Tasty & Targeted. How U.K. Brands Nail Functional Appeal.

On location in London, the hosts delve into emerging trends and spotlight the brands and entrepreneurs driving innovation in the food and beverage space. Their discussion offers a look at what's gaining traction across the pond… and what may soon be making its way to the U.S. market.

Show notes:

0:25: Dine & Dash. Feisty Missions. Not Your Father's Whole Foods. Fizzy Tea FTW? Wedges & Broc. – Ray calls out one of the hosts over a breakfast blunder at a cash-only café, before Mike and Jacqui reflect on their recent visit to Mission Kitchen – a commercial kitchen space designed to support emerging packaged food brands – and share insights from a conversation with the founders of Perfect Ted, a matcha-based beverage company. Ray unveils a haul of innovative products picked up at Portobello Whole Foods, featuring everything from protein soda and bamboo water to kombucha-based sparkling tea, sea moss gummies, vacuum-fried broccoli, cola-flavored kombucha, and prickly pear water. Their discussion dives into how sparkling tea brands are pushing to stand out through elevated formats and complex flavor profiles. They also explore how U.K. and European startups are leading the way with nuanced, layered flavors that deliver on both taste and functional benefits.

Brands in this episode: Trip, Doughlicious, Mission Kitchen, PerfectTed, Juno, Genni, DJ&A, Holos, Sound, Birdie, OOSO, Every State, GT's Kombucha, Revive Kombucha, Live Soda, Suma, Feisty, Kult, Cacto, The Giving Tree, Brisk Lager, Infinite Session, Something & Nothing, Uncracked