Taste Radio
Business & Economics Podcasts
The top podcasts for food and beverage professionals, BevNET’s Taste Radio and Taste Radio Insider feature interviews with the leaders and rising stars of our fast-evolving industry. The shows also include discussion on emerging trends, innovation and news of the week from our regular cadre of hosts from the BevNET and NOSH teams. Tell us what you think at ask@tasteradio.com. You can also email us if you are interested in Taste Radio sponsorship opportunities. If you like Taste Radio, share it with a colleague, will ya? See you every Tuesday and Friday!
Location:
Watertown, MA
Description:
The top podcasts for food and beverage professionals, BevNET’s Taste Radio and Taste Radio Insider feature interviews with the leaders and rising stars of our fast-evolving industry. The shows also include discussion on emerging trends, innovation and news of the week from our regular cadre of hosts from the BevNET and NOSH teams. Tell us what you think at ask@tasteradio.com. You can also email us if you are interested in Taste Radio sponsorship opportunities. If you like Taste Radio, share it with a colleague, will ya? See you every Tuesday and Friday!
Twitter:
@BevNET
Language:
English
Contact:
6172318829
Website:
http://www.bevnet.com/
Email:
jpratt@bevnet.com
Episodes
Insider Ep. 75: When Building A Brand Means Creating A New Category
3/6/2020
In this episode, we’re joined by William Siff, founder and CEO of Goldthread, an innovative brand of plant-based tonics formulated with herbs, spices and adaptogens. A clinical herbalist, ethnobotanist and licensed acupuncturist, Siff launched the company in 2016 as an extension of his apothecary and herb farm in Western Massachusetts. A pioneer in the emerging category of adaptogenic beverages, Goldthread’s products are designed to “restore, refresh and invigorate our mind, body and soul.”...
Duration:00:35:02
Ep. 203: The Reason This Indulgent Brand Gets ‘Richer’ Every Year
3/3/2020
Twelve years ago, Ben Van Leeuwen launched his small-batch ice cream brand in the midst of a recession. An economic downturn is perhaps not the ideal time to start a company, yet the circumstances helped establish one of the core elements of his business strategy: a thorough examination of every cost. “Dig into every single expense, and ask yourself: ‘Is this really serving our customer?’ Van Leeuwen said in an interview included in this episode. “That’s the most important thing. If it’s not...
Duration:00:43:10
Insider Ep. 74: The Most Valuable Asset Entrepreneurs Don't Know They Have
2/28/2020
This week, we’re joined by Tommy Kelly and Salim Najjar, the co-founders of Sound Brands, a fast-growing company that markets carbonated, unsweetened iced teas and tea-infused sparkling waters made with herbal and botanical ingredients. Launched in 2015, Sound has been at the forefront of an emerging market for sparkling teas. Hailed by Bon Appetit magazine as “The New LaCroix,” Sound products are primarily distributed in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic and also available at several chain and...
Duration:00:54:59
Ep. 202: The Difference Between Good and Great Brands Often Comes Down To This
2/25/2020
When Marco Canora opened the first Brodo location, a takeout window housed within his acclaimed New York City restaurant Hearth, he believed he was at the forefront of a new category of sippable bone broths. He was on to something: the launch of Brodo sparked broad interest in bone broth, positioned to consumers as a comforting drink and a convenient source of nutrition. In the following months, new bone broth cafes and packaged brands began appearing across the U.S. Yet while emerging...
Duration:00:45:55
Insider Ep. 73: Could The Secret To Retail Success Be This Simple?
2/21/2020
The brand may be called Belgian Boys, but a self-described “Chief Belgian Girl” conceived its thoughtful business strategy. Anouck Gotlib is the CEO of Belgian Boys, which markets a range of authentic European breakfast foods and sweet snacks, including liege wafels, crepes, pancakes and stroopwafels. Launched in 2014, the brand is represented in a variety of retail channels and chains, including Target, CVS, Whole Foods and Costco. Gotlib joined Belgian Boys as its head of marketing in 2014...
Duration:00:41:05
Ep. 201: The Heroes Behind Gotham Greens’ Transformative Mission
2/18/2020
Gotham Greens co-founder and CEO Viraj Puri recognizes that the company’s proprietary farming technology is critical to its ability to operate a network of greenhouses with a combined 600,000 sq. ft of growing space. However, in an interview included in this episode, he explained that Gotham Greens’ workforce holds the key to its mission of “transforming how and where fresh produce is grown.” “Technology is an incredibly important asset, but our people are a larger asset,” Puri said in an...
Duration:00:43:26
Insider Ep. 72: What Sparked A ‘REDD’ Revolution? Plus, How To Stand Out With A Sweet Story.
2/14/2020
This week’s episode focuses on how two food companies are evolving to meet the needs of modern consumers. In our first interview, we spoke with Alden Blease and Emma Frelinghuysen, the co-founder and CEO, respectively, of REDD Bar. Founded in 2014, REDD is a brand of plant-based protein bars infused with vegan prebiotics, probiotics and adaptogens. Although REDD cultivated a loyal following and distribution at several major retail chains, last year the company introduced a significant...
Duration:00:58:31
Ep. 200: How Do You Build The Next Great Global Brand? ‘Get The Small Things Incredibly Right.’
2/11/2020
Sam Dennigan’s roots in the food industry run deep. Born in Dublin to a family-owned wholesaler of fresh fruit and vegetables, Dennigan grew up surrounded by nutritious food and worked in nearly every capacity of the business. His experience served as the basis for the launch of his own company, the aptly named Strong Roots. Launched in Ireland in 2015, Strong Roots has since become one of the U.K.'s fastest-growing food brands, marketing a range of uniquely designed plant-based frozen...
Duration:00:51:03
Insider Ep. 71: Why Profitability Means Saying ‘No’ More Often
2/7/2020
Nona Lim is forecasting 2020 to be the first profitable year for her namesake brand. As she explained in an interview in this episode, it took a lot of saying “no” to get to this point. The Nona Lim brand, launched in 2014 as a spin-off of Lim’s ahead-of-its time meal kit company, markets a variety of better-for-you and convenient Asian-inspired foods, including broths, sippable soups and noodle bowls. The products are sold nationally at Whole Foods and at select Walmart locations, along...
Duration:00:44:19
Ep. 199: Innovate, Survive, Adapt, Win. How Eboost Is Playing The Long Game.
2/4/2020
Twelve years since launching Eboost, a brand of natural energy powders and ready-to-drink beverages, founder and CEO Josh Taekman reflected on his entrepreneurial journey with a measure of regret. In an interview included in this episode, he admitted that he’s made some big mistakes -- including a few near-fatal ones for the brand. He acknowledged that Eboost has been chronically underfunded and that he missed the boat on key hires during critical moments in its development. That’s not to...
Duration:00:42:29
Insider Ep. 70: Secret ‘Sauce’: How TRUFF Engineered A Brand For Social Media
1/31/2020
This week, we’re joined by Nick Guillen and Nick Ajluni, the founders of TRUFF, a fast-growing brand of upscale, truffle-infused hot sauces that are promoted as “the pinnacle of heat experience.” Founded in December 2017, TRUFF quickly became known for its sleek packaging and decadent flavors, eventually becoming one of the top-selling hot sauce brands on Amazon and a favorite among chefs and celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey, who included TRUFF on her coveted “List of Favorite Things” in...
Duration:00:40:52
Ep. 198: Trying To Change The World? Miyoko’s Founder Explains Why You Need To Embrace Transparency.
1/28/2020
Miyoko Schinner literally wears her passion for veganism on her sleeve. A few moments prior to our interview with Schinner, the founder of plant-based cheese and butter company Miyoko’s Creamery, she revealed a large tattoo just below her right shoulder. Printed in block letters were the words “Phenomenally Vegan,” a credo that defines Schinner and her company, which was built on “the principle of compassion for animals and eliminating them from food production.” But she wasn’t always so...
Duration:00:35:28
Insider Ep. 69: This Entrepreneur Was Treading Water… Until He Was Saved By A ‘Shark’
1/24/2020
John Sorial admits that his company should have gone out of business -- several times. Sorial is the founder of TaDah Foods, a maker of plant-based, Mediterranean-inspired foods, including frozen falafel wraps and bite-size falafel poppers. Launched in 2011, TaDah was on an upward trajectory during its first five years, picking up distribution at retailers across the U.S. and generating annual sales of $2.3 million at its peak. In 2016, however, TaDah’s co-packer became financially insolvent...
Duration:00:38:51
Ep. 197: The ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ Strategy That Guides This Protein Powerhouse
1/21/2020
There’s a phrase that comes up several times in our interview with Andrew Abraham, founder/CEO of protein-centric brand Orgain: cautiously optimistic. A medical doctor turned entrepreneur, Abraham was inspired to launch Orgain in 2009 while recovering from cancer treatment and being frustrated with the lack of options for healthy, drinkable nutrition. Introduced as the first organic protein beverages, a first-to-market brand of organic protein beverages, Orgain has since grown into a...
Duration:00:33:52
Insider Ep. 68: How This Super Bowl Winner Is Tackling Disruption In The Drinks Space
1/17/2020
In this week’s episode, we’re joined by former NFL star Matt Light and Bill Dessel, the co-founders of sessionable spirit brand Keel Vodka. At 23.8% alcohol by volume and 58 calories per serving, Keel promotes itself as “the world's first premium light spirit.” Prior to co-founding Keel, Light was key member of the New England Patriots’ offensive line in three of the team’s Super Bowl wins. Although he faced ruthless competition as a professional football player, Light explained in our...
Duration:00:47:30
Ep. 196: Caulipower’s Gail Becker Built A $100M Brand In Just Three Years. Here’s How She Did It.
1/14/2020
It’s remarkable to think that Caulipower made its market debut just three years ago. Since its launch in January 2017, the vegetable-forward brand, best known for its gluten-free, cauliflower crust pizzas, has developed into one of the fastest-growing food companies in recent memory. Caulipower, which also markets cauliflower-based tortillas and cauliflower-crusted chicken tenders, generated $45 million in revenue in 2018 and an estimated $100 million last year. Despite having no experience...
Duration:00:35:34
Insider Ep. 67: Your Side Hustle Could Be Worth Millions. And It Needs A Strategy.
1/10/2020
In this episode, we’re joined by Matt Weiss, the founder/CEO of RIND Snacks, who discussed his approach to building the skin-on dried fruit brand while maintaining his full-time job. An investment analyst by profession, Weiss launched RIND in 2018. In our interview, he explained that, while he saw an opportunity to disrupt the dried fruit category with a premium brand, he was hesitant to quit his well-paying career and initially treated RIND as a “side hustle.” He noted, however, that...
Duration:00:40:45
Ep. 195: How ‘Customer First’ Fuels One Of L.A.’s Hottest Brands
1/7/2020
Seven years ago, Josh Zad opened Alfred Coffee, a stylish cafe nestled among the luxury boutiques in the Melrose Place neighborhood of West Hollywood. Conceived with the intention of creating a comfortable space and “Instagrammable” moments for its customers, the store quickly became a popular destination among social and celebrity influencers. Alfred has since established itself as a prime example of how to marry brick-and-mortar retail with a memorable digital presence, having grown to 16...
Duration:00:44:09
Insider Ep. 66: Next Level Advice On Investment, Goals, Profitability & More
1/3/2020
This special edition of Taste Radio Insider highlights actionable insights and advice from interviews with six founders, creators and investors who joined us on the show during the second half of 2019. Our guests include Zico founder and Powerplant Ventures co-founder Mark Rampolla; Zoe Feldman, the director of the Chobani Incubator; Rick’s Picks founder and CEO Rick Field; Mike Cessario, the founder and CEO of Liquid Death; Harbinger Ventures founder Megan Bent and Chris Kirby, the founder...
Duration:00:42:45
Ep. 194: Great Relationships Create Great Businesses. These Six Leaders Explain Why.
12/31/2019
In this highlight episode culled from interviews with six of the leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs who joined us on the podcast during the second half of 2019, we examine the role that relationships play in the development of great businesses. Our guests include “The Beverage Whisperer” Ken Sadowsky, Whole30 founder and CEO Melissa Hartwig Urban, Grillo’s Pickles founder and CEO Travis Grillo, Veggie Grill co-founder T.K. Pillan, Dogfish Head Brewery founder Sam Calagione and Bev founder...
Duration:00:55:29