Episodes

Prior to the investment firm’s second annual Global Health Forum, we spoke with Ross Iverson, Brent Drever and Steve Young of Manna Tree for a trio of conversations about the urgency of making healthy and affordable food available to more people, why entrepreneurs are faced with shifting expectations for profitability and top line growth, their assessment of consumer confidence and spending and what emerging food trends are on their radar.

Taste Radio’s hosts discussed the value of attending CPG-centric community events, how Expo West 2023 exhibitors can best advise our editorial teams about their presence at the event, highlighted recent capital raises for two beverage brands and riffed on new and innovative products from two Mexican-inspired food brands and a trio of innovative energy drinks companies, among several others.

Jason Burke, founder and CEO of clean-ingredient meat snack and condiment brand The New Primal, discussed the demands of building a modern food brand, why he advises founders to embrace reliable business practices and a cautious retail strategy and how “the goalposts” have shifted when it comes to large CPG exits. He also stressed the importance of due diligence on potential investors and shared a moving story about his motivation to provide consumers with better food options.

Natalie Shmulik, the chief strategy and incubation officer of The Hatchery Chicago, spoke about the incubator’s origins, the most pressing needs and challenges facing small businesses and how she and her team are advising brands on scaling and investment. She also discussed the typical attributes of a company that has successfully scaled beyond The Hatchery and how high-profile strategic partners, including Pepsico and Mondelez International, are involved in its development.

The hosts discussed BevNET’s new partnership with Naturally San Diego, how brands can amplify their presence at Expo West 2023, MALK’s clever ad campaign and notable new products including pancake cereal and a neon green hot sauce. This episode also features a conversation with investor Maxine Kozler Koven, who spoke about how founders can navigate an increasingly tighter market for private capital.

James Beard award-winning chef Stephanie Izard spoke about the origins of her globally inspired consumer brand This Little Goat, how taste and accessibility guide its thoughtful product and marketing strategy, why the company turned to self-manufacturing and how she became more comfortable as the primary spokesperson for her restaurants and brand.

Wholly Veggie co-founders John Bonnell and David Gaucher spoke about how a comprehensive brand brief enabled them to better understand their products’ value to retailers and consumers and the impact of a striking design revamp. They also discussed their adherence to business fundamentals, a challenging environment for private capital and how the most commonly consumed ingredients factor into their innovation strategy.

Fresh off the conclusion of the 2023 Winter Fancy Food Show, Taste Radio editor Ray Latif highlighted new, innovative and better-for-you products from over a dozen exhibitors at the annual event, including a plant-centric soup brand, spicy and chewy candy, sunflower seed-based milk, non-alcoholic wine alternatives and gourmet marshmallows.

Tara Bosch, the founder of better-for-you candy brand SmartSweets, explained how prioritizing a lean business model in its early development enabled the company to be nimble and outpace its competitors, why its growth strategy is built around “patient urgency” and how the brand’s highly effective social media strategy drives consumers to its retailers.