Episodes

As you may have heard, some people are upset with Poppi. While the soda brand’s Super Bowl ad caused a bit of consternation, we have a different take on it… and that of Liquid Death’s controversial TV spot. This episode also features an interview with Luke Montgomery-Smith, the co-founder of Plink, a brand of flavored, electrolyte-infused tablets designed to create effervescent and hydrating beverages.

Emily Heintz, the founder of dynamic non-alcoholic beverage platform Sèchey, joins us for a deep dive into her vision for the company, including how Gen Z and millennial lifestyles are shaping awareness and trial, and why the founder’s voice is the most essential tool in connecting with customers.

Someone has to say it: Expo West isn’t for everyone. One host makes a case on why some folks should skip the Super Bowl of CPG… while three others try to prove them wrong. We also sit down with Trevor Burns of Leisure Hydration, an emerging brand of electrolyte drinks making waves in SoCal.

Nona Lim, the founder of Nona Lim Foods, a trailblazing brand of convenient Asian-inspired meals, reflects on the journey of building and eventually selling her company, the importance of generating retail velocity without heavy marketing spend and why having a well-organized data room is essential for raising funds or preparing for an exit.

These days, keeping it simple is one way to be different. At a time when brands are packing their products with processed ingredients, some companies are taking a stripped down approach… and getting noticed. This episode, which features an interview with Stephanie McGregor, a veteran food and beverage executive and founder of plant-based drink brand Ringa, explores that dynamic.

H&H Bagels is a New York City institution. Its CEO Jay Rushin wants to make it an American staple. In this episode, Jay talks about how he helped H&H regain its relevance after the company fell on hard times, how he navigated some of the most challenging aspects of its turnaround and how H&H is attempting to align its storied history with modern culture and trends.

Before the sun set on a final Winter Fancy Food Show, the event cast a light on a swath of emerging, innovative and better-for-you brands. The hosts highlight a few of their favorite products exhibited at the show, and how package design, ingredients, form factor and taste helped them to stand out.

When Amanda Thomson launched Noughty Wines, a pioneering brand of dealcoholized wines, in 2019, she was, in essence, flying blind. In this episode, Amanda talks about how she charted an unknown path for a nascent category, why gaining the “absolute trust” of consumers is key to Noughty’s future and why she advises founders to consider what they want to achieve with their brands.

What lessons can we extract from the acquisition of Simple Mills and majority sale of Spindrift, valued at nearly $1.5 billion combined? The hosts talk about what these better-for-you brands did right and what made them attractive to strategic companies and investors. We also sit down with Marcin Malyszko and Amit Singh, the co-founders of purpose-driven cocktail brand Mission Cocktails.

One of PJ Monte’s early sales pitches startled a woman so much that she clutched her purse. A few weeks later, PJ’s tomato sauce was on the shelves of her husband’s influential grocery store. It’s one of dozens of stories that PJ, a streetwise, fedora-wearing entrepreneur, has about the development of his acclaimed sauce and pasta brand Monte’s Fine Foods.