new brand of low-sugar, functional candy chews and gummies that is backed by venture capital firm Science Inc., an investor in Liquid Death and Dollar Shave Club, among others.  Show notes: 0:45: No, These Are Not Dad Jokes. Long Lists Getting Longer. Some Standout Package Design. – Ray got the show going with a few truths before he, John and Mike spoke about why networking opportunities at BevNET Live and NOSH Live are unlike those at other industry events. They also highlighted a new olive oil brand with a catchy name and unusual label, why Ray was particularly impressed with a recently launched plant-based breakfast sandwich, an RTD cocktail

Sahra Nguyen is a born storyteller. Her latest opus is helping change the way the world perceives Vietnamese coffee – and a lot of people are listening. An award-winning documentary filmmaker, Nguyen is also the founder and CEO of Nguyen Coffee Supply, a direct trade specialty coffee company based in New York City. Launched in 2018, the company’s mission is “to diversify the coffee industry, increase the visibility of Vietnamese producers and transform the landscape through sustainable coffee farming.” Nguyen Coffee Supply buys certified organic coffee beans directly from a fourth-generation coffee farmer in Vietnam and roasts them in small batches in Brooklyn. The company primarily markets whole Robusta beans in a variety of styles and taste profiles, along with brewing tools and a recently launched line of ready-to-drink coffee.  The products are almost entirely sold direct-to-consumer via the company’s website; however, the brand is gradually making its way into brick-and-mortar retail. Earlier this year,

Founded on the belief that mindful eating shouldn't mean sacrificing on taste or texture, Outstanding Foods markets plant-based salty snacks that are based on quintessential favorites.  Launched in 2018, Outstanding Foods was developed by serial entrepreneur Bill Glaser and chef Dave Anderson, who previously led R&D at Beyond Meat. The brand’s cheese balls, puffs and pork rinds are vegan, gluten-free and made with Non-GMO ingredients and plant-based protein. The brand also touts its cheese balls as “the first salty snack to have a good source of 20 vitamins and minerals.” Over the past two years, Outstanding Foods has attracted $15 million in funding, and its investor roster includes names like Snoop Dogg, Rob Dyrdek and Cesar Milan. The capital has helped Outstanding Foods expand distribution to thousands of retail stores nationwide, including Whole Foods, Walmart, Costco, Safeway and 7-Eleven. In this episode, Glaser spoke about how he has applied lessons from prior entrepreneurial ventures to the compa

In this episode, the hosts reflected on the passing of legendary beverage entrepreneur and Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz. They also reviewed several new products and limited-time offerings, urged listeners to submit applications for BevNET and NOSH’s Best of 2022 awards (deadline is today!) and chatted about conversations and brand discoveries from recent work trips. Later, operations expert Andrew Guard joined the show for the first edition of a new series in which he answers topical questions about production and scaling strategies. Show notes: 0:51: Magic Mike, You Need To Be In The Elevator With Us, Mixed Feelings About Dr. Pepper’s LTO – John and Mike joined the episode from Santa Monica where they were preparing for our December events and getting acquainted with a new upscale retail store. Jacqui discussed the value that founders will enjoy by participating in Elevator Talk at NOSH Live, Ray riffed on a 30-hour whirlwind visit to New York City, the hosts collectively offered their thoughts o

Ghost co-founders Dan Lourenco and Ryan Hughes always knew they’d be playing the long game.  Launched in 2016, Ghost markets sports nutrition powders and energy drinks known for their indulgent candy- and snack-based flavors. Lourenco and Hughes say that, at the outset, there was no singular vision or plan for Ghost. Rather, they started with a question: “How far can we take this?” Created as a lifestyle brand centered around fun and inclusivity, Ghost attracts a broad demographic of consumers, from gamers and fitness enthusiasts to shift workers and students. Listening to, learning from and constantly interacting with their customers has helped Ghost build a thriving direct-to-consumer business along with a retail network that includes over 60,000 stores.  That footprint has grown significantly since 2020, when Ghost introduced its energy drink line. Developed in partnership with beer giant Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI), the products are expected to generate over $100 million in sales this year, according to Lo

How do you wield considerable social influence to authentically promote a consumer brand? That’s the central question facing the five co-owners of JAJA Tequila, who collectively have nearly 40 million followers across several social media platforms.  Self-described as “the first tequila created for the digital generation,” JAJA was founded in 2018 by entrepreneurs Martin Hoffstein, Maurice Tebele and brother Elliot Tebele, the latter of whom is best known as the creator of popular Instagram meme account,  @f__kjerry. JAJA is also co-owned by Alex Pall and Drew Taggart, who form globally renowned electronic DJ duo The Chainsmokers. Leveraging their social capital and fame to promote JAJA has helped the brand achieve triple-digit growth year-over-year and outpace the overall category for premium tequila, according to the company. JAJA’s resonance with younger consumers attracted the attention of international spirits distributor Proximo Spirits, which signed a production and global distribution deal with the br

This episode features an interview with Marshall Rabil, the co-owner of specialty peanut brand Hubs, who spoke about the brand’s efforts to reach younger consumers and the duality of his roles as a steward and modernizer of his family’s business. Also, the hosts discussed the news that Bang Energy has filed for bankruptcy and why innovative entrepreneurs are often hamstrung by their own achievements. Show notes: 0:49: The Best Of October Deadlines. Jack’s Been Here Before. Expo East And Todd’s Dilemma. – Ray was a bit hoarse, but reminded Mike of Man U’s prowess and the hosts collectively reminded listeners of upcoming deadlines to submit applications for BevNET and NOSH’s Best of 2022 awards along with those for the latest editions of the New Beverage Showdown and NOSH Pitch Slam. They also chatted about how NOSH Live Winter 2022 will offer entrepreneurs a direct connection with investors and other industry leaders and John explained why beverage professionals should be wary of underestimating Jack Owoc