Why Thrive Market's Co-Founder Sees AI-Powered, Personalized Health As The Future
Release Date: 03/10/2026
M&A Isn’t Slowing. It’s Getting More Focused.
Taste Radio
Deals aren’t slowing – they’re stacking up. What explains five strategic acquisitions in under two weeks? The hosts break down the latest wave of CPG deals, including HOP WTR’s sale to Constellation Brands and So Good So You’s acquisition by a private investment group – just two of several recent moves. They explore what’s fueling continued buyer activity and why non-alcoholic, functional, and better-for-you beverage brands remain especially attractive targets. Show notes: 0:20: Meet NYC. Good Hops, Good Investment. Pints Park. Frozen Dollars. Yoo Hoo! Yaza! – The hosts preview...
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From $7K To 10,000 Stores. The Protein Pints Playbook.
Taste Radio
How did two 20-something founders turn a $7,000 investment into one of the fastest-growing brands in CPG, now selling one unit every three seconds? It started with a deceptively simple idea, relentless sampling, meticulous planning and a confident bet that protein ice cream could outshine the biggest names in the game. I met up with Protein Pints co-founders Paul Reiss and Michael Meadows at Expo West 2026 to discuss the origins and development of their high-protein ice cream brand They share why leading with “protein” was key to standing out, how years of sampling and iteration shaped the...
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Your 'Crazy' Idea Could Be Worth $1 Billion. Proda Is Up Next.
Taste Radio
Billion-dollar deals, breakout brands, and “crazy ideas” that actually worked. The hosts dive into a wave of recent CPG acquisitions and what they signal for founders. Plus, a look at brands going global, a buzzworthy Negroni-inspired sparkling water, and a conversation with industry veteran Jeff Church and “Peaky Blinders” actor Matthew Postlethwaite on their upstart protein soda brand, Proda. Show notes: 0:20: Registration Reminder. Linked Deals. Pond Crossing. Lapping It Up. Mex-BBQ. – The hosts kick off with reminders about and before diving into recent acquisitions involving...
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Elevator Talk: Tart, Soulkist Elixirs, Black Beverly Hills, boop, Area 51 Energy
Taste Radio
The latest episode of Taste Radio’s Elevator Talk spotlights innovative leaders from Tart, Soulkist Elixirs, Black Beverly Hills, boop and Area 51 Energy. The founders and operators introduce their brands and share recent company updates and milestones. This week’s special co-host is Chuck Casano, the co-founder & CEO of Pitaya Foods and HiTouch Libations. He offers insightful questions, thoughtful feedback, and strategic perspective alongside regular host Ray Latif, editor and producer of the Taste Radio podcast. Early-stage food and beverage entrepreneurs are...
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The Evergreen Strategy Generating Millions… And Better Products
Taste Radio
Evergreen founder and CEO Emily Groden arrived at Expo West 2026 leading one of the fastest-growing brands in frozen breakfast. But just a few years earlier, she was hand-making waffles in a shared kitchen and pitching corner stores with a toaster tucked into a duffel bag. In this episode, Emily explains how she turned a personal frustration into a breakout brand built on clean-label frozen waffles and pancakes made with real, whole-food ingredients. She shares why she refused to compromise on quality, even when it made manufacturing more difficult, and how Evergreen is leveraging protein...
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David Got Sued. Is This What Success Looks Like?
Taste Radio
David Protein just got hit with a lawsuit claiming its macros don’t add up, raising familiar questions about labeling, ingredients, and what happens when a fast-growing brand lands in the legal spotlight. The team breaks down the claims, why brands become litigation magnets, and whether consumers will care. Plus: a readout from Seafood Expo North America and Stiller Soda’s attention-grabbing social push. Show notes: 0:20: A Month-Ish Away. Stage Presence. Scaling, Suing. SENA Observations. Not Ben Stiller. Shots. – The hosts promote the upcoming Taste Radio NYC meetup and BevNET...
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Gary Vee On Marketing, Micro-Quitting & His New CPG Brand
Taste Radio
Gary Vaynerchuk believes the future of CPG might look a lot more like Pokémon than packaged goods. We met up with Gary at Expo West 2026, where the entrepreneur and marketing powerhouse discussed Very Luckee, his new better-for-you gummy brand that pairs the promise of ultra-clean ingredients with collectible stickers from his VeeFriends character universe. In the conversation, Gary explains how the idea came together, why he’s betting big on collectibles as a driver of consumer engagement, how organic social media will power the brand’s growth, and why entrepreneurs should embrace...
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Target’s Bigger Grocery Play & Angel Investors On What’s Next
Taste Radio
Target is expanding its food and beverage footprint with new store concepts and larger grocery sections – potentially creating more space for emerging brands. In this episode, the hosts discuss what it means for startups and also spotlight notable trends and brands from Expo West. We also revisit interviews from our Miami meetup, including a conversation with angel investor Spencer Slaine on what he looks for in early-stage brands. Show notes: 0:20: Expo Energy. IRL All Year. Nom News. Bullseye, Babe. Mez & The Gang. Citrus Boost. – The hosts recap the energy and standout trends from...
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Elevator Talk: Sous Casa, Love&Cookies, Caltein, Madres Churros, TofuGo
Taste Radio
The latest episode of Taste Radio’s Elevator Talk spotlights innovative leaders from Sous Casa, Love&Cookies, Caltein, Madres Churros and TofuGo. The founders and operators introduce their brands and share recent company updates and milestones. This week’s special co-host is Allison Ball, the founder of Food Biz Wiz. She offers insightful questions, thoughtful feedback, and strategic perspective alongside regular host Ray Latif, editor and producer of the Taste Radio podcast. Early-stage food and beverage entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply for future episodes of...
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Why Thrive Market's Co-Founder Sees AI-Powered, Personalized Health As The Future
Taste Radio
Eight years after his first appearance on Taste Radio, Nick Green, co-founder and CEO of pioneering online grocer Thrive Market, returns with a clear message: the future of healthy living will be shaped less by trend-chasing and more by trust, technology and simplicity. In this episode, Nick explains how Thrive is navigating a rapidly evolving wellness landscape molded by AI, GLP-1 drugs and growing consumer skepticism, while staying grounded in its mission to make healthy living more accessible and affordable. He also shares how Thrive evaluates brands, why taste matters most, and why he...
info_outlineEight years after his first appearance on Taste Radio, Nick Green, co-founder and CEO of pioneering online grocer Thrive Market, returns with a clear message: the future of healthy living will be shaped less by trend-chasing and more by trust, technology and simplicity.
In this episode, Nick explains how Thrive is navigating a rapidly evolving wellness landscape molded by AI, GLP-1 drugs and growing consumer skepticism, while staying grounded in its mission to make healthy living more accessible and affordable.
He also shares how Thrive evaluates brands, why taste matters most, and why he increasingly sees the company – which generated over $900 million in revenue in 2025 – not just as an online grocery store, but as a personalized health platform for modern consumers.
Show notes:
0:20: Nick Green, Co-Founder & CEO, Thrive Market – Nick reflects on how both he and Thrive Market have evolved since his first appearance on the podcast in 2018. While acknowledging volatility across the natural products industry, he explains why Thrive remains focused on enduring trends around health, transparency and accessibility. Nick discusses how Thrive defines “healthy,” how it uses data to personalize discovery for members, and why he believes AI will deepen the company’s relationship with subscribers. He also explains how Thrive’s membership model attracts a nationwide base of “wellness champions,” and how its strict quality standards guide its curation strategy. He shares why authenticity and taste matter most when evaluating brands, and how Thrive serves as a launchpad for emerging companies. Nick also discusses Thrive’s growing own-brand business, weighs in on trends like protein, functional mushrooms and non-alcoholic beverages, and describes how the company increasingly sees itself not just as an online grocer, but as a technology platform helping consumers navigate healthy living.
Brands in this episode: JOON, SkinnyDipped, Mud\Wtr, Four Sigmatic, Quantum Energy Squares