The Good, Bad & Ugly Of Mission-Driven Brands
Taste Radio
Can a brand built on purpose survive when its mission is put at risk? The hosts dive into the escalating conflict between Ben & Jerry's and its parent company over funding cuts to the ice cream maker's philanthropic foundation, debating whether a brand so closely tied to a social mission can preserve its identity after acquisition and how the dispute could influence consumer loyalty in an increasingly competitive premium ice cream category. The discussion also examines how founders should approach purpose-driven branding, with early-stage sparkling water brand Atomico serving...
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Pitching An 'Empire' Builder: Hover, Purple Drop, Atomico, Ola Mate & ChamCham
Taste Radio
The latest episode of Taste Radio’s Elevator Talk spotlights innovative leaders from Hover, Purple Drop, Atomico, Ola Mate and ChamCham. The founders and operators introduce their brands and share recent company updates and milestones. This week’s special co-host is Rebecca Bernard, the founder and CEO of Empire City Brand Builders, a sales and marketing broker focused on growing brands in the New York Metro area. Rebecca offers insightful questions, thoughtful feedback, and strategic perspective alongside regular host Ray Latif, editor and producer of the Taste Radio podcast. Early-stage...
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Why The Next Big Thing—In Booze Or Beyond—Is Often Borrowed
Taste Radio
CPG's next big ideas often emerge in unexpected places. In this episode, we explore what founders across food and beverage can learn from the rapid rise of hard sodas and hard sports drinks, as alcohol brands borrow from health, wellness and functionality to connect with younger consumers. The Taste Radio team is joined by Brewbound reporter Zoe Licata to discuss why familiar flavors, better-for-you positioning and shifting consumer behaviors are fueling these fast-growing categories—and whether they're poised for long-term success or destined to become another fleeting trend. They...
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How Curious Elixirs Built An Eight-Figure Brand Without Outside Investors
Taste Radio
He built an eight-figure brand without raising a dollar of outside capital. Now he's sharing exactly how he did it. J.W. reveals the playbook behind one of the adult non-alcoholic category’s earliest success stories. He explains why he bet on the sober curious trend years before it became mainstream, how direct-to-consumer sales fueled profitable growth from day one, and why relentless product refinement – not rapid expansion – has been the foundation of the brand's success. J.W. also discusses customer acquisition, retail strategy, premium pricing and the long-term vision that's...
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AI Is Changing How Brands Are Built. It Can't Build Yours.
Taste Radio
AI is rewriting the rules of product discovery, and brands that aren't optimized for algorithms risk becoming invisible. The Taste Radio team explores how AI is reshaping retail and marketing, unpacks a proposed class action lawsuit over protein labeling claims, and explains why early-stage founders should build with mainstream consumers – not just niche audiences – in mind. Show notes: 0:20: Fourth & Over. Don’t Let Claude Do All The Work. You Need A Lawyer. Think Big. Ahh, That Was Nice. – After some lighthearted banter about summer already being over, the team explores how...
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OIipop/Graza Investor Tom Spier Rides The Elevator With Four Food Founders
Taste Radio
The latest episode of Taste Radio’s Elevator Talk spotlights innovative leaders from Bakeful, Scoops, Luv & Yum and DOU. The founders and operators introduce their brands and share recent company updates and milestones. This week’s special co-host is Tom Spier, the founder and managing partner of BFG Partners, a venture capital firm that holds stakes in Olipop, Graza, Mid-Day Squares, AG and other fast-growing CPG companies. Tom offers insightful questions, thoughtful feedback, and strategic perspective alongside regular host Ray Latif, editor and producer of the Taste...
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What Did It Take to Make MadeGood Great?
Taste Radio
Most founders want to grow fast. Nima Fotovat says that's exactly how brands get into trouble. In this episode, the MadeGood co-founder explains how a disciplined, long-term approach helped transform the company from a lunchbox solution into one of the world's leading better-for-you snack brands. He discusses why taste – and not MadeGood’s allergen-friendly reputation – has always been the brand's greatest competitive advantage and why the company invested in its own manufacturing. Nima also talks about how MadeGood navigated the financial strain of its early years, and why putting...
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Inside Fancy Food: The Brands, Products & Trends That Stood Out
Taste Radio
From breakthrough startups to category-defining innovations, the 2026 Summer Fancy Food Show gave the Taste Radio team plenty to talk about. The hosts recap their favorite discoveries from the annual event, highlighting standout brands, globally inspired flavors, premium non-alcoholic beverages, inventive snacks and convenient pantry staples. They also discuss the themes that emerged across the show floor and why this year's event reflected a growing emphasis on quality, creativity and accessible innovation. Show notes: 0:20: Good Show, SFA. Spicy, Convenient, Premium. Get A Kloo....
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Wandering Bear Almost Lost It All. Then It Brewed A Second Act.
Taste Radio
A $7,000 startup. A business that nearly vanished. A brand that's still growing 12 years later. In this episode, Wandering Bear co-founder and CEO Matt Bachmann shares the hard-earned lessons behind building one of cold brew's original success stories, from surviving the collapse of its office business during the pandemic to reinventing the company through e-commerce and strategic retail expansion. He also discusses the thinking behind the brand's latest innovations, how to time new product launches, and why staying relentlessly focused on consumers has been the key to long-term...
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Time To Rethink THC… And DTC?
Taste Radio
One brand is preparing for a regulatory shakeup. Another just landed in Target with $24 million in fresh capital. The Taste Radio hosts discuss BRĒZ’s bet on a future beyond THC, Stars & Honey’s leap from DTC success to a nationwide Target launch, and how brands are reinventing Shirley Temples, protein bars, and Rice Krispie treats for a new generation of consumers. Show notes: 0:20: Fancy Talk. Strategizing For A Ban. E-Comm Insights. Why Buy? Shirley A Hot Trend. Aye, Captain. – Ray highlights the upcoming Summer Fancy Food Show and Taste Radio’s Elevator Talk series...
info_outlineWhat actually gets investors to say yes in today’s CPG market?
In this episode, we revisit conversations with founders, operators and investors at Taste Radio’s NYC Meetup who share candid advice on why disciplined growth, financial transparency and strong regional traction matter far more than hype – and why some of the biggest opportunities may be hiding in overlooked legacy categories.
The hosts also dive into the rise of luxury and small-format grocery, including Whole Foods’ Daily Shop concept and premium retailers like Laurel Supply and Nude Miami, and how brands like Ripi and Olipop are adapting their positioning, packaging and messaging to win with today’s consumers.
Show notes:
0:20: Nude & Bougie. Rip It. New For The Kids? Beefy Snacks, Pickle Beer & Soccer Chips. – The hosts discuss Whole Foods Market’s expansion of its smaller “Daily Shop” concept into urban neighborhoods, alongside emerging upscale retailers like Laurel Supply in Los Angeles and Nude Miami. The conversation also touches on how emerging brands navigate this landscape, highlighting frozen pasta company Ripi as an example of a premium brand betting heavily on elevated packaging, product quality, and strong branding from day one to win placements at Whole Foods and Target. The hosts also dive into Olipop’s newly announced refresh of its shelf-stable soda line, examining how the updated packaging and “feel-good soda” positioning appear designed to broaden the brand’s mainstream appeal and attract younger consumers. They also sample Beest’s beef-based charcuterie trail mixes, Ginny’s adaptogenic sparkling beverages, Mooksi’s overnight oat bites, Chestnut Sports Club’s low-alcohol citrus lager, Pabst Blue Ribbon’s Grillo’s Pickles collaboration beer, Garrett Popcorn’s hot honey flavor, Pop Off’s limited-edition prebiotic soda, and Lay’s World Cup-inspired chip flavors.
31:40: Interviews from Taste Radio’s NYC Meetup – Stephen Plattman of accounting and advisory firm Anchin emphasizes the importance of establishing strong financial foundations early. Lucinda Capital founder and early-stage investor Mayur Aras encourages founders to prioritize strong regional traction and operational discipline over rapid expansion and also shares insights on how to move investors from “maybe” to “yes.” He also noted growing excitement around innovation in overlooked legacy categories rather than short-lived trend-driven products. NextFoods CMO Lella Rafferty explains how recovery brand Cheribundi has shifted from a commodity juice positioning toward science-backed recovery and sleep solutions, leveraging credibility with athletes while introducing more portable formats like shots and gummies for “everyday athletes.” Wandering Bear Coffee founder Matt Bachmann reflected on the company’s evolution from boxed cold brew into a broader premium coffee platform, explaining how innovation in format and occasion has fueled growth while requiring increasingly sophisticated operational planning.
Brands in this episode: Bai, Crooked Pop, Olipop, Poppi, Bloom, Mountain Dew, Beest, Rind Snacks, Parm Crisps, Ginny, Mooski, Chestnut Sports Club, Pabst Blue Ribbon, Grillo’s Pickles, Garrett’s Popcorn, Mike’s Hot Honey, Pop Off, Lay’s, GoodBelly, Cheribundi, Chobani, Habiza, Laurel’s Coffee, Wandering Bear Coffee