Episodes

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.

Greg Brewer, the co-founder of world-renowned winery Brewer-Clifton, spoke about why a focus on ritual and discipline has guided his three decades in the wine business, the critical lesson about branding that he learned from celebrated designer Diane von Furstenberg, how vulnerability factors into his leadership style and how he’s maintained a positive relationship with the trade and press.

On the cusp of Natural Products Expo East 2021, Taste Radio’s hosts discussed ways that exhibitors can highlight their presence at the show as well as an updated look for BevNET.com, which features a new audio option for articles. They also chatted about several new and upstart products, including a canned cascara, mushroom jerky and cheese balls, along with a couple celebrity-backed tequila brands.

Matthew Parry, founder and CEO of canister-packaged snack brand The Good Crisp, spoke about how he has carefully navigated comparisons to Pringles, how the company’s channel and merchandising strategies have evolved to reach more mainstream consumers, and how he’s balancing rapid growth with a conservative approach to hiring.

Ben Soffer, the Instagram celebrity behind @boywithnojob, discussed the development of his upstart wine-based cocktail brand Spritz Society, how his expertise in influencer marketing helped shape the brand’s vision and business strategy, why authenticity is a common theme in everything he does and how he got up to speed as a first-time beverage entrepreneur.

In this episode, the hosts discussed recent headlines on BevNET and NOSH, including how prebiotic soda brand Poppi leveraged its presence on TikTok in support of a recent $13.5 million round of capital, why MTN DEW’s limited-edition Flamin’ Hot variety works (whether we like it or not) and the potential pitfalls of brand positioned as a better-for-you Hot Pocket.

Vice Ventures founder Catharine Dockery spoke about the massive opportunity for CPG categories, such as cannabis, alcohol and sexual wellness, that have traditionally been shunned by institutional investors, how her firm utilizes non-traditional data to make informed decisions, why she believes a shakeup in beverage alcohol distribution is on its way and why she spends most of her day engaging in new business pitches.

David Klavsons, the CEO of King Juice, the maker of Calypso, spoke about how the company has leveraged its well-recognized lemonade brand, key distribution partnerships and consumer demand for low sugar formulations to achieve rapid and consistent growth in recent years.