A Whisper Away From A Billion: Ken Sadowsky On What’s Next
Taste Radio
What makes a brand worth betting on? Ken Sadowsky, affectionately known as “The Beverage Whisperer,” returns to Taste Radio with a sharp look at where the biggest opportunities — and potential pitfalls — are emerging across the beverage category. A senior advisor at Verlinvest, board director at Vita Coco and Icelandic Glacial, and early-stage investor in several emerging beverage brands, Ken explains why coconut water still has plenty of runway, what founders can learn from playing the long game, and why he believes colostrum could represent the next big functional beverage...
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What Are The Most Fundable Concepts In Food & Beverage?
Taste Radio
Even in a tough fundraising market, investors are still writing checks. The question is: to whom? This week, we break down the latest CPG investment data and examine why protein-packed, dye-free, and ingredient-conscious startups continue to stand out with investors. We also take a closer look at the emerging products generating buzz – including protein candy, mushroom lemonade, snacking croutons, and tinned protein bars – and what they say about the future of food and beverage. Show notes: 0:20: A Timely Story. Which Direction? Head North. Algae Oil Is Hot. Jacked Up. Crunch, Sip, Snack....
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What Betting On Brands Taught Darren Rovell About Building One
Taste Radio
The best founders know that great products don't win on their own. Investor, entrepreneur, and longtime business journalist Darren Rovell joins Taste Radio to share the lessons he's learned backing breakout brands like Athletic Brewing, PopUp Bagels and Biena Snacks, building his own company, Kickstand Cocktails, and evaluating hundreds of startups every year. He explains what separates investable founders from the rest, why adaptability beats stubbornness, and how emerging brands can carve out an advantage – even in the most competitive categories. Show notes: 0:20: Darren Rovell,...
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PepsiCo Is Paying Attention. Are You?
Taste Radio
Consumer expectations are changing fast, and brands of every size are being forced to adapt. In this episode, we discuss what PepsiCo's response to GLP-1s and inflation signals for CPG. We also dive into Vita Coco's acquisition of a super-premium rival, and sample everything from cereal-inspired protein shakes and date-sweetened cola to birch water and caffeinated banana milk. Show notes: 0:20: Chi, Summer. Is Ce Real? Pep Rally. Coco + Copra. Date Drink. The Two a Yous. It’s French. — Ray and Melissa lament how quickly summer is slipping away, but they’re looking ahead to Taste...
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Whole Foods Said Wait. Little Spoon Built A $150M Brand Instead.
Taste Radio
How do you build a $150M CPG brand when your first retail opportunity falls apart? For Little Spoon, the answer was to stop waiting for the shelf and start building a relationship with the customer. After its initial plans to launch fresh baby food with Whole Foods hit a roadblock, co-founder and chief product officer Angela Vranich helped steer the company toward a DTC-first strategy that transformed Little Spoon into the largest direct-to-consumer baby and kids food brand in the U.S. The company has since expanded into more than 100 products, entered retail through an exclusive partnership...
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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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Scaling Special: Why Heathcote’s Suzanne Lyon Refuses To Compromise
Taste Radio
What happens when your biggest growth opportunity threatens the very thing that makes your product special? Heathcote Bakery founder Suzanne Lyon built a devoted following with an ultra-premium chocolate chip cookie made with uncompromising ingredients and a meticulous process. Then came viral demand, endorsements from Oprah and Bobby Flay, and the challenge every founder faces: how do you scale without sacrificing quality? In this episode, Suzanne explains how she's navigating growth, retail expansion and investor interest while keeping craftsmanship at the center of the business. She...
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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...
info_outlineWhat makes a brand worth betting on?
Ken Sadowsky, affectionately known as “The Beverage Whisperer,” returns to Taste Radio with a sharp look at where the biggest opportunities — and potential pitfalls — are emerging across the beverage category.
A senior advisor at Verlinvest, board director at Vita Coco and Icelandic Glacial, and early-stage investor in several emerging beverage brands, Ken explains why coconut water still has plenty of runway, what founders can learn from playing the long game, and why he believes colostrum could represent the next big functional beverage opportunity.
Ken also shares his perspective on the rise of caffeine-free energy, hydration, matcha, protein and functional beverages. He also offers candid takes on celebrity-backed brands, flavor versus function, packaging, category positioning and the question he asks when evaluating any new beverage.
Show notes:
0:20: Ken Sadowsky, Sr. Advisor, Verlinvest – Ken kicks things off by praising his beloved Red Sox before sharing his perspective on why coconut water has quietly become one of beverage’s fastest-growing categories. He explains how strategic decisions by major beverage companies can temporarily shape retailer perceptions of an entire category, and why occasion- and benefit-based shopping may increasingly blur traditional category lines, particularly in smaller-format stores. Ken also discusses several emerging brands in his investment portfolio, including Rite, a caffeine-free energy drink powered by ketones and paraxanthine, and Leisure Hydration, which he sees as a function-first product with a more relaxed approach to hydration. He and Ray also evaluate products from Stillers, Yass, Gimber, Fizzin Protein and Grind. At the heart of Ken’s philosophy is a simple question: Why will a consumer buy the product again? While functional benefits can drive trial, he argues that taste remains critical to repeat purchase in most categories. For founders, he emphasizes the importance of spending time in stores, studying the competitive set and allowing consumers to determine where a product belongs rather than relying too heavily on conventional category definitions. Ken also weighs in on celebrity-backed brands, arguing that celebrity involvement can drive discovery but is far more powerful when the celebrity genuinely invests in and believes in the business. He reflects on the extraordinary velocity of beverages compared with other CPG categories and explains why he often asks if a brand has the potential to sell a billion cans.
Brands in this episode: Vita Coco, Harmless Harvest, Zico, Gatorade, Red Bull, Monster Energy, Celsius, Rite Energy, Parch, Subourbon Life, Ponyboy Slings, MOTH Cocktails, Spikedade, Super Lyte, Yass, Orange Toucan, Leisure Hydration, Spindrift, Coca-Cola, Neau Water, Eatyx, Oshee, Stiller’s, Gimber, Vitaminwater, Pirate’s Booty, AriZona Beverages, Ancient Nutrition, Fair Life, Fizzen Protein, Protein Pop, Grind, Onyx Coffee, Donpon Energy