Taste Radio

At Natural Products Expo East 2016, BevNET’s podcast team sat down with John Haugen, the vice president and general manager of General Mills’ 301 Inc. incubation unit. In this podcast, Haugen discusses how 301, which operates as a business development and venture capital arm of General Mills, evaluates opportunities for investment in emerging trends and early-stage companies and gives an update on the unit’s partnership with organic bottled soup brand Tio Gazpacho. He also explains why General Mills needs to redefine how it markets functional benefits and how finding “natural ways for food to work harder” is an important consideration in 301’s investment strategy.

Influential blogger and organic food pundit Max Goldberg stopped by the BevNET Podcast home office this week for a discussion of the state of the organic food and beverage industry, the issues concerning the development of new products, and to preview his memoir, Finding Maxwell. Goldberg, a former Wall Street executive, told our team all about his journey from antidepressants to clean-living organic foodie and media figure, with conversational stops along the way on the offerings at Expo East, the difference between Ripple Foods and almond milk, and, most importantly, what he’d do if faced with the choice of eating Arby’s or a bag of organic palm sugar. He’s optimistic about the future of the business, which is good, because he’s deeply involved. Goldberg thinks that product development is still nascent, it should be noted. Goldberg said he’s looking forward to “when you get people who are super talented chefs and get them into the plant-based arena,” adding, “I think we’re really in the early stages here.”

This week, the podcast team is joined by veteran entrepreneur, investor and advisor Tom First, best known as the co-founder Nantucket Nectars. First is currently an operating partner at private equity firm Castanea Partners where he focuses on opportunities in branded food and beverages. In a broad ranging discussion, First riffs on emerging trends in the beverage business, including why he sees a big future for gut health and protein and also shares his take on beverage companies that are primed to become billion dollar brands.

Natural Products Expo East 2016 opens next week, and this edition of the podcast offers our take on how exhibitors and attendees can make the most of the event.

In this edition of the podcast, we follow up on a recent BevNET Magazine article that examined a growing controversy regarding standards and regulation in the expanding world of probiotic beverages. BevNET Editor-in-Chief Jeff Klineman, who authored the article, joins us for a lively discussion on the topic.

With almond milk leading the charge, the dairy alternative category continue to impress. Recent retail sales data compiled by IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm, showed big gains for refrigerated almond milk in multi-serve format, sales of which were up 6 percent in a year-over-year comparison for the four weeks ending on July 10. The segment is nearing $1 billion in sales, and although Silk and Blue Diamond continue to dominate, Califia Farms once again proved it’s a force to be reckoned with; sales hit $42 million, up approximately 87 percent. Although dwarfed by the almond milk segment, refrigerated coconut milk also saw a leap in sales, up 8.5 percent in the timeframe. Sales of other milk substitutes, including cashew milk, flax milk and others, and collated by IRI as a catchall segment, surged by 77 percent, totalling nearly $93 million. The growth of these nut- and plant-based milks seems to have come at the expense of dairy and soy-based milks, sales of which remain on a downward spiral. So, wha

The cold brew coffee craze is sweeping through the beverage industry, and it seems like everyone’s trying to get a piece of the action. But we’ve seen this story before: companies flocking to a hot category, and often times ending up with a less-than-successful outcome (see: energy drinks, cold-pressed juice). “It’s just a sign of how this industry works,” BevNET CEO John Craven said in a new podcast. “When people see opportunity, you get the herd moving quickly trying to get their troops on the front line for this -- hopefully -- big surge in cold brew consumption. But right now, there are certainly too many brands relative to the amount of volume out there for cold brew.” Amid a saturated market for RTD cold brew coffee, we decided to take a look at a few beverage categories that we see as ripe for disruptive and timely innovation. Listen to our take, which includes examples of a few companies quietly taking advantage of white space in traditional categories, in the latest edition of the BevNET podcast.

In June PepsiCo announced the return of Crystal Pepsi, a clear and caffeine-free cola that debuted in the early 1990’s. Although it was positioned as a better-for-you soda, the drink lasted about a year on the market before PepsiCo pulled the plug, apparently to the dismay of a loyal contingent of fans. More than 20 years after its demise, some of those fans launched a campaign to resurrect Crystal Pepsi, one that caught the eye of the manufacturer and factored into its limited-edition return to the market. The current iteration of Crystal Pepsi with a few updated graphics, but it’s clear that PepsiCo is aiming for nostalgic appeal. In this podcast, we discuss what, if any, impact retro and throwback products and packaging might have for a brand. We also examine similar attempts of reviving dated imagery and discontinued products by companies seeking a sentimental response.

We’re asked all the time: how can I get news about my brand featured on BevNET? Well, you can start by saying hello :) Certainly, there are time-tested and effective ways of communicating with trade media. Press releases and story pitches are two of the most common tools, but what are key components for each? How do position your news to stand out among dozens of pitches that we receive each week? In this week’s podcast, we discuss best practices for submitting news as a way to build a foundation for effective and consistent dialogue between supplier companies and trade media. The discussion includes details on how we sort incoming news into various “buckets” on BevNET and what makes for a headline story.

In recent months, the cold brew coffee category has been inundated with dozens of new products. While most have been launched by regional-focused startup companies, major players Starbucks and Peet’s recently introduced bottled cold brew lines. Meanwhile, third-wave darling Stumptown has gradually expanded distribution of its RTD offerings, and Califia Farms, Chameleon and High Brew continue to introduce new varieties. As more cold brew products come to market, suppliers are doubling down on efforts to differentiate from the pack and appeal themselves to new consumers. In this edition of the BevNET Podcast, we discuss how brands are innovating in terms of packaging, formulation and flavor variety. We also examine the impact of nitro cold brew products and how they are being marketed and sold.

Yes, BevNET staffers have their individual quirks, mannerisms and styles, but it would be a bit of a stretch to describe the team as a motley crew; we prefer “wild bunch.” And, we get asked all the time: “So, how’d you land at BevNET?” Backgrounds are varied and, in many cases, seem like an unusual fit for a company that reports on the beverage industry. That said, there is a unifying strain to our stories: a passion for working with entrepreneurs. The usual suspects of this podcast -- John Craven, Ray Latif and Jon Landis -- discuss how their paths led to BevNET and discuss parallels in their experiences at an entrepreneurial media company to that of many beverage entrepreneurs.

Ah, to be in the Whole Foods Pentagon City. that’s where super-entrepreneur Seth Goldman — co-founder of Honest Tea and Current Chairman of Beyond Meat — has been trotting out products like Honest Sport and the Beyond Burger for consumers to test out. BevNET’s podcast studio last week became a mini-Pentagon City itself, with Goldman stopping by to let the team taste the new products. Goldman considers the Beyond Burger in particular as a transformational enterprise — the opportunity to create a viable branded plant protein at the meat counter. “It’s a huge opportunity,” says the longtime vegetarian. “The veggie burger is an evolutionary dead end. I’ll never eat a veggie burger again.” It wasn’t just a feast, though. The BevNET Podcast team quizzed Goldman on a number of other topics, including the ongoing battle over GMO labeling and its impact on the organic movement, as well as the long-term future for Honest within the Coke system. Ever the good — and well-informed — sport, Goldman fit right in for an enjo

The combined forces of BevNET and Project NOSH descended on the Fancy Food Show in Manhattan a couple of weeks ago, and while the beverage team has already given its take, let’s face it — there’s a heck of a lot more solids on display in the aisle than liquids. And that means this edition of the BevNET Podcast is a perfect chance to throw Project NOSH editor Carol Ortenberg and Marketing Specialist Jacqui Brugliera into the line of microphone fire alongside Jon Landis and Jeff Klineman to discuss the seismic changes overcoming this retail channel, which has so long been the realm of luxury and indulgence. The discussion centers around the way overwhelming consumer trends toward cleaner foods and special diets are washing over the channel, causing even spreads, snacks, and high-end epicurean products to develop varieties that fit paleo, non-GMO, organic, and other shopper requirements. It also looks to the history of the channel, introducing the “Mount Rushmore” of New York specialty foods: Dean & Deluca,

Since its debut in 2010, Spindrift, which markets craft sodas and sparkling water drinks made with fresh fruit juice, has focused messaging on the “real” and “simple” aspects of its ingredients. The brand proposition is rooted in the belief that consumers are increasingly confused about how drinks are formulated, especially when it comes to carbonated beverages, and seeking greater transparency and clarity. This month, Spindrift is planning to introduce a label refresh that company executives believe will articulate that messaging and enable for broader sales and distribution opportunities. In this podcast, recorded at Spindrift headquarters in Waltham, Mass., we sit down with founder and CEO Bill Creelman and CMO Strick Walker to discuss the company’s approach to the updated branding and how it incorporated consumer feedback into the redesign. Creelman and Walker also delve into competitive set for craft soda and sparkling water, Spindrift’s strategy for winning new retailers and consumers, and the brand’s r

Back in the Big Apple for the third time in less than a month, the BevNET team rallied once more, this time to cover the 2016 Summer Fancy Food Show. Amid the vast halls of the Jacob Javits Center, the specialty food convention featured a broad and diverse range of beverage exhibitors at the event, including many based in metro New York. In this podcast, we examine how the Summer Fancy Food Show has evolved to become an important event for beverage brands seeking local and national retail opportunities. We also discuss a thriving scene for Brooklyn-based food and beverage companies as seen at the convention and the ways that some are marketing the borough as part of their brand. Finally, we offer our take on some of our favorite products, some of which are featured in our photo gallery from the show.

After a whirlwind eight days in which BevNET produced three conferences, we’ve taken some much needed time to sit down and reflect. Beginning in Brooklyn, where BevNET sister sites Brewbound and Project NOSH held business conferences focused on the business of craft beer and natural packaged foods, the team traveled uptown to Manhattan for BevNET Live Summer 2016, a three-day event that attracted 500+ beverage industry professionals. In this edition of the podcast, we discuss an overarching theme of health and wellness that linked the three conferences. We also examine the evolution of BevNET Live’s New Beverage Showdown competition and the categories in which entrepreneurs are identifying opportunities for innovative concepts. The discussion leads to one about the market for cold-pressed juice and RTD coffee and ways that some brands are attempting to stand out from the pack.

The following podcast features a captivating discussion with Fred Hart, the creative director at Interact, a Boulder-based branding and design firm. Hart offers his take on cutting edge design trends and spoke about a recent visit to Mexico City where he found inspiration for new methods of design and storytelling. He also shares an engrossing account of Interact’s work and packaging and label refresh for Dogfish Head Brewery.

In Episode 10 of the BevNET Podcast, we sit down with Justin Prochnow, a partner at Greenberg Traurig, to discuss current legal and regulatory issues affecting the beverage industry. We spoke with Prochnow, an expert in legal requirements for labeling, about changes to the Nutrition Facts panel, which were revealed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May. Prochnow also discussed the FDA’s guidance on use of “evaporated cane juice” on ingredient labels, the agency’s view of the term being “false or misleading,” and what it means for food and beverage companies that are using the term.

Beverage entrepreneurs hear it all the time: “how is your brand differentiated from what’s currently available on the market?” It’s often distributors, retailers and investors that are asking the question, and most brand owners answer with claims about enhanced flavor, function or health benefits as compared to competing brands. Sometimes, entrepreneurs will say that their brand is “creating a new category” and doesn’t fit into standard beverage segments. But just how effective is that statement? More importantly, is grounded in reality? We examine the approach in this podcast and discuss attempts to position a brand as so novel that it belongs in its own category. We also look at potential challenges and pitfalls that entrepreneurs may encounter along the way.

We're just a few days away from BevNET Live Summer 2016, and with it the eleventh edition of the conference's signature beverage brand competition, the New Beverage Showdown. The competition will feature 15 early-stage entrepreneurs who will take the main stage to present their brands and business plans to a panel of expert judges for a chance at a $10,000 grand prize. In this podcast, we look back at previous editions of the Showdown and identify key attributes of successful presentations and commonalities among winners. We also discuss where some brands stumbled and things to avoid while under the spotlight.