Episodes

On location at Natural Products Expo East 2022, the hosts shared their respective takes on standout products and brands exhibited during the first two days of the annual trade show, which is being held at the Philadelphia Convention Center. The roundup highlights several brands that are using better-for-you, innovative and plant-based ingredients to disrupt legacy food and beverage categories.

Max Pouvreau, the founder of premium pudding brand Petit Pot, explained why he has always emphasized frugality and cautious spending, how the hire of an experienced operations executive and planning strategy helped the company scale production and achieve profitability and how being ahead of the curve on permissible indulgence has benefited the brand’s development.

In this episode, Taste Radio’s hosts reflected on recent networking and live podcast events at BevNET’s San Diego office and Super Coffee headquarters in Austin. They also addressed an often asked question from early-stage entrepreneurs and highlighted a few unusual products before Jacqui Brugliera took on one of the hottest of challenges.

Junea Rocha, the co-founder of pioneering Latin food brand Brazi Bites, explained why her advisory network was critical to the company’s formative years, the pros and cons of appearing on “Shark Tank,” why innovative brands need to scale quickly or risk being left behind and why she describes herself as “the opposite” of entrepreneurs that are great at raising money.

Chitra Agrawal, the founder and CEO of Brooklyn Delhi, a brand of Indian-inspired pantry staples crafted for modern kitchens, spoke about why consumer education requires patience, how she leveraged the brand’s strengths to win over Whole Foods and why profitability has always been top of mind. She also explained how she created favorable contracts with co-manufacturers and how an omni-channel sales strategy has benefited the company.

On the cusp of BevNET and Taste Radio networking meetups in San Diego and Austin, the hosts highlighted the value of industry connections and linking up with experienced professionals, and why showing up is half the battle. They also spoke about a new fund focused on women-led brands, a retailer focused on non-alcoholic cocktails and spirits and new products that caught the hosts’ attention.

Nick Mindel, a partner with Amberstone, a San Francisco-based venture capital firm focused on mid-stage investments in fast-growing consumer brands, shared specific details about each of its funding deals of the past 12 months, how trends influence the way the firm evaluates investment opportunities, financial metrics that will make or break a company and why Amberstone will continue to invest in consumer brands despite widespread concerns of economic slowdown.

David Greenfeld, the founder and CEO of better-for-you frozen novelty and candy brand Dream Pops, spoke about the duality of marketing indulgent food made with healthier ingredients, leveraging the brand’s flagship popsicles as a springboard into shelf-stable products, why every CPG company needs to also be a “content company,” and why consistency is the most important aspect of Dream Pops’ social media strategy.

In this episode of Taste Radio, the hosts discussed YouTube sensation Emma Chamberlain’s foray into the coffee business as the founder of Chamberlain Coffee, the surprising news that Haus, a promising brand of low-ABV aperitifs, is shutting down and the launch of Coca-Cola Dreamworld. This episode also features the latest installment of The Maxi Minutes, in which LDR Ventures co-founder Maxine Kozler Koven offered tips on how to get current investors to join subsequent funding rounds.

Jen Liao, the co-founder of XCJ, a fast-growing direct-to-consumer frozen food brand inspired by Chinese street cuisine, spoke about how rapid planning and thoughtful execution have paid massive dividends in the company’s development, why self-manufacturing was the only path forward and how XCJ is managing multiple business divisions while continuing to grow and maintain quality standards.