Episodes

Erewhon Chief Growth Officer Kabir Jain discussed the upscale grocer’s emphasis on being first when it comes to carrying new and unique concepts, how it defines innovation and why he describes brand selection as both “an art and science.” He also discussed the throughline for fast-growing food and beverage categories, and how the chain is supporting brands with highly actionable sales data.

A film actor and active investor in several high-profile brands including Super Coffee, NUGGS and Blaze Pizza, Patrick Schwarzenegger recently added the title of entrepreneur to his resume as the co-founder and CEO of brain health brand MOSH. In our interview, Schwarzenegger spoke about why MOSH broke every traditional rule for developing and launching a CPG brand, his investment philosophy and the value of company management when making funding decisions.

In this episode, Taste Radio’s hosts discussed the significance of great taste for functional products, a highly effective way for entrepreneurs to get their brands in the hands of industry gatekeepers and debated on whether the rise of RTD cocktails will impact the premium mixer segment. We also feature interviews focused on trends and innovation with Bonnie Shah, the VP of marketing and innovation for L.A. Libations and Sunanda Patel, the founder and CEO of TumiBee.

Omsom co-founder/CEO Vanessa Pham spoke about the company’s vision to break long-standing barriers in the ways ethnic food is perceived and sold, and how the brand became one of the most publicized startups in recent memory. We also feature an interview with Caroline Cotto, co-founder/COO of Renewal Mill, an upcycled food brand that markets ingredients and finished products.

NuttZo founder/CEO Danielle LiVolsi recalled the creative ways that she won over the nut butter and snack brand’s first retail buyers, why she adheres to the Nordstrom model of customer service and why she has consistently turned down outside investment. We also sat down with Kun Yang, the co-founder/CEO of cactus water brand Pricklee, who discussed the impact of localized social marketing.

This episode highlights notable news and new products from the perspective of Taste Radio hosts Ray Latif, Jacqui Brugliera and Mike Schneider, a recap on beverage-related innovation, news and trends observed at the recently held 2021 NACS trade show and interviews with the founders of emerging brands Retreat Foods and Little Red Kitchen Bake Shop.

From national distribution to failed innovation to keto-driven disruption, it’s all in a decade’s work for Buddha Brands’ co-founders Chris Magnone and Mark Cigos, who we profile in this episode of Taste Radio. We also sat down with Jen Ballen and Joe Magliano, the co-founders of Otherworld Foods, an upstart brand that aligns locally sourced and upcycled ingredients with nostalgia-inspired products.

In this episode, we explored the respective paths of four early-stage and emerging brand owners, from brand ideation and early struggles to social strategies and retail planning. The conversations highlight the perspective of founders who are attempting to reframe legacy categories via next-generation brands and products.

Taste Radio hosts Ray Latif, John Craven and Mike Schneider discussed the general mood and reception for Expo East 2021 and what it means for the future of in-person industry events. They also highlighted several new and recently launched products featured at the show and later debated the merits of traditional ingredients when crafting a host-favorite cocktail.

Cole Pearsall, the co-founder of experimental food and beverage platform Acid League, spoke about how the diverse experience of the brand’s founding team spurred its development, why trust was the key factor in winning over Whole Foods, the use of product as a form of marketing and how the company aligns its retail and ecommerce strategies.