Taste Radio

Protein soda and hard sports drinks are making moves—but is either category built to last? With protein soda betting on big demand for functional fizz and hard sports drinks racking up eye-popping sales, we debate which category has the bigger upside. We also discuss what Constellation Brands' $75 million acquisition of Spikedade signals for beverage alcohol and the news that Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel have joined protein soda brand Proda as co-founders.  This episode also revisits two interviews from Taste Radio's San Diego meetup, featuring Maddie Serviente, a partner at early-stage investor network The Angel Group, and Chuck Casano, founder of fast-growing Pitaya Foods and distribution company HiTouch Libations. Show notes: 33:16: Taking A Trip. Celebrity Muscle. Hard To Watch. Which One Wins? Stick It. Seasoning. –  The hosts highlight the upcoming Taste Radio London meetup at TRIP's Notting Hill headquarters and the rebranding of the Nombase Podcast as the CPG Operator Podcast. They then examine the potential of protein soda, prompted by Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel joining Proda as co-founders, and debate whether consumers will embrace protein in soft drinks. The conversation explores Timberlake's previous involvement with Bai and contrasts celebrity partnerships, from Kobe Bryant's active role at BodyArmor to Tom Holland's involvement with nonalcoholic beer brand Bero. The focus shifts to hard sports drinks, including Constellation Brands' acquisition of Spikedade and Super Lyte's projected first-year sales of four million cases. The hosts weigh the long-term potential of protein soda against hard sports drinks, questioning whether explosive early growth will translate into sustained consumer demand. They also spotlight emerging brands and products, including Suds, a hard soda boasting 10% ABV, oversized cans and playful branding; Waterboy's electrolyte hydration sticks; Dynasty Hydration's blend of electrolytes, vitamins and amino acids; and Freestyle Snacks, which offers olives and pickles in convenient pouches as a savory alternative to traditional snacks. Finally, the hosts sample Culture Pop's sparkling apple flavor, praising its balanced sweetness and seasonal appeal. 29:00: Interviews from Taste Radio's San Diego Meetup – The Angel Group's Maddie Serviente shares what investors look for in emerging brands, from standout products and passionate consumers to realistic valuations and the right strategic partners. Then, Pitaya Foods and HiTouch Libations founder Chuck Casano reflects on the failures, timing and hard-earned lessons that helped shape his entrepreneurial journey. Brands in this episode: TRIP, Mojo, Noot, Everystate, Proda, Koia Protein Pop, Ono, Bai, Hippie Energy, Everystate, BodyArmor, Bero, Athletic Brewing, Spikedade, Pretzelized, From The Ground Up, OWYN, Super Lyte, Surfside, Rally Dog, White Claw, Refreshade, Suds, Jack Daniel's, Coca-Cola, Not Your Father's Root Beer, Waterboy, Dynasty Hydration, Freestyle Snacks, Culture Pop, Poppi, Olipop, Goodles, Mush, Pitaya Foods

Building a $100 million CPG brand without venture capital takes more than a great product — it takes conviction, discipline, and a willingness to play the long game.  In this episode of Taste Radio, Loren Castle, the founder and CEO of better-for-you refrigerated dough brand Sweet Loren's, breaks down how she built a profitable business by challenging category conventions, winning over major retailers, and refusing to compromise on taste.  She shares the pivotal decisions that fueled the brand's growth, why mastering just two SKUs helped pave the way, and how she's positioning Sweet Loren's for its next phase of expansion — without losing sight of what made it successful in the first place. Show notes: 0:20: Loren Castle, Founder & CEO, Sweet Loren's – Loren explains why she included her name in the brand before discussing how Sweet Loren's grew out of her experience surviving Hodgkin's lymphoma at age 22 and her mission to create better-for-you cookies with simple, trustworthy ingredients. After launching in Publix and Kroger in 2016, consumer feedback prompted her to eliminate the top nine allergens from the product line. The allergen-free Chocolate Chunk cookie dough quickly became the brand's top seller, leading Sweet Loren's to transition its entire portfolio by 2018 and establish a strong point of differentiation. Loren discusses how prioritizing major retailers, maintaining healthy margins and staying lean helped the company achieve more than nine years of profitability. She emphasizes the importance of exceptional taste and explores how retail partnerships drive innovation, including Target's exclusive Snickerdoodle cookie dough. She also shares lessons on evaluating trends, focusing on core products and evolving packaging as Sweet Loren's expands into refrigerated puff pastry, oatmeal bar doughs and scone dough. Looking ahead, Loren outlines the brand's growth potential and advises emerging founders to master a few core products, understand their consumers and stay committed to their mission. She also reflects on navigating manufacturing disruptions and ingredient shortages, the value of mentorship, and how building a stronger leadership team helped her overcome burnout and balance business growth with family life. Brands in this episode: Sweet Loren's, Toll House, Pillsbury, Purely Elizabeth

Can Coke become the new… Poppi? The beverage giant is testing prebiotic versions of its stalwart brands, raising questions about the next phase of functional soda — and what it could mean for Olipop. The hosts dig into the launch, consider whether mineral water is finally having its mainstream moment, and examine the rise of dynamic grocery pricing and new laws aimed at putting guardrails around it.  They also discuss Stride Consumer Partners' acquisition of Clio Snacks and spotlight a slate of new products, including Brica's verjus-based tonics, Alec's "Ice Cream For Breakfast" and Fight Club Energy shots. Show notes: 0:20: Prebiotic Push. Mineral Mania. Price Games. Plainy Delicious. Punching Power. –  The hosts preview Taste Radio London on October 21 at TRIP HQ in Notting Hill, highlighting a strong lineup of industry leaders and investors. They also promote the BevNET CPG Media events in Los Angeles this December, emphasizing the networking, dealmaking and practical connections available to founders. The conversation then turns to Coca-Cola's expansion into functional soda with prebiotic versions of Coke Zero Sugar, Sprite Zero Sugar and Fresca. The hosts discuss whether consumers are looking for functional benefits from familiar soda brands, how the popularity of GLP-1 medications and interest in fiber could influence demand and how Coke's move raises questions about what it means for Olipop and the possibility of a future acquisition. The discussion shifts to new launches in the mineral water category and whether it is poised for broader U.S. adoption. Next, the hosts examine the growing use of technology in grocery pricing, focusing on Maryland's new law restricting personalized pricing based on consumer data and New York's legislation targeting surveillance pricing. They also praise the acquisition of Clio Snacks by Stride Consumer Partners before turning to the latest edition of Elevator Talk and  praise Brica's sophisticated alcohol-free drinks, which combine verjus, mineral water, fruit, roots and botanicals. They then sample several other products, including Alec's Ice Cream's new collaboration with Purely Elizabeth and why Ray calls it one of the best new products he's tasted in 2026. Mike spotlight's Perdi's protein-enhanced mug cake mix, made in collaboration with Koia; and Fight Club Energy, a new energy shot featuring lion's mane, guarana and ginseng. Brands in this episode: Coca-Cola, Coke Zero, Sprite Zero, Fresca, Simply Pop, Poppi, Olipop, Topo Chico, Topo Chico Colección, Dasani, Rambler, Ferrarelle, AriZona Beverages, Clio Snacks, Nirvana, On The Brightside, Pini Sparkling Cider, Wook Water, Brica, Alec's Ice Cream, Purely Elizabeth, Perdi's, Koia, Fight Club Energy, Honey Mama's, TRIP, Noot, Everystate, Moju

In the latest episode of Taste Radio's Elevator Talk, leaders from five emerging CPG brands -- Cirrus 9 Candy, Nymbl Ice Cream,  Hol Health Club, Windsong Bliss and Le Lick -- introduce their businesses, share what's changed since launch and offer a look at where they're headed next. Joining regular host Ray Latif, editor and producer of Taste Radio, is Caroline Grace, the founder of Product & Prosper, who brings sharp questions, candid feedback and an investor's perspective to each pitch. Want to put your brand in front of experienced CPG operators and investors? Applications are open for future episodes of Elevator Talk. Participation is free, interviews are conducted remotely, and founders get the chance to pitch their products, share company news and get unfiltered feedback from industry leaders. Apply now to be featured in an upcoming episode.

Grocery store aisles are inundated with claims, benefits and buzzwords. Amara has taken a different approach: start with whole-food ingredients, use proprietary food technology to make them snackable, and let consumer needs drive what comes next.  Launched in 2017, the organic kids' food brand is best known for its superfood smoothie melts and also markets fruit bites, breakfast oat melts and baby food. The products are distributed across the U.S. at Target, Whole Foods, Walmart, Costco, Sam's Club, Sprouts and Publix. In this conversation, founder and CEO Jess Sturzenegger explains how Amara evolved from DTC into a national retail brand, why disciplined innovation matters more than launching a constant stream of new products, and how she's used everything from one-on-one customer calls to formal consumer testing to shape the business.  She also gets candid about retail readiness, operational scaling, sourcing, fundraising, protecting founder control and adapting her own role as the company grows. Most importantly, Jess shares why listening to consumers—and then actually acting on what they tell you—has been central to Amara's growth. Show notes: 0:20: Jess Sturzenegger, Founder & CEO, Amara – Jess Sturzenegger discusses how her personal interest in food quality and preservation technology led her to launch a brand focused on making whole fruits and vegetables more accessible in convenient snack formats. She explains how Amara evolved from baby food into toddler and kids' snacks, why educating parents about its products required translating nutritional benefits into practical everyday advantages, and how consumer feedback has guided its innovation strategy. Jess shares how the company leveraged D2C traction and customer reviews to secure its first natural and specialty retail placements before expanding into Target, Walmart and Costco. She also details the operational changes required to support that growth, the importance of building experienced teams, maintaining strict ingredient and quality standards, and developing close supplier relationships to manage costs. The conversation also explores what attracted investors to Amara, how fundraising priorities change as a company matures, protecting founder equity and control, and the importance of adapting as a CEO. Jess closes with a look at Amara's focus on serving children ages zero to seven, developing products around specific eating occasions, and building a brand that reaches more households. Brands in this episode: Amara