Taste Radio

Is Target about to normalize THC drinks? The team unpacks a potentially game-changing move by the retail giant, and what it could mean for the future of cannabis beverages. They unpack the regulatory roadblocks and why the move might be a tipping point. Plus, why PepsiCo is calling fiber "the next protein," and a look at fresh CPG innovations, including a surprisingly convenient twist on tomato paste. Show notes: 0:25: Back-To-Back. All Day, Anytime. Target's New High. Why Fi? A Tizz, A Daze, And A Gem. – Melissa is back in John's usual seat, and Jacqui has some hard seltzers for the morning (and afternoon and evening). The hosts weigh in on whether this could mark a tipping point for the category, while also unpacking the complex landscape of state-by-state cannabis regulations and the continued lack of federal clarity. The team then explores the emerging trend of fiber as a key health ingredient, with PepsiCo identifying it as "the next protein." They also run through a lineup of standout new products, including low-ABV and rum-based seltzers, the nostalgic-meets-modern Tizz sodas, Everydaze drink pouches, and an innovative entry into pantry convenience: single-serve tomato paste packets. Melissa mentions Allyvium, a GLP-1 support drink. Ray previews BevNET's upcoming trifecta of industry events in Los Angeles – NOSH Live, BevNET Live, and Brewbound Live – touting the invaluable networking opportunities with CPG leaders across the food, beverage, and beer categories. Brands in this episode: All Dia, Anytime, Trail Magic, Gigli, Birdie, Stigma, Indeed, Surly, Cann, Hi Seltzer, Wynk, Find Wunder, Senorita, Wyld, Shift, Downshift, Cantrip, Uncle Skunks, Rumblers, Everydaze, Tizz, Tip Top Cocktails, Sweety, Allyvium

The latest episode of Taste Radio's Elevator Talk spotlights innovative leaders from All Día, Grisly's Cosmic, Sipli, Olia and Birdie. In this installment, founders and CEOs introduce their brands and share recent company updates and milestones. This week's special co-host is Andrew Guard, the founder of Right Coast Brands. 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.

In a category flooded with fast-followers and flashy branding, Straightaway Cocktails is taking a radically different path: embracing the hard way. In this episode, founder and CEO Cy Cain reveals how the Portland-based brand is carving out a distinct space in the booming ready-to-drink category by prioritizing bar-quality cocktails crafted from in-house ingredients and held to uncompromising standards. Cy outlines a strategy rooted in deliberate, thoughtful growth rather than chasing viral trends. He dives into the brand's innovative approach to creative R&D, leveraging limited releases and direct-to-consumer exclusives to experiment boldly and gather insights that shape future core offerings. He also highlights how investments in in-house production, B Corp certification and sustainability efforts, alongside strategic partnerships with Costco, Alaska Airlines and Shake Shack, demonstrate that a patient, craft-centric mindset and a strong brand identity can make a powerful impact in even the most crowded markets. Show notes: 0:25: Interview: Cy Cain, Founder & CEO, Straightaway Cocktails – Just hours before Taste Radio's San Francisco meetup, Cy joins Ray Latif to share highlights from Straightaway's latest cocktail lineup, including the French 77, Pickle Tini, and Golden Negroni. He underscores the brand's North Star: unwavering product quality, rooted in a deep love of cocktail culture. Cy reflects on the evolution of the RTD category and credits Straightaway's success to its focus on excellence and deliberate, sustainable growth. Strategic partnerships with Alaska Airlines and Breeze Airways have boosted exposure, while support from regional retailers and Costco has added traction and credibility. Comparing innovation to Formula 1, Cy describes it as a proving ground for bold ideas. Straightaway's mission, he says, isn't shaped by exits or investors, but by craft, storytelling, and elevating cocktail experiences. From farm-to-glass sourcing to using local ingredients – like fir needles from near Cy's childhood home – the brand stays true to its values of authenticity, sustainability, and craftsmanship. Inspired by lifestyle brands like Patagonia and Shinola, Cy emphasizes values-driven partnerships, such as a test collaboration with Shake Shack. He also shares excitement over the brand's growing recognition in top spirits competitions, including a potential Triple Crown win. Brands in this episode: Straightaway Cocktails, Stumptown Coffee, Smith Tea, Jacobsen Salt Co.

Fresh off an exhilarating meetup in London, the team shines a spotlight on the standout brands that captivated attendees at the event. They delve into how fiber-forward brands are reshaping their categories and why Gen X might be your brand's unexpected secret weapon. This episode also revisits insightful interviews from Taste Radio's San Diego meetup, featuring Sol-ti CCO Shawn Hamilton and visionary founders behind Recoup, Innerbloom, Hydr8, Erva Brew Co., and Lixir. Show notes: 0:25: British Debrief. Nom News. Big Candy Revamp. X's & $'s. Fiber FTW. 'Key' Crisps. – The hosts reflect on their recent London meetup, highlighting standout interviews with Olivia Ferdi of Trip, Kathryn Bricken of Doughlicious, and Olly Dixon of Something & Nothing. They also shine a spotlight on attendees Veronique Mbida, founder of Bantu Chocolate, and Fan Yang of Other Foods, whose interview with Mike featured a hilarious outtake. Melissa previews upcoming educational content and community resources launching on Nombase, while the hosts encourage listeners to attend BevNET's upcoming events in L.A., sharing personal stories of meaningful connections and business breakthroughs from past shows. The conversation also turns to new data revealing Gen X as the leading force in CPG purchasing power, underscoring the importance of engaging older demographics. Finally, the hosts introduce a wave of innovative, better-for-you snacks, from a "gigantic" brand revamp and playfully "dirty" chocolate to bold, zesty chips and beyond. 30:43: Interviews from Taste Radio's San Diego Meetup – Held at BevNET's West Coast office, our lineup includes a conversation with Shawn Hamilton, Chief Commercial Officer of Sol-ti, who detailed how the wellness and juice shot brand scaled from a Southern California startup into a national powerhouse with products in over 15,000 retail locations and sold nationally at Starbucks. We also speak with the founders of several exciting emerging brands, including Erva Brew Co., a fresh take on yerba mate; Innerbloom, a startup crafting kanna-based tonics for mood and focus; Hydr8, a mission-driven water brand supporting veterans; Lua Coffee, which markets Vietnamese-style coffee infused with MCT oil; Birdie, a new sparkling tea brand with standout branding; Recoup, a brand of gut-healthy hydration drinks and a past winner of BevNET's New Beverage Showdown; and Lixir, a brand reimagining mead for the modern drinker. Brands in this episode: Sol-ti, Trip, Doughlicious, Something & Nothing, Orangina, Other Foods, Bantu Chocolate, Terranean, Halfday, Gigantic Candy, Dirty Gut, Royo Bread, Zesty Z, Yaza, Huel, TruBar, Keya's, Recoup, Innerbloom, Hydr8, Erva Brew Co., Lixir, Lua Coffee, Birdie

What kind of founder drives a U-Haul full of perishable product through the desert at 3 A.M.… and calls it progress? That's the kind of relentless, purpose-driven hustle behind Forager Project, the plant-based food and beverage company reshaping what dairy-free can taste and feel like. In this episode, co-founders Stephen Williamson and JC Hanley open up about the mission-fueled (and occasionally messy) evolution of their brand, from cold-pressed juice to cashew-based yogurts and creamers that compete head-on with dairy. They discuss what it really takes to build a standout CPG brand in saturated categories, why "project" is still part of their name, and how lessons from prior businesses and discontinued product lines have shaped their approach. They also explain why they walked away from juice, how they knew yogurt was the future, what it means to innovate with both a moral compass and a culinary one and how they define success. Show notes: 0:25: Interview: Stephen Williamson & JC Hanley, Co-Founders, Forager Project – In a conversation hosted at Forager Project's office in San Francisco, Stephen and JC discuss how the brand was created by a desire to create clean, minimally processed, plant-based foods and how "project" reflects their ethos of exploration and ongoing improvement. The founders recount their early days launching Forager Project in 2013, initially inspired by the ultra-premium juice space before pivoting – what they describe as "foraging" – into new categories. They explain how they began fermenting plant-based ingredients, particularly cashews, to create plant-based yogurts, and have since expanded into Greek-style yogurts and creamers. Stephen and JC emphasize an innovation philosophy rooted in clean, organic ingredients, including vegetables, nuts, seeds and ancient grains, and talk about the grit and craziness required to build a mission-driven company. They note how – despite challenges like tariffs, competition, and changing categories – they've remained focused on their mission: to help replace animal dairy with plant-based alternatives. They close with a broader reflection on success and staying true to their values. Brands in this episode: Forager Project, Odwalla, Blueprint Juice, Evolution Fresh, Starbucks, Suja, Coca-Cola, Stonyfield Farm

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

The latest episode of Taste Radio's Elevator Talk spotlights innovative leaders from Statesman Marinades, Harlem Baking Company, Häppy Candy, OKO and Sun Ghee. In this installment, founders and CEOs introduce their brands and share recent company updates and milestones. This week's special co-host isRifle Hughes, the co-founder of Integral CPG. 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.

The latest episode of Taste Radio's Elevator Talk spotlights innovative leaders fromStatesman Marinades, Harlem Baking Company, Häppy Candy, OKO and Sun Ghee. In this installment, founders and CEOs introduce their brands and share recent company updates and milestones. This week's special co-host isRifle Hughes, the co-founder of Integral CPG. 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.

The latest episode of Taste Radio's Elevator Talk spotlights innovative leaders fromStatesman Marinades, Harlem Baking Company, Häppy Candy, OKO and Sun Ghee. In this installment, founders and CEOs introduce their brands and share recent company updates and milestones. This week's special co-host isRifle Hughes, the co-founder of Integral CPG. 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.

The latest episode of Taste Radio's Elevator Talk spotlights innovative leaders fromStatesman Marinades, Harlem Baking Company, Häppy Candy, OKO and Sun Ghee. In this installment, founders and CEOs introduce their brands and share recent company updates and milestones. This week's special co-host isRifle Hughes, the co-founder of Integral CPG. 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.