Taste Radio

In a bursting-at-the-seams episode of Taste Radio, the hosts reflect and ruminate on Lionel Messi’s Prime-killer, “condiment couture,” Boisson-bashing and sausage salvation. They also get vitaminwater vibes from a brand’s recent revamp and highlight a handful of new beverages, including a sparkling tea and a decaf espresso martini. Brands in this episode: Mas+ by Messi, White Claw, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Prime, Wet Hydration, Vitaminwater, Twrl Milk Tea, Little Saints, Ooso Tea, Dr Pepper, Michele's Granola, Simpli, Madwoman Cocktails

This special edition of the podcast highlights interviews with six founders, creators and innovators who joined us on Taste Radio during the first half of 2024. Our guests include Chamberlain Coffee founder Emma Chamberlain; Elizabeth Banks and Marian Leitner, co-owners of Archer Roose; Patagonia CEO Ryan Gellert; Alix Peabody, founder of Bev; Jay Shetty, co-founder of Juni; and Super Bowl champion NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the lead investor of Throne Sport Coffee. Show notes: 0:31: Interview: Emma Chamberlain, Founder, Chamberlain Coffee – We kick things off with Gen Z icon and Chamberlain Coffee founder Emma Chamberlain. In this clip from an episode published on May 7, Emma spoke about why the brand’s  identity is anchored by love and modernity, and how collaborations with other brands are determined by a set of “filters.” 4:55: Interview: Elizabeth Banks & Marian Leitner, Co-Owners, Archer Roose – Next up we have Elizabeth Banks & Marian Leitner, the co-owners of fast-growing canned wine br

Why are some concepts that were once derided as too esoteric for mainstream consumers now viewed as cutting edge and trendy? The hosts discuss the topic during their recap of the 2024 Summer Fancy Food Show and also highlight rooibos-based drinks, a “breakfast martini” and THC powders. Show notes: 0:25: An Irish “Beer Factory.” One-Day Sprint. Spicy Flights. Generation-Neutral. FUQ BOI? Breakfast Martinis. BevNET Com. – Upon his return from across the pond, Craven suggests a new date for SFFS, how the trade show featured hot sauces galore and one product left Mike feeling “straight nuked.” The also talk about how booths highlighting South Asian brands attracted lots of energy and attention from attendees. Later, Craven gets “outed,” before the hosts go deep on rooibos and how subscription clubs are effective in generating consumer enthusiasm, revenue and feedback. Also, we learn that Jacqui’s mom has a new bag and how a cult favorite sweets brand got a bite-size revamp.  Brands in this episode: Guinness, Empr

Nicole Dawes isn’t the kind of CEO that operates from behind a desk.  Throughout her career, Nicole, the founder of Late July Organic Snacks and Nixie Beverage Co., has consistently stressed the importance of building brands at the store level. Being in the field yields critical information about how products are performing on shelf, she says, and also strengthens relationships with retail buyers and merchandisers. That philosophy helped her build Late July into a nationally distributed brand that was acquired by snack giant Snyder Lance in 2014. And she’s drawing on the same playbook to develop Nixie.  Launched in 2020, Nixie markets organic flavored sparkling water sold in 12 oz. cans. The products are distributed in 11,000 stores and the brand has become the fastest-growing in its category within the natural channel. Earlier this month, Nixie entered the emerging better-for-you soda space with a new line of zero-sugar and zero-calorie sodas. The products come in three varieties – classic cola, root beer an

On the heels of BevNET Live Summer 2024, the hosts revisit the final round of the New Beverage Showdown and explain why evaluating emerging brands at different stages of development can be challenging. They also highlight a handful of new products and talk about the influx of saucy condiments. Show notes: 0:25: Five-Zero. Zig Zag. Candy Toilets. Melissa x Guy Fieri. Hot & Saucy. — Melissa recounts her visit to one of NYC‘s most recognized landmarks, Mike talks about why an upcoming trade show allows attendees to zig while others are zagging, and Ray rips on a childhood treat that dentists surely love. The hosts collectively praise BevNET Live’s retail partners, and congratulate the winner of its pitch slam before sharing some behind-the-scenes information about the judging process. Melissa shares a guilty pleasure while on the road, Ray heaps praise on a hot honey brand and wonders why everyone seems to be feeling a little saucy. Brands in this episode: Behave, Now and Later, Pretty Tasty, Lily, OK Energy

Forbes once described Jean-Charles Boisset as “The James Bond of Wine,” a title befitting of the Frenchman, who embodies elegance and sophistication. But at his core, Jean-Charles is fond of nourishing others and sharing his passion for high-quality beverage and food with anyone he encounters. Jean-Charles and his sister Nathalie lead the current generation of his family’s business, Boisset Collection, a global company that owns dozens of wineries across the world, including in California, France, England and India. According to Forbes, Boisset Collection generates annual sales of around $200 million and has an estimated value of $450 million. While his primary business is wine, Jean-Charles is also a spirits entrepreneur whose latest project has reunited him with The Beckmann Gonzalez family, known for their extensive history in tequila, in particular as the creators of Jose Cuervo.  The partnership yielded Casa Obsidiana, an ultra-premium tequila brand that unites the collective expertise of its founding te

Frank Sinatra famously crooned "if I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere." The "there," of course, is New York City.  The Big Apple was the backdrop for BevNET Live Summer 2024, held on June 12 and 13. Taste Radio's hosts met with founders and executives from dozens of emerging and innovative beverage brands represented at the annual event, including those that participated in BevNET's signature pitch competition, the New Beverage Showdown. In this episode, the hosts discuss their conversations with attendees, reflect on presentations in the semifinal round of the Showdown and how founders piqued the interest of the competition’s judges, and identify what retail buyers want to hear in pitch meetings. Show notes: 0:25: Gravelly Voices. Two-Minute Sprint. Simplify! A Little Different. Jadakiss. Two Ingredients. – The hosts chat about Ray’s “latestagramming,” the challenge of 120-second pitches and why Mike talks about why “liquid, packaging and me” are the keys to successful semifinal round Showdown presen

The New York Times recently hailed Graza’s “sizzle” variety as “the best all around olive oil that you can buy in a store.” It’s the latest high-profile praise for the brand, which launched in 2022 and is beloved for its chef-inspired, squeezable green bottles. While acclaim for Graza has become commonplace, its popularity among influencers has led some to mock it as “the Instagram olive oil.”  Occasional derision, however, is fine with co-founder and CEO Andrew Benin. Being aligned with one of the world’s most popular social media platforms is a good thing, he says, and should be celebrated. Since its debut, Graza, which markets extra virgin olive oil sold in “sizzle” and “drizzle” varieties, has been a constant presence in the pantries and kitchens of Instagram, YouTube and TikTok influencers. Virality has helped the brand generate millions of dollars in direct-to-consumer sales and supported its presence at national retailers, including Whole Foods, Target and Walmart. According to a recent CNBC report, Gr

It’s rare for a five-month-old CPG brand to be featured in the checkout aisles of one of the world’s largest retailers. But Katie Lefkowitz, the founder and CEO of Harken Sweets, an upstart brand of plant-based, better-for-you candy bars, made it happen. Prior to launching Harken, Katie was the chief operating officer of Caulipower, helping the cauliflower-centric brand generate $100 million in sales annually within four years of its launch. In 2022, she set her sights on the confectionery space with the goal of creating a brand that rivaled legacy players like Snickers in terms of taste and texture, but made with significantly less calories and sugar and enhanced with functional ingredients. Harken was the result. The brand debuted earlier this year and comes in three varieties: the Crunchy One, the Gooey One and the Nutty One.  Last month, Walmart added Harken’s Crunchy and Nutty varieties to 3,500 of its locations across the U.S. The retailer merchandises the candy bars in the cash register aisles of its s

Jocko Willink admits that he made mistakes during his time in the military. The retired Navy SEAL lieutenant commander, author and entrepreneur says that, in some cases, his errors led to circumstances in which “things went terribly wrong.” Certainly, it’s difficult to compare the experiences of leading soldiers on the battlefield and running a CPG company. But Jocko, who is the founder of better-for-you beverage and supplement brand Jocko Fuel, believes that in any situation when mistakes occur, it’s important for the person in charge to take ownership, figure out a solution and find a way to make sure the problem doesn’t happen again. That perspective is a core tenet of Jocko’s leadership style, which guides Jocko Fuel. Born as Jocko Tea in 2018, the brand has evolved into a CPG platform that markets several product lines, including energy drinks, protein shakes, greens powder and hydration beverages. Jocko Fuel has a nationwide retail footprint and is carried at grocery chains H-E-B, Meijer and Wegmans alo

Have non-alcoholic cocktail menus gone the way of the BlackBerry? Milan Martin thinks so, and he has good reason to believe it. Milan is the founder and CEO of The Free Spirits Company, a brand of hand-crafted, non-alcoholic spirits and RTD cocktails. Founded in 2020, the company markets zero-proof bourbon, gin, tequila, amaro and vermouth, along with a canned margarita and Kentucky mule. Milan’s vision is not to replace spirits from consumers’ drinking occasions, but to empower them – and bartenders – with the optionality to create no- or low-proof cocktails, depending on their mood and setting.  Free Spirits products are produced using a process it describes as “distillate reconstruction.” The company sources natural ingredients – American white oak, European juniper, and Mexican blue agave, to name a few – and distills their essences while reconstructing the nose, flavor notes and mouthfeel of traditional spirits. Vitamins B3 and B6 are also added to enhance the consumption experience. In our interview, Mi

Despite major strides taken by a new generation of bold entrepreneurs and brands, Black-owned food and beverage companies still face persistent headwinds getting on the shelves of mainstream supermarkets, finding significant investment,and scaling long-term. From a consumer and an equity standpoint, this is untenable. A significant slice – 14% – of American consumers are Black. We know that there are Black founders out there but they are not necessarily making their way into our consciousness or on the radar of much of the established CPG structure.  As a resource for all founders, Taste Radio, in collaboration with Quentin Vennie, the co-founder and CEO of beverage brand Equitea, has developed a special series that highlights conversations on various aspects of the challenges felt by all entrepreneurs filtered through the experience of Black founders. We also discuss the ways that the environment has changed, and how it has not, as well as identifying resources that our founders may not yet realize exist.  I

If you’ve ever wanted to get inside the mind of a retail buyer or merchandiser, this episode, in which we sit down with key executives representing mass, specialty and natural grocery retail chains, is required listening. Will McDonald, the Vice President DMM - Beverages for Walmart; Kristin Alas, a Category Manager for Gelson's; and Brian Albert, a Sr. Category Manager for Sprouts, reveal how each retailer evaluates emerging brands, assesses innovation and trendy ingredients, and cultivates successful relationships with founders. Show notes: 1:10: Interview: Will McDonald, VP DMM - Beverages, Walmart – Will talks about how he cut his teeth at Walmart in the retailer’s gift card section, why “being choiceful” in managing assortment is “the bedrock of what we do,” and why Walmart is interested in meeting with as many potential suppliers as possible. He also explains why he prefers in-person introductions to emails, how long it takes from an initial meeting to getting product on-shelf and the value of working w

If you know Peloton, you probably know Kendall Toole. Kendall is one of the most recognizable and beloved trainers on the exercise platform, known for her upbeat personality and high-intensity cycling classes. She’s also a popular wellness and fitness influencer with 1.3 million followers on Instagram and TikTok combined and an ambassador for athletic apparel company Lululemon.  In October 2023, Kendall entered the beverage industry as a partner with Don’t Quit, a sports nutrition brand that markets high protein shakes and clean ingredient energy drinks.  We sat down with Kendall for a conversation about her involvement with Don’t Quit and how she’s involved in marketing and promotional initiatives. As part of our conversation, Kendall shared her approach to communicating authenticity on social media, how she talks about Don’t Quit’s functional ingredients with consumers and how she played a key role in a label revamp for the brand’s energy drink line. Show notes: 0:35: First Time? Meet A Retail Buyer In NYC.

It’s no secret that Patrick Mahomes is one of the best players in the NFL. What is perhaps less known is his beverage of choice throughout the day: coffee. The three-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback says he drinks at least five cups a day to stay energized. It’s only fitting that Patrick is the lead investor in Throne Sport Coffee, a better-for-you iced coffee brand developed for athletes and active consumers. Founded by former BodyArmor marketing chief Michael Fedele, Throne is made with sustainably sourced arabica coffee and contains 150mg of natural caffeine per 11 oz. can. The products, which are sweetened with cane sugar and enhanced with B vitamins, electrolytes and BCAAs, come in four varieties: Mocha Java, Salted Caramel, French Vanilla and Black. Prior to Throne’s launch on May 16, we sat down with Patrick and Michael who discussed the origins of the brand and their relationship, why the brand’s target audience includes both health-minded athletes and blue-collar workers, the reason they don’t des

Jacqui’s recap of the recently held Vegan Women’s Summit spurs a conversation about consumer perception of – and some resentment about –  plant-based food and meat alternatives, in particular. The hosts also highlight a new high-test coffee brand that’s backed by a high-profile investor, note a new and valuable benefit for Insiders and sample prebiotic sodas, BFY cookies and a show-stopping non-alcoholic red wine. This episode also features a conversation with Dr. Farnoush Fadavi is the co-founder of Bala Enzyme, a brand of plant-based drink mixes formulated with a proprietary blend of turmeric, bromelain, and papain that contain no sugar. When taken regularly, the products are said to help regulate the body’s inflammatory response and improve circulation to accelerate recovery and natural healing.  Show notes: 0:43: Almost T-Boned. The Grimace Burger. Sporty Samples. Wine Keys. Uncouth Swine! - Mike recalls a moment in time when Jon Landis may have saved four lives; Jacqui gives a rundown of a recent vegan-c

Twenty-three years, nine brands and four successful exits. Serial entrepreneur Lance Collins has seen it all.  Yes, he sold Fuze and NOS to the Coca-Cola Co. and reaped a windfall return. Yes, Coke also paid billions to buy BodyArmor, while Keurig Dr Pepper acquired Core Hydration for $525 million. There’s no question that his wins are impressive.  But Lance will tell you that he’s made nearly every mistake one can make in the beverage industry and has experienced raw and desperate times, including mortgaging his house to stay in business.  When asked about a throughline that has linked his companies and defined his career, Lance points to passion. He says it’s why he continues to develop new beverage concepts, such as organic sports drink Recover 180, fitness-centric energy brand Accelerator, additive-free tequila Casa Azul, better-for-you soda MyMuse and ZEN WTR, a brand of sustainable bottled water. We sat down with Lance at the 2024 Beverage Forum, where he talked about his current and past ventures, less

Dates, consumed for millennia, are having a modern moment. But can the superfood maintain its momentum, particularly among mainstream consumers? And, while we’re asking: has “superfood” lost its luster? Taste Radio’s hosts have their say. We also sit down with MMA icon Quentin “Rampage” Jackson, who is a partner with upstart beverage brand F3 Energy. Show notes: 0:38: No ECL, Thank You. Don’t Sit Next To Ray. A Plurality of Cacao. Sounds Fishy. – Mike trolls Ray about a recent soccer game, it’s clear that Jacqui is the one to call in the event of an emergency, and an early-stage date snack brand sparks a discussion about how the fruit and other superfoods are marketed and sold. The hosts also munch on a new line of corn-based, onion-flavored, ring-shaped snacks (yes, you guessed it) and opine on better-for-you versions of legacy snacks, while Mike gets ceremonial about a new cacao drink and reveals a somewhat strange breakfast habit. 30:14: Quentin “Rampage” Jackson, Partner, F3 – MMA fans are undoubtedly fam

Emma Chamberlain isn’t jaded by the ebb and flow of beverage entrepreneurship. Not yet, anyway. On the contrary, the 22-year-old, who rose to fame as a YouTube creator and has since become one of the most prominent influencers in the world, says that she revels in the daily lessons learned from building her coffee brand, Chamberlain Coffee.  Founded in 2020, Chamberlain Coffee sells whole beans, matcha and instant coffee direct-to-consumer and also markets ready-to-drink dairy-free lattes that are carried by Whole Foods, Albertsons, Walmart and Target.  We sat down with Emma and Chamberlain Coffee CEO Christopher Gallant at the 2024 Beverage Forum, held last week in Manhattan Beach, California, for a conversation about the brand’s development and growth strategy, why its identity is anchored by love and modernity, and how collaborations with other brands is determined by a set of “filters.” This episode also features a conversation with Buster Houston, the vice president of national merchandising for supermar

When the world’s largest retailer launches a private label brand of better-for-you and affordable food and beverage staples, it stands to reason that their customers will benefit. But how will Walmart's new bettergoods brand impact its existing CPG suppliers? The Taste Radio crew weighs in. Show notes: 0:35: A Terrifying Chameleon. Tipping Protocol. BevNET Gandalf. It’s Yeah. – On location at The Beverage Forum in Manhattan Beach, California, Ray and John share a few highlights from the event, including notable interviews recorded from our makeshift Taste Radio studio. Jacqui and Ray briefly recap Naturally San Diego’s third annual Pitch Slam and how a costumed person scared the living daylights of the competition’s host. Jacqui shares a secret about her shopping habits, the hosts collectively opine on Walmart’s latest opus and Mike is urged to bathe… in lemongrass curry. Brands in this episode: Loli’s, BAM, Mesa De Vida, Sipwell, Madly Hadley, Chamberlain Coffee, The Free Spirits Co., Banza, Siete Foods, Cal