Episodes

Bestselling author and TV personality Katie Lee Biegel discusses her journey into the organic wine business as the co-founder of Kind of Wild. She reflects on the evolution of the food and beverage industry, the power of in-person and digital consumer engagement, and why authenticity – not the “celebrity chef” label – is at the heart of her approach to food, wine, and business.

They call it “better-for-you.” But better for who, exactly? And are trendy startups solving a problem – or just selling the illusion of one? The hosts dig in. We also revisit four interviews from Taste Radio’s NYC meetup, where leaders from innovative food and beverage organizations, including Rethink Food and The Goods Mart, shared insights on mission-driven business models and scaling with purpose.

Todd Davis, a veteran category manager with Kroger’s King Soopers and City Market banners, talks about how he identifies standout brands and his belief in founders that are shaking up traditional retail by selling with heart, disrupting with intention and truly connecting with today’s consumer.

How do you cultivate a loyal following through word-of-mouth buzz and smart, strategic partnerships without leaning on splashy marketing campaigns or celebrity endorsements? It’s the Komos way.

Troy Bonde and Winston Alfieri aren’t selling your father’s ragu. Instead, the 25-year-old co-founders of Sauz, a bold, culture-forward pasta sauce brand, are reimagining what it means to build a modern CPG company from the ground up. And, it’s working.

In a year clouded by economic uncertainty, you’d think investors would be clinging to their cash. But by the looks of things, maybe not? This episode also features an interview with acclaimed Boston-based chefs Jamie Bissonnette and Kenta Katagai as they take us behind the scenes of an unforgettable culinary collaboration.

Ignite20 isn’t just cutting checks. The new $7 million venture capital fund and hybrid accelerator is lighting a fire under the next wave of CPG innovators. Gabriela Morales, Ignite20’s co-founder and managing director, talks about how the fund is rethinking early-stage investing.

Is 2025 the year of the acquisition? The hosts highlight two more headline-grabbing deals announced over the past week: Hershey’s $750M purchase of BFY snack maker LesserEvil and the sale of watermelon water brand Mela to King Juice. We also speak with Jesse Bongiovi, who alongside rockstar father Jon Bon Jovi, co-founded Hampton Water Wine, a rosé brand that’s taken the industry by storm.