Taste Radio

It may seem counterintuitive, but successful founders are often stung by self-doubt, a topic the hosts discussed in this episode, along with Neil Patrick Harris' foray into the RTD cocktail business and an unexpected brand collaboration that's being described as both brilliant and revolting. We also feature the latest edition of Special Ops with Andrew Guard, in which the operations expert shared insights about scaling strategies, how to generate mainstream appeal through flavor and working with non-nutritive sweeteners. Show notes: 0:37: Bev.net, Sprouts Speaks, Target And Tost, Ray Reads IG Comments – John Craven returns to the studio and after a brief chat about his visit to Vermont, the hosts spoke about Outhaus' big news and the founder's bout of imposter syndrome, how sparkling beverage brand TÖST landed a big-time partner, and why Ray isn't a fan of a collaboration between a premium chocolate company and… Velveeta. 27:24: Special Ops with Andrew Guard, Vol. 3 – Andrew Guard of boutique beverage co-packer Right Coast Brands spoke about how founders operating early-stage and emerging businesses can more effectively prepare their brands for scale. He also discussed the link between great flavor and mainstream demand and considerations for working with natural and non-nutritive sweeteners, including monkfruit. Brands in this episode: Tost, Plink, Oat Haus, Corona, Thomas Ashburne, Hoplark, Other Half Brewing, Fila Manila, Kasama Rum, Compartes, Velveeta, Jabin, KitKat, Van Leeuwen, Kraft, Midwest Juicery, Gutsy Kombucha

A sensational number from Post Malone. A$AP Rocky's critically acclaimed crowd pleaser. And an unexpected hit from Kevin Hart. What may sound like a Spotify playlist is actually a trio of brands built and marketed by Global Brand Equities. Founded in 2019 by Irish expat James Morrissey, Global Brand Equities is focused on developing innovative and creator-led beverage alcohol brands. Morrissey's vision is to meet modern consumers where they live and drink via a contemporary approach to alcoholic beverages, one that lives at the intersection of media, entertainment and premium experiences. Global Brand Equities has aligned with the aforementioned Malone, Rocky and Hart to launch fast-growing brands Maison No 9 French Rosé, Mercer + Prince Canadian Whisky and Gran Coramino Tequila, respectively. The company also markets Sunny Vodka, a premium spirit co-founded by social media influencers Zack Bia and Stas Karanikolaou. In this episode, Morrissey spoke about how his prior experience in hospitality has shaped his perspective on novel consumer brands, the foundations for mutually beneficial celebrity partnerships, why it is critical to understand and operate within the traditional infrastructure for producing and distributing beverage alcohol brands and the effectiveness of its multi-pronged marketing strategy. Show notes: 0:46: Interview: James Morrissey, Founder, Global Brand Equities – Taste Radio editor Ray Latif met with Morrissey at Global Brand Equities' office in the Soho neighborhood of Manhattan where they riffed on the entrepreneur's familiar name and discussed how his background as a club and nightlife promoter in Ireland led him to New York City. He also explained his belief that the beverage alcohol industry had lacked an authentic connection to modern consumers and lacked the type of desirable innovation seen in other industries, why he saw the rosé wine category as ripe for a consumer-facing brand and how he first met and cultivated a relationship with Post Malone. Later, he explained how, despite a crowded space for celebrity-backed liquor brands, he saw opportunities to innovate in the categories of Canadian whiskey and premium tequila and why A$AP Rocky and Kevin Hart were the ideal partners for each, and why moving at "the speed of culture" is key to Global Brand Equities' marketing strategy. Brands in this episode: Maison No 9 French Rosé, Mercer + Prince Canadian Whisky, Gran Coramino Tequila, Sunny Vodka, Casamigos, Teramana Tequila

The hosts discussed the news that Michelle Obama has joined kids' food and beverage company PLEZi Nutrition as a co-founder and strategic partner and spoke about the potential impact of the former first lady's influence and political connections on the brand's development. They also highlighted the 10 brands named as part of Target's third Takeoff Food and Beverage program. Show notes: 0:43: Mike Missed A Lot Of Recesses. You Only Need To Watch Lost Once. Get It In Schools. – Melissa Traverse fills in for John Craven and her excellent seating posture gives way to a chat about fidgeting and Mike's misbehavior as a youth. The hosts collectively urged early-stage beverage founders to apply for New Beverage Showdown 25, before they spoke about what Michelle Obama will bring to the table in her new role as PLEZi co-founder and why not everyone is pleased with her foray into CPG. Later, they noted that several emerging brands often mentioned on Taste Radio landed a spot in Target's accelerator program, congratulated two companies whose products are now sold at Erewhon and chatted about several new and notable products, including a golden milk mix, a pouch drink for Gen Z consumers and a better-for-you option for a quick meal. Brands in this episode: Liquid Death, Super Coffee, Vive Organic, PLEZi, Better Chew, Resist Nutrition, Honeycut Kitchen, Glonuts, Immorel, Homiah, Brooklyn Tea, Bumpin Blends, Mocktail Club, Soldadera, Better Sour, Struesli, Anjali's Cup, Hapi Water, Sea Monsters, Off Limits, Somos Foods, A Dozen Cousins, Talk House Encore

If Expo West and Whole Foods had a baby, it might look something like Pop Up Grocer. A non-traditional retailer in which brand discovery, not sales, is paramount, Pop Up Grocer is the brainchild of veteran CPG marketing executive Emily Schildt. Founded in 2019, the company has built nine limited-run stores in cities across the U.S., each designed to showcase trendy natural and organic brands, particularly those with limited retail distribution or sold primarily direct-to-consumer. In March, Pop Up Grocer opened its first permanent location in New York City's Soho neighborhood. The flagship store features a selection of 130 emerging brands that will be rotated on a quarterly basis. The shop also serves as a homebase for Pop Up Grocer, which will continue to open new short-term stores. In this episode, Schildt spoke about the inspiration behind Pop Up Grocer, its role as an "influencer retailer" and advertiser-first business model, how the company evaluates brand performance and why you might be surprised by its curation strategy. Show notes: 0:44: Emily Schildt, Founder & CEO, Pop-Up Grocer – Taste Radio editor Ray Latif met with Schildt at Pop Up Grocer in Manhattan where she spoke about her work-life balance (or lack thereof) in the weeks leading up to the store's opening, how her experience at Chobani provided her with a foundation for a career in CPG and how consulting with early-stage entrepreneurs gave way to the lightbulb moment for a pop up retail concept. She also discussed how Pop Up Grocer's first store proved her thesis about a lack of retail opportunity for small and emerging brands, why she describes the stores as "showcases, first and foremost," how the company tracks consumer engagement and the selection criteria for adding brands to its shelves. Later, she explained Pop Up Grocer's influence on major chain retail buyers, how she views and incorporates trends into its business strategy, the retailer's aesthetic and target consumer, and plans for new short-term and permanent locations. Brands in this episode: Chobani, Lavva, Kind Snacks

The hosts assessed the fallout from a highly publicized claim of "copycat" branding (and the accuser's subsequent apology), recapped a raucous pitch slam and shared a firsthand account of Omson's rhapsodic rave. They also spoke about a somewhat controversial food and sampled plenty of tasty, trendy products in the studio. Show notes: 0:43: Pizza Party. $200 For Free (Not Exactly). Storm The Stage! That… Hat. Human Petri Dish. – John made a pre-lunch for Mike and Ray and the hosts collectively chatted about a Linkedin diatribe penned by the founder of olive oil brand Graza and the industry's subsequent reaction, and why those who already have their tickets to BevNET Live should make dinner plans. Ray and Jacqui reflected on an outstanding event hosted by non-profit CPG organization Naturally San Diego, Mike talked about a new line noodles and how his hat almost broke the Internet (not really, but it was close), before the hosts all began biting into and imbibing upon new and interesting products, including what appeared to be blue slime, very spicy crunchy snacks, Delta-9 seltzers, better-for-you brownies and an innovative non-alcoholic "mezcal." Brands in this episode: Brightland, Graza, Mike's Hot Honey, Wynn's Kitchen, Cien Chiles, Rationale Brewing, I Amaranth, Chasin' Dreams, Omsom, Samadhi Moss, BLK & Bold, Wize Tea, Little Saints, Chuza, Cheech and Chong's, Louie Louie, Nature's Bakery, Little Debbie, Tootsie Rolls

The story of how Eddie Simeon and his two best friends turned a hipster hobby into a multi-million dollar business is, dare we say, hella good. Simeon, along with Jomaree Pinkard and Tobin Ludwig are the founders of Hella Cocktail Co., a brand of premium crafted products designed to democratize and elevate cocktail culture. Launched in 2011, Hella Cocktail Co. markets botanically-inspired bitters and mixers along with ready-to-drink sparkling apéritifs admired for their flavor and versatility. The products are currently sold in over 20,000 stores, bars, hotels, and restaurants. Over the past 12 years, the co-founders have pursued a thoughtful, and occasionally unorthodox, growth strategy that has prioritized strong unit economics and profitability. Eddie describes the approach as one in which the company has been "willing to be more patient to be less wrong." Last year, Uncle Nearest Ventures – the investment arm of Uncle Nearest Whiskey focused on funding minority-founded, owned and led spirit companies – acquired a $5 million stake in Hella Cocktail Co. In a press release, Uncle Nearest CEO Fawn Weaver praised Simeon, Pinkard and Ludwig, who are of Mexican, African American and Jewish descent, respectively, for "bootstrapp[ing] this brand for a decade, never compromising on quality or messaging." In this episode, Simeon chronicles the company's development, from the early days of blending bitters in his Brooklyn apartment to why the brand's first retailer was a furniture store to the synergistic relationship with Uncle Nearest and how Hella's three-founder team has been its backbone through it all. Show notes: 0:44: Interview: Eddie Simeon, Co-Founder, Hella Cocktail Co. – Taste Radio editor Ray Latif met with Simeon at Expo West 2023, where the entrepreneur spoke about how he met co-founders Tobin Ludwig and Jomaree Pinkard and how their collective passion for DIY projects and video production and an "entrepreneurial seizure" spawned Hella Cocktail Co. He also explained how they leaned on each other's skill sets to launch the brand, why they named the company "Hella," the evolution of its package design and why they have long embraced the idea of "you don't want to be on a long road to a small house." Later, he explained why Hella was a cash flow business for its first seven years, how embracing self-learning helped the company land business deals with Delta Airlines and TGIF, insights from managing a diverse channel strategy, why Uncle Nearest CEO Fawn Weaver loved investing in a brand with three founders and why he's bullish on using fractional resources to fill staffing needs. Brands in this episode: Hella Cocktail Co.

Setting the trajectory of your company can often begin with a single pitch. And with just six weeks until BevNET Live Summer 2023 in New York City, the hosts highlighted companies that have built successful and even iconic brands after participating in past editions of the event's New Beverage Showdown competition. They also discussed new and innovative brands discovered at a local meetup event, and why you might be surprised about John Craven's report from a recent visit to Scotland. This episode also features an interview with David Garci-Aguirre, who is the vice president of operations and master miller for Corto Olive, a super-premium brand of extra virgin oil that emphasizes freshness from harvest to plate. Admired by chefs for its commitment to high-quality standards, Corto is part of a new generation of olive oil companies that are attempting to recast the ingredient from an overlooked kitchen staple to one revered for its utility in creating delicious and healthy meals. Show notes: 0:39: VIPs In NYC. Is "Scotch Lag" A Real Thing? Bitter Is Better. And, Our Minds Are Blown. – The show kicks off with a chat about a special benefit for Taste Radio VIPs that will be attending BevNET Live in June, before discussing a recent episode of Community Call that should answer a few questions about a certain beverage competition and John's relative shock at lack of scotch flowing faucets in the U.K. They also sampled a variety of interesting food and beverages, including bitter libations, zero-sugar sausage snacks, an RTD tea sweetened with apple sugar and plant-based scallops. 22:04: Interview: David Garci-Aguirre, VP of Operations and Master Miller, Corto Olive – Garci-Aguirre spoke with Taste Radio editor Ray Latif about his career path from an (almost) professional soccer player to an olive oil expert, why he refers to olive oil as "the one ingredient that farm to table forgot" and why he describes the designation of "extra virgin" as "like getting a D in school." He also explained how Corto has aligned its business units to consistently produce and package fresh olive oil and how the company communicates the value of its process and standards to its customers. Brands in this episode: Poppi, Perfy, Plink, Liquid Death, Cann, Bitter Love, Sonder, Athletic Brewing, Swing Tea, MaKa, Lost Art Cultured Foods, Mind Blown, Country Archer, Spudsy, Ithaca Hummus, Corto Olive

Cann co-founder and CEO Jake Bullock saw entrepreneurship as a way to break free from what he described as the path dependency of corporate life, but more importantly because he wanted "to build something big." Cann is getting closer to meeting his ambition. Launched in 2019 by Bullock and co-founder Luke Anderson, Cann markets "microdosed social tonics" that are infused with 2mg of THC and 4mg of CBD and marketed as delivering "a perfect, uplifting buzz with a strength similar to a beer or glass of wine" with no hangover. The brand, which also sells an "Unspiked" line, is currently available for purchase in 33 states and throughout Canada. Amid a gradual loosening of cannabis laws in the U.S., Cann has positioned itself as an attractive and accessible option for canna-curious and sober-curious consumers. The brand's cultural relevance is also supported by an A-list roster of celebrity investors, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Hudson, Rosario Dawson and Nina Dobrev, the latter of whom joined the company as a shareholder as part of its $27 million Series A round, which was announced in February 2022. While Cann is the most visible and distributed cannabis-infused drink brand in the U.S., it's still a long way from becoming a household name. What will it take for that to happen and how does Cann build upon its carefully planned foundation? Bullock answered those questions and discussed much more about the brand's ascendancy in this episode. Show notes: 0:43: Interview: Jake Bullock, Co-Founder & CEO, Cann – Bullock met with Taste Radio editor Ray Latif in New York City where they reminisced about Cann's victory in BevNET Live's New Beverage Showdown 17 and how the competition "set the trajectory for the company," before the entrepreneur discussed a recently bestowed honor from Food & Wine magazine. Bullock also spoke about the importance of community based, on-the-ground education, the regulatory framework for selling cannabis-based beverages, the common issue that links Cann's consumers and why older adults are a key base for the brand. Later, he explained how Cann sits at the intersection of canna- and sober-curious, why he believes buzz gives the brand an edge over non-alcoholic RTD cocktails, how entrepreneurship provided him with "a very expensive education… after college" and what he learned about running a beverage company that he wished he'd known earlier. Bullock also explained why early-stage fundraising is about "finding the one," the company's scrappy strategy for getting product into celebrities' hands and attracting investment from them, walking a fine line when talking about cannabis as a safer ingredient than alcohol, why he took issue with a 2022 New York Times article about "weed drinks," how Cann's commitment to innovative advertising and video-based content has paid off and why he believes brands "need an enemy in all marketing." Brands in this episode: Cann

What food and beverage brands stood out at Coachella 2023? Jacqui Brugliera reported back from the annual music festival, including how most festival-goers quenched their thirst in the desert. Speaking of hydration, the hosts discussed whether #watertok is a faux controversy, before riffing on new snack and protein bars, CBD cocktails and a (very) cherry juice shot. This episode also features an interview with Raffi Vartanian and Patrick Johnson, the co-founders of Ziba Foods, a mission-driven brand of heirloom nuts, seeds and dried fruits that maintains an ethical supply chain from farm to bag, including fair and direct trade with Afghan farmers along with living wages for its women-centric workforce at the company's processing facility in Kabul. Show notes: 0:43: So Silver, So 'Lit. Don't Procrastinate. Bars And Protein Aplenty. – Omusubi, low-carb Dutch beer, dumplings and recovery drinks – Jacqui had on a full plate at Coachella. The hosts urged early-stage beverage founders to apply to participate in New Beverage Showdown 25 before the May 12 deadline and begrudgingly discussed the latest TikTok-born controversy/trend. Later, they each highlighted a new snack bar, including one with a boba tea flavor, a collaboration between two powerhouse brands and a trio of Pakistani-inspired hot sauces. 26:44: Interview: Raffi Vartanian & Patrick Johnson, Co-Founders, Ziba Foods – Taste Radio editor Ray Latif spoke with Vartanian and Johnson at Expo West 2023 about their vision for Ziba and how they articulate the brand's compelling story and product value to consumers and retailers. The duo also discussed, how they navigated the complexities of the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 and subsequent return of Taliban rule in the country, and how contingency planning factors into their long-term business strategy. Brands in this episode: Dave's Killer Bread, Little Saints, Unite Foods, MiLa, Electrolit, Hello Soju, Chamberlain Coffee, Heineken, Michelob, Lesser Evil, Fishwife, OWYN, Chomps, The Coconut Cult, Pressed, Milonga, Fringe Food Co., Peepal People, Ziba Foods

The example of a duck is often used to express abductive reasoning: "If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck…" etc. If one were to use the term "niche brand" instead, the logic would typically hold true. But there are exceptions, like The Coconut Cult. Founded in 2017 by Noah Simon-Waddell, Jungho Oh and James Harkin, The Coconut Cult markets refrigerated, coconut-based yogurt made with vegan and organic ingredients and packaged in 8 and 16 oz. glass jars. Known for its playful labels – which feature the brand's distinctive pink flamingo – and quirky social marketing, The Coconut Cult is distributed nationally, including chainwide at Sprouts and The Fresh Market, select Whole Foods regions and hundreds of natural and independent stores where an 8 oz. jar retails for approximately $10. The Coconut Cult has also built a thriving direct-to-consumer business generated in part by a social strategy where Simon-Waddell is front and center and speaking to the brand's followers – including 107,000 on Instagram – about healthy eating and lifestyle choices. Amid the construction of a new manufacturing facility designed to keep up with surging DTC and retail demand, Simon-Waddell and Raz talked about how The Coconut Cult has positioned itself for scale and mainstream success while maintaining the values and vision from which the brand was born. Show notes: 0:43: Interview: Ari Raz, CEO & Noah Simon-Waddell, Co-Founder, The Coconut Cult – Simon-Waddell and Raz met with Taste Radio editor Ray Latif at Expo West 2023 where they chatted about The Coconut Cult's sprawling AirBnb before Simon-Waddell discussed the brand's origins and Raz explained why explosive demand put plans for a single-serve package on hold. They also discussed how seasonal and limited-time offerings have driven new consumer interest in the brand and thousands of monthly subscribers to its online platform with no paid ads or influencers. Later, they shared details about how and why the brand is one of the fastest-growing at Sprouts across all categories, how Simon-Waddell is attempting to educate more Americans about better food choices via yogurt and why they attribute authentic and meaningful messaging as having a direct correlation to strong and organic sales growth. Brands in this episode: The Coconut Cult, Hu Kitchen, Health-Ade