Taste Radio

Before you hit play, here's the headline — arguably the biggest in CPG in 2025, and one you already know: PepsiCo acquired better-for-you soda brand Poppi for nearly $2 billion. What follows is a replay of a 2023 Taste Radio interview with founders Allison and Stephen Ellsworth, recorded back when Poppi was still firmly in disruptor mode — scaling fast, breaking rules, and taking direct aim at Big Soda. In the conversation, the Ellsworths trace Poppi's evolution from a scrappy gut-health drink into a modern soda brand built for culture, not compromise. They discuss launching amid the chaos of COVID, betting early on TikTok, and choosing bold cans and great taste over "health-halo" minimalism. The entrepreneurs also share a rare, candid take on founder ego — why they handed the CEO reins to an experienced operator, how they professionalized early, and what it really takes to scale from zero to thousands of doors without losing the magic. Listen closely and you'll hear the blueprint for the PepsiCo deal years before it happened: a brand that tastes great, moves at the speed of culture, wins both online and in-store, and isn't afraid to call itself soda again. Show notes: 0:25: Interview: Allison & Stephen Ellsworth, Co-Founders, Poppi – The Ellsworths reflect on Poppi's seven-year journey, from its origins as Mother Beverage to its reinvention as a colorful, prebiotic soda positioned to challenge legacy soda brands. They discuss relocating from Dallas to Austin to tap into a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem, balancing hypergrowth with family life, and navigating the operational challenges of scaling during the pandemic. The founders also explain their emphasis on professionalizing the business, including their decision to bring in seasoned operator Chris Hall as CEO and redefine their own roles, prioritizing long-term scale over founder ego while maintaining creative control and brand vision. The interview also highlights Poppi's digital-first growth engine, particularly its early and unconventional embrace of TikTok, which helped the brand build massive organic reach, cultural relevance, a deeply engaged community and fueled explosive trial across Amazon and DTC before accelerating Poppi's expansion into retail. Consumer insights reinforced the brand's direction: taste was the number-one driver of trial and repeat, enabling Poppi to confidently reclaim the word "soda" and position itself as fun, nostalgic, and culturally current – while quietly delivering functional benefits like prebiotics and low sugar. Brands in this episode: Poppi, vitaminwater, Bai, BodyArmor

Candy-coated dates, cocktails in pouches, collagen-infused beauty drinks and "noise-canceling" tonics. The latest wave of launches begs the question: is niche now the norm in food and beverage? Show notes: 0:25: 'Base Mentality. BBL Winners. Regen For All. Bark-Tinis. Adult Capri Sun. Hippies & Santa.-- Melissa offers a 411 on Nombase, BevNET's integrated platform that combines data tools, a partner directory, educational resources, and a weekly podcast. The hosts reflect on Brewbound Live, praising the event's thoughtfully curated content, attendee engagement and upbeat atmosphere. They also highlight a memorable Pitch Slam moment that spurred an emotional, celebratory scene. The conversation then shifts to regenerative agriculture and the USDA's newly announced $700 million pilot program aimed at expanding the farming approach. They turn their attention to numerous products sampled at BevNET Live and new ones sent to the office including a zero-proof Peppermint "Bark-Tini," dates coated in a candy shell, two THC drink brands (no, one of them is not named after a JLo flop) and vodka-based pouch cocktails. Melissa spotlights a brand of functional athletic recovery products and Ray rounds out the episode with one of the most unusual beverage brands launched in the past decade. Brands in this episode: Ikasu Brewing, Recess, Lil Bucks, Smood Sweets, Gigli, Hippie Water, Vivy, Capri Sun, Summer Club, Skinergy, KA-EX, Santa

Archer's journey to $300 million in annual sales has been driven by an unwavering focus on operational excellence. In this episode, founder and CEO Eugene Kang shares how disciplined execution, vertical integration, and precisely timed innovation transformed Archer from an upstart jerky brand into one of the fastest-growing meat snack companies in the U.S. Eugene unpacks Archer's recent rebrand, how the company positioned itself ahead of the explosive growth of meat sticks, and the importance of building durable partnerships with retailers like Whole Foods. He also explains why patience and long-term thinking remain critical traits for CPG founders navigating scale. Show notes: 0:25: Eugene Kang, Founder & CEO, Archer – At Nosh Live L.A. 2025, Eugene discusses the rebrand from Country Archer to "Archer," revisits the company's early breakthrough – a partnership with Huy Fong Sriracha – and its expansion into meat sticks in 2018. He talks about Archer's rapid scale and how disciplined execution and new household adoption is helping the brand outpace the overall category. Eugene explains how two owned manufacturing facilities enable cost control, quality, and pricing flexibility, and highlights operational excellence as a core strength. He also talks about how a renewed push to build brand equity through national marketing like the "Stick to Real" campaign has supported brand growth. He underscores the importance of patience, discipline, and long-term thinking in CPG, balancing data with intuition in innovation, and delivering clear value to consumers amid inflation. Brands in this episode: Archer, Slim Jim, Huy Fong

The hosts recap a whirlwind week of back-to-back events in L.A., celebrating standout competitions, emerging brands, and generous mentorship from seasoned founders at Nosh Live and BevNET Live. From Projo's big win in the New Beverage Showdown to celebrity cameos by Ryan Phillippe and Khloé Kardashian, the energy never let up. Show notes: 0:25: A Fickle Judge. Generous Sharks. Competition BTS. Mochi Magic. A "Dirty" Brand. – The hosts reflect on the high level of professionalism from their teams, enthusiastic attendee feedback, and the inspiring presence of seasoned founders who generously mentored early-stage entrepreneurs. They highlight BevNET's New Beverage Showdown and its winner protein coffee brand Projo, and the Nosh Pitch Slam, won by BFY gummy brand Rotten Candy. The team also celebrates memorable founder presentations, global flavors, and emerging brands across food and beverage. Ray recalls celebrity moments that added extra buzz, from Ryan Phillippe's surprise appearance as a beverage enthusiast to Khloé Kardashian sampling products backstage. He also praises an upstart hangover-recovery brand and a Portland-based RTD cocktail company, and a new line of cinnamon drinks. Brands in this episode: Dirty Saint, mōcean, Stursi, Projo*, NO CAP!, TIZZ, Rhinestone, Oh So Easy!, Djablo Sauce, Keya's Snacks, Xinca Foods, Shooka Sauce, Rotten, Poppi, Khloud, Sweety, Fly By Jing, Nixie, Late July, Fishwife, Pretty Tasty, Biolyte, Straightaway Cocktails

Hiyo's founders turned a personal wake-up call into one of the fastest-growing adult non-alcoholic beverage brands in the country. Built on sharp strategy, standout design, and disciplined execution, Hiyo is now scaling nationally — including a newly inked Live Nation partnership placing the brand in major venues across the U.S. In this episode, we sit down with Hiyo's three co-founders, Evan Quinn, Cygne Cooper and George Youmans, who discuss how this SoCal-born "social tonic" is redefining moderation, unlocking category whitespace, and proving that thoughtful focus can outpace flashy niche plays. Show notes: 0:25: Evan Quinn, Cygne Cooper & George Youmans, Co-Founders, Hiyo – Evan and George reflect on how simultaneous family crises related to alcohol prompted them to cut back on drinking and inspired them to create Hiyo. Cygne discusses how she crafted the SoCal-inspired brand identity and sunset-themed packaging. George notes that Hiyo was initially a DTC brand and grew carefully into retail once operations were strong and consumer demand was clear. Cygne talks about how Hiyo's booth at Expo West 2024 created an energetic, immersive experience before the founders explain how merchandising strategy varies by retailer, with Hiyo fitting either near alcohol or within functional beverage sets. George talks about Hiyo's national partnership with Live Nation, requiring tight coordination across design, production, logistics, and on-premise education. Brands in this episode: Hiyo, Liquid Death

Nosh Live is buzzing — but did Mike snag that selfie with Khloé? On location in Marina Del Rey, the hosts sip on Erewhon's spicy bone-broth hot chocolate, unpack two landmark lawsuits, and dream of their next visit to 7-Eleven (yes, really). They also serve up hot takes on everything from tempeh chips and plant-based cookie dough to "cultured" drinks and cheese crisps. Show notes: 0:25: Runway Ruckus. Excited About Events. Bones & Chocolate. S.F. & Costco File Suit. Eggs, Tempeh & Dough. – Travel mishaps hit Mike once again, but everyone's amped for the L.A. events. Ray sips on Spindrift's yuzu mandarin sparkling water before John shares cups of Erewhon's bone-broth hot chocolate and Jacqui munches on one of Unite's globally inspired protein bars. The conversation shifts to industry news, including San Francisco's lawsuit against makers of ultra-processed foods, Costco's legal effort to recoup tariffs, and Hershey's limited-edition Dubai chocolate bar. Ray heralds the U.S. arrival of 7-Eleven's viral egg salad sandwiches and John shares samples of Mamame's tempeh chips, Doughy's plant-based cookie dough, kombucha from Costa Rica, and cheese crisps. Brands in this episode: Khloud, Fly By Jing, Spindrift, Fond Regenerative, UNiTE, Mr. Goodbar, Kewpie, Mamame, Doughy, Kombucha Culture, Sonoma Creamery

Bringing a hit international food brand to the U.S. sounds glamorous, but behind every success story is a maze of challenges most consumers never see. In this special crossover episode of Taste Radio and the Nombase Podcast, Lucía Conejo-Mir of Ines Rosales and Jennifer Donnellan of Lakrids by Bülow reveal the real work behind breaking into the American market. From reinventing packaging and pricing to navigating cultural habits, supply-chain surprises, and the art of getting consumers to try something new, their stories are rich with hard-won insights and candid surprises. Show notes: 0:25: Lucía Conejo-Mir, Ines Rosales & Jennifer Donnellan, Lakrids by Bülow – Lucía highlights the origins of Ines Rosales – founded in Spain in 1910 – and how the brand adjusted its approach to marketing, packaging and merchandising for the U.S. market. Jennifer outlines a similar but more modern journey for Lakrids by Bülow, founded in 2007 to elevate Scandinavian licorice. Despite Germany being the company's primary market, unexpected U.S. DTC growth revealed strong demand, but the brand needed to rethink its labels and flavor cues for American consumers. Both Lucia and Jennifer discuss major operational hurdles for selling in the U.S., including strict packaging rules, and a fragmented U.S. market that requires regional strategies and a thoughtful pricing architecture. They concur that patience, persistence, and relationships matter as does adapting without losing authenticity, and treating the U.S. as a complex but rewarding long-term opportunity. Brands in this episode: Ines Rosales, Lakrids by Bülow

Prebiotic cola, plant-based (and AI-inspired?) pulled chicken and protein-packed marshmallows. The hosts crack open Pepsi's new prebiotic cola and discuss whether a stevia-sweetened "functional" soda can win over classic cola fans. They also dig into Just Meat's big win at Walmart and what it says about the future of meat analogs, and why protein marshmallows might actually work in your next s'more. Show notes: 0:25: Rotten Roaches. The BevNET Bowls. Cloying & Fibrous. Who's Eating This Stuff? S'More, Please. – Jacqui explains why there is a bright red "biohazard" bag on her desk and the hosts joke about modern marketing tactics. They pivot to a preview of the upcoming NOSH Live, BevNET Live and Brewbound Live events, highlighting opportunities for founders to meet retailers, investors, and strategic partners. They sample PepsiCo's newly launched Pepsi Prebiotic – a lower-calorie, stevia-sweetened soda that comes in classic cola and cherry vanilla flavors – and opine on the minimalist white cans and whether Pepsi has clearly communicated the benefits. The hosts then discuss JUST Meat's newly launched plant-based pulled chicken, which is now available in four flavors at 3,000 Walmart stores, which sparks a debate about whether mainstream shoppers truly want meat analogs, and how clean-label concerns are shaping the category. Shifting gears, Ray highlights news that BeatBox Beverages – the colorful, party-forward, wine-based cocktail brand – is rumored to be an acquisition target by AB InBev in a deal reportedly worth around $700 million. Ray introduces Primal Sweets' protein marshmallows, which contain 25 grams of protein per bag and no sugar, and Albero D'oro cocktail cherries, before Jacqui presents Flour + Water's artisanal pasta, and Mike praises Hiyo's new pineapple coconut "social tonic." Brands in this episode: Rotten Candy, Oh So Easy, Keya's, Oddball, Pepsi, Poppi, Nixie, Just Meat, Beyond Meat, BeatBox, Primal Sweets, Flour + Water, Albero D'oro, Hiyo, Poppi

Brand collaborations are exploding, and they're becoming one of the most effective growth levers in CPG. In this episode, the team breaks down why co-branded products are becoming a core strategy for food and beverage brands, what separates meaningful partnerships from gimmicks, and how leaders like Grillo's, Fly By Jing, Graza, and Liquid Death are using them to drive awareness, trial, and category expansion. Show notes: 0:25: Playoff Beards. Popping In. A Secret Guest. Smokes To Snacks. Collab Work. Healthy, Hot & High. – The episode opens with playful banter about facial hair before previewing upcoming BevNET Live, Nosh Live, and Brewbound Live in L.A. next month. Ray highlights the return of Poppi co-founders Allison and Stephen Ellsworth to the BevNET Live stage to discuss building the modern soda category and notes Allison's recent appearance as a guest shark on "Shark Tank," including her investment in Freestyle Snacks. The hosts also spotlight upcoming programming such as CVS Health's Lauren Castro at NOSH Live, a still-secret Nosh Live guest and also urge founders to nab remaining Elevator Talk, and One-to-One meeting slots. They pivot to brand collaborations, citing Grillo's Pickles' new Zippo tie-in and its growing list of partners, as well as prolific collaborators like Mike's Hot Honey and Graza. The hosts offer advice on considerations for partnerships and co-branded products and what makes for a successful collaboration. John praises Lentiful's Thanksgiving Feast instant lentil cup, Mike is hot about Blobs' new spicy mango-guava flavor and everyone has their say about Rind's recently released raspberry-almond granola squares. Jacqui introduces a "drink your skincare" energy beverage and Mike samples a THC-infused "Soda Pot." Ray reminds listeners that Thanksgiving week gets chaotic, so those planning to attend December's BevNET Live, NOSH Live, or Brewbound Live should finalize registration soon to avoid missing out – and the inevitable post-event FOMO. Brands in this episode: Poppi, Freestyle Snacks, Grillo's, Graza, Little Spoon, Firehook, Ithaca, Alec's, Rind, Mike Hot Honey Grillo's, Hippies, Ithaca, Sonic, V8, Boulder Canyon, Aura Bora, Claussens, Fly By Jing, Daily Crunch, Lundberg Rice, Fishwife, Little Sesame, Keystone, Huer, Frank's Red Hot, Lentiful, Blobs, Huxley, Tropicana, Rind, Skinergy, Clrty! Soda Pot, Mockly

The latest episode of Taste Radio's Elevator Talk spotlights innovative leaders from No Cap!, Lua Coffee, Tizz and The Purple Drop In this installment, founders and CEOs introduce their brands and share recent company updates and milestones. This week's special co-host is Wade Yenny, the vice president of brand management & business development for Vdriven. He offers insightful questions, thoughtful feedback, and strategic perspective alongside regular host Ray Latif, editor and producer of the Taste Radio podcast. Early-stage food and beverage entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply for future episodes of Elevator Talk. Participation is free, interviews are conducted remotely, and it's a unique opportunity to pitch your product, share news, and receive expert feedback from industry leaders. Apply now to be featured in an upcoming episode.