Episodes

The hosts discussed a celebrity foodie’s new glitzy brand of $10/box pasta, the debut of a black-owned and gastronomic-inspired brand of toaster pastries at Target, French’s sweet limited-time partner and a brief recap of the recently held 2023 Tales of The Cocktail convention. Also featured is the latest edition of Special Ops with Andrew Guard, in which the operations expert shares his take on both opportunities and challenges that are impacting new and emerging beverage and food companies.

Allison Luvera and Lauren De Niro Pipher, the co-founders of Juliet, a premium brand of multiserve wine encased in an innovative cylindrical container, spoke about how they assessed the opportunity to disrupt a legacy category, why developing a unique package was central to the planning process and how they have won over retailers by positioning Juliet as an upscale lifestyle brand.

Reports and CPG roundups from the Pacific Northwest regions of both the U.S. and Canada, the controversy surrounding children and caffeine and whether honey truffle could be a gamechanger for the food and beverage industry.

Magnolia Bakery CEO Bobbie Lloyd and CMO Eddie Revis spoke about why the iconic bakeshop launched a CPG brand and the patient and thoughtful approach behind its development. They also discussed why consistency and quality guides their stewardship of the company, why they eschew trendy concepts and Magnolia’s collaborations with lifestyle brands.

Can Coolhaus make a comeback? Although the beloved non-dairy ice cream brand is reportedly on the chopping block, the hosts discussed a potential salvation akin to those of discontinued brands resurrected by new owners. This episode also features the latest installment of The Goat Pen with Carlton Fowler, the co-founder of Goat Rodeo Capital, who spoke about his “obsession” with outliers.

Renowned chef, restaurateur and “Top Chef” judge Tom Colicchio spoke about the development of his namesake food brand Colicchio Kitchen, his definition of “good food” and why he’s less intimidating than you might think. This episode also highlights a remarkable partnership between an upstart beverage company and an iconic spirit brand in a conversation with Social Hour co-founder Tom Macy and Nicole Austin, the general manager and distiller of George Dickel whiskey.

When car companies start making tequila and beer, all bets are off. In this episode, the hosts banter about Tesla’s foray into beverage alcohol, what happens when the boss visits a satellite office, a sneak peek at the new digs for BevNET’s winter events, how entrepreneurs can get inside the minds of investors and why we’re big on packing vacation snacks and drinks.

Andrew Merinoff, the founder of early-stage investment firm Dispact Ventures and CEO of passion fruit-based liqueur Chinola, spoke about how he attempts to identify trends before they become relevant, the key factors in his investment strategy, why he covets brand brands with a great story and how he’s navigated his first few months at the helm of Chinola.