Taste Radio

Upon its launch in 1998, few could have predicted the runaway success of alkaline water brand Essentia, including the company’s founder and CEO Ken Uptain. After two decades on the market, Essentia has developed into a premier bottled water brand that is nearing $180 million in annual retail sales, numbers that have attracted rumors of a potentially colossal exit. Uptain admits that the brand’s remarkable growth has surprised him, yet Uptain, a mild-mannered and reserved man who was semi-retired when he launched Essentia, is taking success in stride. In an interview included in this episode, he says that he continues to run the company the same way he has for years, leading via delegation, trust and instinct. “I make a point not to change,” said Uptain. “Continuity is really critical for the team. If [my employees] look at me and I’m not happy or not in a good mood, it’s a big deal. And so I’m always hearing that being very consistent is so important.” Listen to our full conversation with Uptain, who discusse