Taste Radio

In his fourteenth year as an entrepreneur, Rick Field, the founder and CEO of premium pickle brand Rick's Picks, says he's always happy to share advice and insights on what it takes to make it in the food business. However, in an interview included in this episode, he noted that every meeting with a potential entrepreneur starts with one question that will determine the length of their conversation. "If you answer it 'yes,' we can talk for an hour," he said. "If you answer it 'no,' the interview is over and you'll know why. The question is: 'Do you love paperwork?' Because if you don't love paperwork, you're not going to make it in the grocery industry. And I'm dead serious. It's a very sobering thing to realize that a lot of the fantasy elements that people associate with their culinary lifestyle and experience give way to a really difficult business and filled with, frankly, a lot of people who could care less about your fate. You're just a data input in a spreadsheet. You have to resign yourself to that." As part of our conversation, Field also discussed the origins of his brand and how he identified white space in a legacy category. He also explained why he describes the Rick's Picks journey as "champagne on a beer budget," the dangers of hitting an entrepreneurial plateau and how innovation spurred a renewed interest in his brand. Show notes: 1:22: Thoughts On Sustainability and a Nu Take on Milk -- With three of the regular hosts out of the office this week, Mike Schneider was joined by BevNET managing editor Martín Caballero and NOSH editor Carol Ortenberg for a conversation that included insights on sustainability trends in food and beverage, Oatly ice cream hitting the U.S., and their thoughts on NüMilk, a make-your-own almond milk machine available in select Whole Foods stores. 16:50: Interview: Rick Field, Founder/CEO, Rick's Picks -- In an interview recorded at the 2019 Summer Fancy Food Show, Taste Radio editor Ray Latif sat down with Field, who is the creator of Rick's Picks, an innovative brand that helped usher in a super-premium tier for the pickle category. Field spoke about the early days of the brand and how selling at farmers' markets led to a partnership with upscale fast food chain Shake Shack. He also discussed how the brand focuses on "extreme differentiation" in terms of flavor profiles and creating multiple day part uses for its products, the story of how Rick's Picks landed at Whole Foods, "premium-izing" pickle sets at conventional retailers, and how the company identifies its core consumers. Later he explained why he views entrepreneurship as being an "army of one" and often a lonely pursuit. Brands in this episode: Rick's Picks, Guayaki, Nestle, Vita Coco, Liquid Death, Good Mylk, Modest Mylk, NüMilk, Aqua Vitea, Oatly, Belgian Boys, Honey Mama's, Farmhouse Culture, GoodBelly, Vlasic

How did Stew Leonard's, a small, family-owned and operated grocery chain based in Connecticut, become known as 'America's Favorite Grocery Store'? According to Stew Leonard Jr., the company's president and CEO, there's a simple secret to its success: an emphasis on meeting and engaging with its customers in the aisles of its stores. "Being on the store floor is critical to the success of a company, and if people start trying to manage from an office I think the company is going to run into problems," Leonard said in an interview included in this episode. "You can learn a tremendous amount just by talking to those customers. Get out in the store and walk around. Because it's about that customer out there filling that shopping cart up. I've got to make sure we never lose that." That focus has fueled the company's growth from one store in 1969 to six current locations with nearly $500 million in annual sales and more than 3,000 employees. As part of our interview, Leonard spoke at length about the company's focus on customer interaction and how it has helped create a unique and high-quality shopping experience. He also discussed the evolution of the chain's food offerings and how it selects brands for its stores, how company attempts to stay current with food trends, his perspective on leadership, and how Stew Leonard's is planning for the future. Show notes: 2:51: Interview: Stew Leonard Jr., President/CEO, Stew Leonard's -- In an interview recorded at the 2019 Summer Fancy Food Show, Leonard sat down with Taste Radio editor Ray Latif for a conversation covering a range of topics, including his experience at the annual trade show and how it helps inform Stew Leonard's merchandising strategy. He also spoke about the origins of the grocery chain and its focus on fresh and perishable products; how "Stew Tank," the company's brand competition, got off the ground; the company's unique approach to R&D; and what the acronym S.T.E.W. means for employee training and customer service. Leonard also discussed how the company aims to make shopping an experience, why he peeks into consumers' refrigerators when evaluating food trends, and how Stew Leonard's curates its selection. Later, he explained why walking the aisles of his stores teaches him more about his shoppers than market research and how the company maintains its focus on customer service. Brands in this episode: French's

This edition of Taste Radio Insider features highlights from interviews with six founders, creators and industry experts who joined us on the show during the first half of 2019, including Hint founder and CEO Kara Goldin, venture capitalist Chris Hollod, Recess founder and CEO Benjamin Witte, attorney and investor Ryan Lewendon, MALK founder and CEO August Vega and nutpods founder and CEO Madeline Haydon. This episode is presented by BevSource, an integrated provider of beverage development, production, sourcing, and logistics solutions to new and established beverage visionaries. Show notes: 1:12: Benjamin Witte, Founder/CEO, Recess -- We kick off the episode with Benjamin Witte, the founder and CEO of Recess, a sparkling water brand infused with CBD and adaptogens, that's generated an incredible amount of buzz since its debut in 2018. As part of our conversation, featured in Episode 24 of Taste Radio Insider, WItte explained why Recess is marketing a solution rather than an ingredient, and why he believes that today's brands "are built on your phone." 5:30: Madeline Haydon, Founder/CEO, Nutpods -- Next is Madeline Haydon, who is the founder and CEO of nutpods, a fast-growing brand of non-dairy, unsweetened creamers made from almonds and coconuts. We spoke with Madeline for an interview featured in Episode 16, in which she spoke with BevNET CMO Mike Schneider about focusing on high quality customer service has anchored nutpods' thriving direct-to-consumer and e-commerce strategies and helped it become a top-selling brand on Amazon. 9:57: Ryan Lewendon, Partner, The Giannuzzi Group -- We continue with Ryan Lewendon, a partner with influential CPG law firm The Giannuzzi Group. Lewendon joined us in Episode 23 and as part of a wide-ranging interview, he offered his perspective on why networking is all about building relationships and spoke about the dangers of treating equity "as too much of a currency." 13:46: August Vega, Founder/CEO, MALK -- Next is August Vega, the founder and CEO of MALK, a super-premium brand of organic nut milks and the winner of BevNET's New Beverage Showdown 10. In an interview from Episode 30, Vega spoke about why she envisioned MALK as a billion-dollar brand from the outset and explained why data has been critical to the company's development. 16:57: Chris Hollod, Founder/Managing Partner, Hollod Holdings -- Next is Chris Hollod, a venture capitalist focused on early-stage consumer brands, who we spoke with in Episode 29. As part of our interview, Hollod explained why digital strategy is at the top of his list when evaluating brands and also explained why he believes that his job requires him to predict innovation. 19:50: Kara Goldin, Founder/CEO, Hint -- Wrapping up the episode is Kara Goldin, the founder and CEO of flavored water company Hint. Kara knows a thing or two about building a brand around a successful e-commerce strategy: approximately 40 percent of the brand's $100 million in annual revenue comes from online sales, a majority of which is from its website. We spoke with Goldin in Episode 20 for an interview in which she discussed best practices for e-commerce and why data from online sales is critical to understanding Hint's audience. Brands in this episode: Recess, Nutpods, MALK, Verb Energy, Hint

In this highlight episode culled from interviews with six innovators, leaders and entrepreneurs who joined us on Taste Radio during the first half of 2019, we explore the role that innovation plays several for category-leading brands. Our guests include Vita Coco co-founder Mike Kirban, Lifeway Foods CEO Julie Smolyansky, Justin's founder Justin Gold, Sailor Jerry Rum and Hendricks Gin creator Steve Grasse and WTRMLN WTR co-founder Jody Levy. This episode is presented by BevSource, an integrated provider of beverage development, production, sourcing, and logistics solutions to new and established beverage visionaries. Show notes: 1:36: Justin Gold, Founder, Justin's -- We kick off the episode with Justin Gold, who we featured in Episode 153. Gold is the founder of Justin's, a pioneering maker of better-for-you nut butters and snacks that was acquired by Hormel Foods for $286 million in 2016. In the following clip, Gold shared his perspective on the keys to innovation and improving the food system, the first thing he tells new entrepreneurs and the way he wants consumers to perceive Justin's. 7:51: Jody Levy, Co-Founder, WTRMLN WTR -- Next up is Jody Levy, the co-founder of beverage brand WTRMLN WTR. An artist and serial entrepreneur, Levy has overseen the evolution of WTRMLN WTR from a single product to a platform brand that sells products at over 25,000 locations nationwide. In this clip from Episode 155, she discussed the similarities between art and entrepreneurship and chronicled the history between her brand and music icon Beyonce, who is an investor in WTRMLN WTR. 14:45: Steve Grasse, Creator, Sailor Jerry Rum/Hendricks Gin -- We continue with Steve Grasse, the creator of iconic spirit brands Sailor Jerry Rum and Hendricks Gin. In a clip from our interview, which we featured in Episode 144, Steve spoke about the influence that bands have on his creative process and why an early focus group that panned the initial idea for Hendrick's Gin turned out to be a good thing. 18:56: Julie Smolyansky, CEO, Lifeway Foods -- We continue with Julie Smolyansky, the CEO of Lifeway Foods, a pioneering brand of kefir drinks. In this clip, pulled from Episode 147, Julie spoke about why Lifeway was one of the first brands to market the health benefits of probiotics and discussed how she dealt with the criticism and pressure that came with taking on the role of CEO at a relatively young age. 24:11: Chieh Huang, Co-Founder/CEO, Boxed -- From an interview included in Episode 152, Chieh Huang, the co-founder and CEO of online bulk retailer Boxed, discussed the evolution of mobile and e-commerce and explained why he believes the future of online food shopping "will feel like Netflix." 29:57: Mike Kirban, Co-Founder/CEO, Vita Coco -- Last, but certainly not least, we have Mike Kirban, the co-founder and CEO of coconut water powerhouse Vita Coco. As part of an interview featured in Episode 164, Mike discussed why he takes a hands-on approach in his day-to-day leadership of the company, why he hires based on attitude, why he's looking at potential brand acquisitions "all the time," and his belief that Vita Coco can be the "better-for-you beverage company for the next generation." Brands in this episode: Justin's, WTRMLN WTR, Sailor Jerry Rum, Hendricks Gin, Lifeway Foods, Vita Coco

On the heels of the 2019 Summer Fancy Food Show, this week's episode explores new and innovative concepts in the food and beverage industries as viewed through the lens of the annual trade show. As part of our conversation, BevNET's John Craven, Mike Schneider, Jon Landis and Ray Latif discussed the event's "Incubator Village," which showcased a number of food and beverage incubators from across the U.S., including Chobani's unit, The Hatchery and Commonwealth Kitchen, along with several of their respective portfolio brands. Later in the episode, we feature an interview with Smári Ásmundsson, the founder and CEO of Smári Organics, a maker of Icelandic-style skyr. Earlier this year, the company introduced Kaffi, an innovative line of cold brew coffee blended with Smari's protein-rich yogurt that is being positioned as a better-for-you energy drink. Ásmundsson spoke about how he assessed the opportunity to launch a beverage, the most challenging aspects in managing food and drink lines simultaneously and the unconventional path its coffee products have taken to profitability. Show notes: 1:21: Important Changes to Your Account, Incubator Villages, and More -- We kick off the episode with an important note to our audience: going forward we'll be posting new episodes of Taste Radio Insider on the same feed as our flagship Taste Radio podcast. The Taste Radio Insider feed will be phased out next month, so if you're not already a subscriber of Taste Radio on your listening platform of choice, whether it be Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or Spotify, make sure you get on that. Later in the show, the hosts discuss highlights and notable brands from an eventful 2019 Summer Fancy Food Show, as well as Jon Landis' upcoming move to San Diego, why you'll save money -- and get an amazing view -- by registering for BevNET Live and NOSH Live today, and a couple recent visits from the folks behind nitro coffee brand King's Row Coffee, and jun kombucha maker Wild Tonic. 17:56: Smári Ásmundsson, Founder/CEO, Smári Organics -- Ásmundsson sat down with Taste Radio editor/producer Ray Latif for a conversation about the yogurt brand's foray into beverages and how he's navigated production and distribution challenges along the way. He also explained why the coffee drinks are made with non-organic ingredients, the process of selling food and beverage lines to a single retail chain, and how the influence of Nordic culture on the brand. Brands in this episode: Smari Organics, MudLrk, Lil Bucks, Blake's Seed Based, Seedly, Simply Soupreme, Jersey Barnfire, Straightaway Cocktails, Fire Brew, Superfrau, A Boring Life, Rind Snacks, Honey Mama's, UBU, King's Row Coffee, Wild Tonic, Steaz, Belgian Boys

Doss Cunningham was just a few years out of college when he was unexpectedly thrust into the role of CEO at sports nutrition company Nutrabolt in 2007. His primary focus: "don't screw it up." Cunningham's transition was not only successful, he since transformed Nutrabolt from a middling category player into an industry-leading powerhouse. Anchored by best-selling pre-workout brand C4, Nutrabolt is the largest independently owned nutraceutical company in the world, with retail sales exceeding $650 million. In an interview included in this episode, Cunningham spoke about his remarkable rise to the CEO role, and why focusing on premium as the guiding principle of the company's business strategy was key in the development of Nutrabolt and the genesis of C4. He also discussed the mission and focus of his venture capital firm LivWell Ventures and the lessons he hopes to impart to brand owners within its portfolio. This episode is presented by Flavorman, the beverage architects. Show notes: 2:51: Interview: Doss Cunningham, Chairman/CEO, Nutrabolt -- In a conversation recorded at BevNET Live Summer 2019, Cunningham discussed the evolution of his role at Nutrabolt and his unusual path to becoming the company's CEO. He also spoke about the development of Nutrabolt's retail strategy and how it enabled company the company to grow without raising outside capital, and why the creation of C4 was a game changer for the sports nutrition industry. Later, Cunningham explained why he's focused on being a valued-added investor for early stage and innovative brands. Brands in this episode: Nutrabolt, C4, Cellucor

In this episode, we're joined by Sebastian Dreher, the managing director of Dohler Ventures U.S., the Los Angeles-based venture capital arm of Dohler, a global supplier of natural ingredients for the food and beverage industry. Dohler Ventures is specifically focused on investment in early-stage companies and its portfolio includes stakes in a number of fast-growing consumer brands. As part of our conversation, Dreher discussed Dohler Ventures' funding philosophy and why he believes that investing in emerging brands is more "art than science." "There is so much risk involved in every single deal that I need to have the feeling that this company has the potential to… have a $100 million exit," he said. "It's a lot of gut feel, [but] you can argue that gut feel is actually a lot of internalized pattern recognition and learnings over time." Dreher also spoke about how he evaluates scalable innovation, why category dynamics are crucial to Dohler's investment strategy, and why great founders are also great fundraisers. Show notes: 1:48: Wilde On B -- Post-BevNET events, the hosts chewed on chicken in chip form (thank you Wilde Brands), sipped on sparkling rooibos tea, snacked on salmon jerky and chastised Jon Landis for his beverage hoarding. Of course, CBD is also the mix. 10:43: Sebastian Dreher, Managing Director, Döhler Ventures U.S. -- In an interview recorded BevNET Live Summer 2019, Dreher spoke with Taste Radio editor/producer Ray Latif about the mission and focus of Dohler Ventures and how his passion for innovation has helped shape his role with the venture capital firm. He also explained why a brand's potential to create a new category is a key component of Dohler's funding philosophy, the average size of an investment and the number of investments that Dohler Ventures makes in a calendar year, and his view that "Investors don't invest in products, but in businesses, businesses that get acquired." Later he discussed his expectations for ROI, red flags that preclude him from investing in a brand, and how he manages relationships with entrepreneurs and other investors. Brands in this episode: Wilde Brands, BOS Tea, Fishpeople, Minna, Upwell

Thirteen years ago, Siggi Hilmarsson began selling the first versions of his Icelandic-style yogurt on the streets of Manhattan. At the time, the Siggi's brand he would eventually create didn't exist; the products were simply promoted as "really delicious thick yogurt" with "lots of protein," "low in fat" and "not so much sugar." While the marketing has since evolved, the company's core values remain unchanged, according to Hilmarsson; both were key to its development and eventual acquisition by French dairy giant Lactalis for a reported sum of $300 million in January 2018. In a wide-ranging interview included in this episode, Hilmarsson spoke about the evolution of Siggi's, from his early days slinging street yogurt through to the sale of the brand. He also discussed his current role with the company and why he's stayed on after the acquisition, the important role basketball plays in his life, why he's a "maybe, sort-of perfectionist," and why he urges entrepreneurs to "plan for success." This episode is presented by Flavorman, the beverage architects. Show notes: 2:57: Interview: Siggi Hilmarsson, Founder, Siggi's -- Hilmarsson sat down with Taste Radio editor Ray Latif for an interview recorded at Siggi's headquarters in New York City. Early into their conversation, Hilmarsson spoke about how he developed a passion for basketball, his recent work to open new international markets for Siggi's, and the influence of Nordic cuisine on American food. Later, he discussed his first year in business and why one of his professors at Columbia University was so eager to invest in the brand, how the brand got its name, and recalled the story about how Siggi's got into Whole Foods. Hilmarsson also explained why overwhelming demand for the brand almost doomed the company, the lessons he learned about building an infrastructure for success and whether launching a second brand is in his future. Brands in this episode: Siggi's, Chobani, Stonyfield Farm

This episode features an interview with Sisun Lee, the co-founder and CEO of More Labs, a next-generation maker of functional beverages best known for hangover relief supplement Morning Recovery. Launched in 2017 via an Indiegogo campaign, the brand was an instant hit; Morning Recovery pulled in $3 million in revenue in its first six months on the market. Early success powered an $8 million Series A round -- based on a $33 million valuation -- in 2018 and new distribution at retailers like 7-Eleven and Urban Outfitters. In an interview with BevNET's John Craven and Mike Schneider, Lee discussed the factors and strategic decisions that led to Morning Recovery's rapid development, and how More Labs is attempting to create a platform for functional products. Show notes: 1:16: Live from Live -- On location in New York City, the hosts discussed highlights from day one of BevNET Live Summer 2019 and the preceding NOSH Live conference, including the New Beverage Showdown along with presentations and stage talks with vitaminwater/BodyArmor co-founder Mike Repole, Presence Marketing founder Bill Weiland, Caluipower founder/CEO Gail Becker and Whole Foods Market co-founder Walter Robb. 13:17: Interview: Sisun Lee, Co-Founder/CEO, More Labs -- In an interview recorded at More Labs headquarters, Lee spoke about how his background in tech and the influence of Korean culture played into the creation of Morning Recovery. He also discussed how a popular funding campaign on Indiegogo and a widely read article about the brand catapulted sales just a few months after its initial launch. Later, Lee spoke about the value of qualitative data and intuition as the company grew, how it sources consumer feedback and incorporates into its innovation strategy and why high-quality, minimalist content attracts more interest than communicating the science behind product. Brands in this episode: Vitaminwater, BodyArmor, Caulipower, Beckon Ice Cream, More Labs

As the founder of Popchips, Keith Belling helped usher in a new era for healthy snacking. Twelve years after the brand's launch, he's attempting to do the same for rice with RightRice, Belling's second food brand that debuted in February. In an interview included in this episode, Belling explained that RightRice is in many ways the culmination of an entrepreneurial career that's spanned law, real estate, online publishing and consumer products. At every stage, Belling said, his passion to solve personal, unmet needs drove the launch of new business ventures. "There's entrepreneurs that… finish one business and flick a switch and they're onto the new one," he said. "I've definitely never been that way. For me something has to start with a real passion, something that's important to me and fills a need. That ends up mapping an opportunity in the market, and then it starts to get interesting." As part of our conversation, discussed the origins of Popchips and RightRice and how lessons learned from building the former are being applied to the latter. He also spoke about the importance of branding and why he's overinvested in package design, how celebrity investors like Ashton Kutcher supported the development of Popchips and the challenges of leveraging success. This episode is presented by ZoomEssence, the cool-tech powder flavor people. Show notes: 2:30: Interview: Keith Belling, Founder, Popchips/RightRice -- In an interview recorded via weblink, Belling spoke about why new business ventures have to start with passion, how he was (almost) ahead of the curve with healthy jerky, and the genesis of his new company, RightRice. He also discussed his background in law and real estate, how the concept of Popchips was formed and why the brand has sought to emulate vitaminwater, and why direct interaction with consumers yielded key lessons in the development of the brand. Belling also explained how Ashton Kutcher became Popchips' "president of pop culture," spoke about the evolution of influencer marketing and its impact on business planning for RightRice, and revealed how the two brands got their names. Brands in this episode: Popchips, RightRice, Fritos, Krave Jerky, vitaminwater