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Mike Kirban is unquestionably one of the most successful beverage entrepreneurs of all time, but if our interview with him offers any indication, his legacy is far from complete. This episode is presented by ZoomEssence, the cool-tech powder flavor people.
In the latest installment of Taste Radio Insider, the hosts discussed the fallout from a controversial profile of GT’s Kombucha creator GT Dave in Forbes magazine. Later in the show, we feature an interview with Suzie Yorke, the founder/CEO of Love Good Fats, a fast-growing maker of keto-friendly snack bars and shakes that is attempting to become the “beacon brand” for healthy fats.
On its way to becoming one of the hottest brands in food and beverage, oat milk brand Oatly had “already failed in the biggest ways possible,” according to the company’s U.S. general manager Mike Messersmith. In an interview included in this episode, he explained the simple philosophy that guided Oatly through its growing pains: “It’s all about progress.” This episode is presented by ZoomEssence, the cool-tech powder flavor people.
In this episode, we sit down with Darren Marshall and Ravi Kroesen, the CEO and Head Teamaker, respectively, of specialty tea company Smith Teamaker for a discussion exploring how a small company can influence an entire industry.
Better-for-you booze? It may sound like an oxymoron, but a growing cohort of healthier alcoholic beverages have been finding a receptive audience in recent years. That’s certainly the case for Boochcraft, a three-year-old hard kombucha brand that’s made waves in its home market of Southern California.
In this episode, Patagonia Provisions managing director Birgit Cameron spoke about the origins and development of the brand, a food and beverage offshoot of outdoor apparel giant Patagonia. She also discussed the opportunities and challenges of being aligned with its parent company and why its uncommon innovation strategy is critical to its overarching mission.
As part of a wide-ranging interview, Mamma Chia founder/CEO Janie Hoffman spoke about the origins of her brand and how she created a foundation for its rapid ascent. She also discussed a painful lesson about hiring for experience versus cultural fit, explained her belief that “you can’t teach attitude” and why everyday happiness starts with a joyful spirit.
A trio of executives from investment and advisory firm First Beverage Group joined us for a discussion about its portfolio and investment philosophy and how they evaluate synergies with entrepreneurial brands. They also discussed which categories might be best suited to weather a potential downturn, and why CBD is not the only cannabis-based ingredient that’s caught their attention.
Nearly 20 years ago Jesse Laflamme came home from college to find his family’s egg brand, Pete and Gerry’s, on the precipice. Despite the urging of his parents to consider another career, he was committed to the brand and solving its problems. In this episode, Laflamme spoke about how the company not only got back on its feet, but also excelled beyond anyone’s expectations.
You might have put time, money, blood, sweat and tears into building your brand, but at the end of the day it doesn’t belong to you. That’s the perspective of Christian Krogstad and Thomas Mooney, the co-founders of Westward Whiskey, which helped establish the rapidly growing American single-malt whiskey category.