Taste Radio

This week, we sat down with the co-founders of Vail-based private equity firm Manna Tree Partners and the founders of three portfolio companies, Verde Farms, Health-Ade and Gotham Greens, to explore the relationship between investor and entrepreneur. The discussions revealed how their personal friendship established a baseline for trust and helped create positive outcomes for all involved.

This week, we explored the ideation, business plans and growth strategies of three innovative and on-trend brands in conversations with Susan Buckwalter, the co-founder and CEO of ginger-powered wellness brand Recoup; Dr. Juan Salinas, the founder and CEO of P-nuff Crunch, a brand of nutritious baked peanut puffs; and Michelle Razavi and Nikki Elliott, the co-founders of functional, decadent snack brand ELAVI.

BetterBrand founder/CEO Aimee Yang spoke about how she analyzed the opportunity to create a better-for-you bagel, why raising her first $1 million was both remarkable and lamentable, the fortuitous way she met several investors, what she wanted to convey in branding and package design and why she embraces a “software mindset” when it comes to iteration.

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 founder and CEO, respectively, of R.E.D.D. Bar, who discussed the reasons for and execution of a rebrand and reformulation. Later, we sat down with Arnold Coombs of top-selling organic maple syrup brand Coombs Family Farms, who discussed how the company has built consumer loyalty through education about the product’s health benefits along with the development of an innovative package.

This week, members of the BevNET and NOSH editorial teams joined us for a discussion of some of the major news stories, trends and innovation from 2019. Among the topics of conversation were developments in the burgeoning cannabis CPG segment, explosive growth in the oat milk and sparkling water categories and the evolution of frozen food and plant-based meats.

Elizabeth Stein, founder and CEO of Purely Elizabeth, discussed how the brand’s focus on creating delicious, nutrient-dense foods has paid dividends since its launch in 2009. She also spoke about how the company has strategized around opportunities and challenges within a rapidly growing market for natural foods.

In Episode 1 of Taste Radio Insider, a new podcast focused on news, trends and innovation in business of food and beverage, we’re joined by Eugene Kang, the co-founder and CEO of fast-growing meat snack brand Country Archer. In our interview, Kang explained how perseverance and thinking outside-the-box have paid huge dividends for the brand. We also discussed trends and innovation in notable beverage categories, including RTD coffee and alt-dairy, as seen at Natural Products Expo East 2018.

Marci Zaroff, who over the past three decades has helped change the way we dress, eat and live, joins the podcast this week. Hear why she’s urging companies to incorporate ethical sourcing and sustainability into their brand strategies, discussed the “perpetual yo-yo” of entrepreneurship, and shared her take on the budding business of cannabis.

This week we sit down with Ben Branson, the creator of Seedlip, a first-of-its-kind non-alcoholic spirit that’s disrupted an industry by changing the way consumers think about cocktails; the hosts convene for a debrief on the recently held Natural Products Expo East 2018 and discuss exhibitor reaction to the show and notable food trends on display at the annual event.

PieShell founder/CEO Cheryl Clements shares the secrets to a successful crowdfunding campaign and why this method of fundraising has risen in popularity among food brands. Chef and food truck pioneer Roy Choi dishes on the cultural value of food.