Episodes

In food and beverage, innovative brands often get the most attention. But do products that are positioned as incrementally better-for-you than existing options have more runway? The hosts discuss. This episode also features a conversation with Good Culture’s Jesse Merrill and Manna Tree’s Steve Young about the synergy between profit and purpose.

Jesse Merrill, the co-founder and CEO of better-for-you dairy brand Good Culture, spoke about why mission and values dictate every aspect of business strategy, why proof of concept and velocity are keys to brand development and being “maniacal” about delivering on the products’ key attributes.

Ray shared takeaways from a recent event hosted by private equity firm Manna Tree, including a shift in most important product attributes for consumers of natural brands, and how Gen Z and Alpha’s current spending patterns can inform brands about where to invest their resources.

Will Nitze, the founder and CEO of brain health-focused CPG brand IQBAR, shared candid takes on how to scale a food and beverage company, including his perspective on fundraising (“Bootstrapping is the worst thing you can do.”), staffing (“How can we build a $50 million brand with a staff of six?”), and retail strategy (“Choose channels that scale well.).

Trademarks are important. Just ask MrBeast. The hosts discussed the YouTuber’s recent legal dilemma as well as the impact of Uber’s decision to shut down Drizly. We also spoke with Ponyboy Slings co-founders Mike and Janell Bass, who shared insights and advice on how to win a pitch slam.

Marcus Sakey, the co-founder of Ritual Zero Proof, spoke about why Diageo invested in his non-alcoholic spirit brand pre-launch, how it became an anchor in an increasingly crowded category, the evolution of its marketing strategy and how he assesses challenges from new and existing brands.

While the volume of videos and images posted daily on popular social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok makes it challenging to capture users’ attention, the hosts highlighted brands that create consistently authentic and entertaining content as a way to break through the clutter.

Alix Peabody, the founder of pioneering canned wine brand Bev, chronicled the three years leading up the acquisition of her company by global wine and spirits company E & J Gallo, how she analyzed the timing and opportunity to sell, and the resulting – and surprising – fallout with confidants.

The hosts discussed the retailer’s new curated endcaps of non-alcoholic RTD cocktails and wine, and why a fast-growing hydration brand has taken a bigger-is-better approach to its packaging. We also spoke with master distiller Will Fabry about his stewardship of CraftCo’s acclaimed spirit brands.

This special edition of the podcast features highlights from interviews with seven founders, creators and innovators who joined us on the show during the second half of 2023.