When Kevin McCray sold his namesake brand, Kevin’s Natural Foods, to Mars, Inc. for a staggering $800 million, it wasn’t just a milestone – it was the culmination of a business philosophy built on three simple words: humble and hungry. Now, with the launch of Wild Fox Foods, those same principles form the core of his new, better-for-you snack consumer brand. Kevin’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2012 with Chef’s Menu, a meal kit company that laid the foundation for what would later become Kev...
Apr 01, 2025•28 min
Is West Virginia’s groundbreaking move to ban artificial dyes in food the pebble that causes an avalanche? And, is Ben Stiller really leaping into an already crowded pool for BFY soda? Lots to discuss. We also sit down with Dan Grim, the CEO of functional drink manufacturer Lucky To Be Beverage Co. Show notes: 0:45: D2, Not 3. Sign Up, Meet Up. Pitch & Catch. Color Us Intrigued. Dogfight. Pouch Bites, Vodka & Saints. – The NCAA basketball tournaments generate some off-the-wall banter (wa...
Mar 28, 2025•39 min
The latest installment of Elevator Talk features leaders from Herb & Orchid, Drop Needle Drinks, Fast Pickle, Edenesque, Nutrisurg. Watch founders and CEOs introduce their brands and provide a recap of recent news and updates. This week’s special co-host is Rebecca Bernard, the founder of Empire City Brand Builders, who shared her thoughts, questions and feedback with the participants. Founders and CEOs of early stage food or beverage brands are invited to join future shows to pitch their pr...
Mar 27, 2025•1 hr 1 min
Gail Becker has a bold message for CPG entrepreneurs: if your brand isn’t built to truly improve the lives of your consumers, “you should stay the hell out.” As the founder of the trailblazing frozen food brand Caulipower, Gail has changed the way that millions of Americans think about comfort food. Caulipower offers gluten-free, better-for-you versions of traditional favorites, including its flagship cauliflower-based pizza crust, as well as chicken tenders, frozen pizzas, and pizza bites. With...
Mar 25, 2025•41 min
Poppi just popped – big time. But was PepsiCo’s $1.65 billion acquisition driven by TikTok virality, perfect timing, or industry heavyweights like Rohan Oza? (Sorry, prebiotics, this one's not about you.) And now that the first major deal has landed, is the BFY soda space about to see a gold rush – or a bubble burst? The hosts break it all down. Plus, we revisit standout interviews from our Miami meetup with Koia’s Chris Hunter, Verlivest’s Ken Sadowsky, and Matriarch Wealth Management’s Stephen...
Mar 21, 2025•1 hr 9 min
Wild is woven into the fabric of her brand’s identity. But Rosa Li’s methodical, strategic approach to building a successful and respected CPG company stands in contrast to the untamed energy her products represent. Rosa is the founder and CEO of Wildwonder, a sparkling beverage brand that is infused with prebiotics and probiotics. Launched in 2020, the AAPI-founded company describes itself as “rooted in culture,” offering USDA organic drinks that taste as fresh and vibrant as a California produ...
Mar 18, 2025•35 min
Elevator Talk, BevNET's bi-monthly video series that highlights early-stage and disruptive food and beverage brands, is now part of Taste Radio! Beginning today, you can listen to the audio from every new episode via the Taste Radio feed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all of your favorite listening platforms. This edition of Elevator Talk features leaders from Big Mama’s Backyard Garden, Cob, Tierra Negra, La Gringuita, and Muria Foods. Our special co-host is Amrit Richmond, the founder of Indie...
Mar 17, 2025•1 hr 4 min
We're launching something BIG at BevNET, NOSH, and Brewbound, and you're invited to be the first to see it! Introducing Nombase — a new digital community and directory built for the CPG world. Nombase connects CPG professionals with trusted industry partners, AI-powered insights, timely conversations, company announcements, and job opportunities — all in one place. Join us for an exclusive overview, product demo, and info on how to take advantage of what Nombase has to offer you.
Mar 16, 2025•12 min
We're not exactly at odds, but there's definitely some healthy debate among the hosts around how to assess Expo West 2025. And it turns out, we're not alone. The biggest question on everyone's mind: how do we truly evaluate innovation, and what does it mean for the future of the food and beverage industry in the near term? Show notes: 0:25: Burner Apartment. ET x TR. Nom, Nom. Incremental Optimism. Snax & Bevs. Horny Goat Hummus. – Ray is in secret agent mode and shares a big announcement ab...
Mar 14, 2025•31 min
Dr. Pat Heist may not be the first rock musician to successfully launch and sell a spirit brand (shoutout to Sammy Hagar), but he could very well be the first to do so with a Ph.D. in plant pathology. Known as "Dr. Pat" to many, he is the co-founder of Wilderness Trail, a craft whiskey distillery based in Danville, Kentucky, renowned for blending modern scientific innovation with traditional distilling techniques. In 2012, alongside his long-time business partner Shane Baker, Dr. Pat launched Wi...
Mar 11, 2025•31 min
Expo West 2025… OK, it wasn’t a classic. It would be hard to characterize anything we saw as "groundbreaking." Perhaps, however, incremental improvements, global flavors and innovative collaborations are enough to keep the train rolling. For now, anyway. We also sit down with Carolyn Hamlet, the visionary founder and CEO of OKU, a trailblazing brand of energy gummies. Show notes: 0:25: Nuts & Dates. Noodles & Naan. Collabs & Donuts. Indonesian Sodas & Korean Seaweed. – Yes, Ray a...
Mar 09, 2025•38 min
Twenty-five years ago, Mac Villarreal was navigating the high seas at the Olympic Games in Sydney. If all goes as planned, he'll soon be charting a new course, sailing into the sunset as a highly successful entrepreneur. Mac is the founder and CEO of I Eat My Greens, a refrigerated brand of chef-crafted, plant-based soups made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Launched in 2020, I Eat My Greens is known for its sophisticated yet approachable recipes, including Carrot Sweet Potato and Turme...
Mar 04, 2025•20 min
Aura Bora is acquired. Hiyo adds $19 million and a strategic partner. And Celsius drops $1.8 billion on Alani Nu. Oh, and Spindrift is back in the soda biz. Yeah, it’s been a busy week, and the hosts have lots to say. We also sit down with Alex Duong, the founder & CEO of Fair & Square and Lena Zhuravsky, the founder of passionfruit centric-beverage brand Passion Joy. Show notes: 0:25: Party Gras. Skeptics & Price Points. Hiyo, Mike! Energy Cannibals. Full Circle. More Pizza? Who Eat...
Feb 28, 2025•56 min
Sammy Hagar’s passion for tequila runs deep, but his commitment to earning and preserving the trust of his fans runs even deeper. Santo Spirits is where those two worlds meet. The iconic rock star, best known for his time as the frontman of Van Halen, made his mark on stage. But it’s in the world of consumer packaged goods where he truly built his fortune. Sammy is the mastermind behind Cabo Wabo Tequila, a trailblazer in the celebrity spirit revolution that’s now a staple in the beverage alcoho...
Feb 25, 2025•33 min
How many brands can you name that secured national distribution at Whole Foods just weeks after launching? In this episode, we dive into one such success story: Yaza, a rapidly emerging brand of Lebanese-style labneh. We also test yet another "pizza wine" and chat about Hailee Steinfeld's angelic take on RTD cocktails. Show notes: 0:25: Call It A Tease. See Y’all Soon. Oh, Yes We Did. Marvelous Miami. We’ve Had Our Fill. First Look. – Melissa Traverse is buckled in for banter and has a surprise ...
Feb 21, 2025•54 min
In a candid and insightful conversation, Equitea founder and CEO Quentin Vennie and Greg Lowe II, the founder and CEO of coconut water brand 100 Coconuts, dive into the complexities of embracing their Black identity while navigating the business world. As part of the conversation, they discuss the dual reality of finding support and facing systemic barriers, alongside the evolving landscape of DEI initiatives. They also explore the ongoing challenges Black founders face in accessing capital and ...
Feb 20, 2025•43 min
It’s the ultimate question every CPG founder must tackle: How do I make consumers truly care about my brand? The challenge grows even more complex when your brand is built around an ingredient that’s often misunderstood and overlooked. Emily Griffith, founder and CEO of Lil Bucks, a modern snack brand that champions buckwheat as its hero ingredient, knows firsthand the trials and tribulations of creating products that not only require consumer education but also demand a passionate, loyal follow...
Feb 18, 2025•27 min
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. Show notes: 0:25: Chasin’ Breakfast. No Love. Boozin’ Water? A Wunder-ful Option. Hack Vs. Tip...
Feb 14, 2025•33 min
Like the effervescent bubbles in her sparkling wine, Emily Heintz believes that true quality always rises to the top. Emily is the visionary behind Sèchey, a dynamic platform that includes a luxury dealcoholized wine brand, a dry bottle shop in South Carolina, and a thriving DTC business offering a wide range of alcohol analogs. Sèchey also curated Target’s non-alcoholic adult beverage set, bringing elevated options to the mass retailer’s shelves. Sèchey’s strategic direction and impressive mome...
Feb 11, 2025•39 min
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 Southern California. Show notes: 0:25: A Better Name. Han Jones & His Scotch. Press Pass Rescinded. Killer Soda. Spicy Pod & Sauces. – The hosts recall a past edition of BevNET’s New Beverage Showdown, befor...
Feb 07, 2025•41 min
Nona Lim describes the sale of her eponymous brand as “accidental.” The way in which she positioned the company for success and an eventual exit, however, was anything but. Founded in 2014, Nona Lim Foods made a name for itself as a brand of better-for-you, easy-to-prepare Asian meals, including fresh noodles, broths and stir fry kits. Nona, who first joined us for an interview back in 2020 , has long stressed the importance of product-market fit and a deep understanding of business fundamentals...
Feb 04, 2025•32 min
These days, keeping it simple is one way to be different. At a time when brands are packing their products with processed ingredients and novel sweeteners, 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. Show notes: 0:25: Mussel-ed Out. RSVP & See You In S.B. Real Corn Flakes. Live Slice. Miso &a...
Jan 30, 2025•54 min
H&H Bagels is a New York City institution. Jay Rushin wants to make it an American staple. Founded in 1972, H&H had long been admired as the place to get a quintessential New York City bagel. For decades, locals and tourists would line up at H&H’s storefronts to get their hands on the fresh, chewy bagels immortalized on popular television shows “Seinfeld” and “Sex and The City.” But in 2012, after 40 years in business, H&H was on the brink of vanishing. Its original owners, accus...
Jan 28, 2025•27 min
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. Show notes: 0:25: A First! Shifting Cities. Miami Meetup. The Worst Cup. So Many Fancy Brands. What’s Trending? – Ray and John are in WCB, which means Mike is all alone in Newton. Everyone is excited ...
Jan 24, 2025•36 min
When Amanda Thomson launched Noughty Wines, a pioneering brand of dealcoholized wines, in 2019, she was, in essence, flying blind. There was no non–alcoholic wine category to speak of, little in the way of market research and certainly no blueprint on how to build the type of company that she envisioned. But Amanda, a former BBC journalist and broadcaster, did have a gut feeling. There were, she believed, millions of people like her who sought high-quality wines made without alcohol. It turns ou...
Jan 21, 2025•32 min
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 Mission Cocktails, a purpose-driven brand of premium ready-to-serve bottled cocktails. Show notes: 0:25: Las Diego. Big(ish) Food Was Listening. Neighbor’s Bi...
Jan 17, 2025•54 min
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 Monte’s Fine Foods, makers of premium, clean label pasta and sauces. Monte’s launched in 2020 and is an homage to PJ’s family, which has a long history in the restaurant and hospitality industries....
Jan 14, 2025•26 min
Is booze so bad that it should come with a warning label? The U.S. Surgeon General thinks so and has advised Congress to act. What, if any, impact would potential legislation have? The hosts discuss. This episode also features an interview with Julie Cielo, the founder of pioneering non-alcoholic cocktail brand Ferm Fatale, who talks about the successes, missteps and eventual closure of her company. Show notes: 0:25: Marina Mike. Damp Jacqui. Vegas Craven. Aisle Ray. VIPers. Dunkin’ Pits. Bad Bo...
Jan 10, 2025•1 hr 1 min
Bo Jackson, the multi-hyphenate sports icon and one of a handful of athletes to play both professional football and baseball, is tackling perhaps his biggest challenge yet – the beverage industry. Bo is the creator of Bo3.0, a brand of zero-sugar hydration powders formulated with ingredients that are designed to support joint, heart and immunity health. Launched in February 2024, the brand comes in three flavors and is sold direct-to-consumer via the Bo3.0 website and Amazon. In this episode, Bo...
Jan 07, 2025•12 min
What can the past inform us about the future? As we enter a new year, this special edition of the podcast revisits three headlines from 2024 that generated inspired discussion among Taste Radio’s hosts and may hint at things to come for the food and beverage industry. Show notes: 0:29: PepsiCo Buys Siete – We begin with one of the most celebrated deals of the year, PepsiCo’s $1.2 billion acquisition of modern Mexican-American food brand Siete. In this clip, pulled from an episode published on Oc...
Jan 03, 2025•22 min
