Beyond the Shelf

 It's not often that we get to follow-up with brands we previously interviewed. However, after watching their business rapidly expand, one of their products qualifying for a ChefsBest Excellence Award, and seeing their recent announcement about going public - we just knew we had to have them back on. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we had the honor of speaking with entrepreneur and Co-CEO of Stryve Biltong, Jaxie Alt. In this exciting follow-up to a previous episode with the Co-Founder of Stryve, Gabe Carimi, Jaxie gave us an update on how the brand has been doing and gives us a few hints as to what's next for them. She also shares what the process has been like as the brand prepares to go public this Spring, as well as the importance of educating consumers about the health-benefits of biltong. 

 Subscription services are one of the most convenient (and fun) ways for shoppers to try new products. With many brands offering a variety of different types of food & beverage products, we can't help but wonder where this business model started and how they have faired during the past year. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the President of the Original Wine of the Month Club and host of the Wine Talks with Paul K. podcast, Paul Kalemkiarian. In this episode, we discussed the history of wine subscription services and how services such as Wine of the Month Club offer customers a unique way to try products that they typically would not buy in-store. 

Dry January and Sober October are two of the biggest months for the beverage industry. Each year, thousands of shoppers utilize these months to cut back on their alcohol intake - which, in turn, has created a need for more versatile and exciting non-alcoholic drinks. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the Founder & CEO of DRY Botanical Bubbly, Sharelle Klaus. She shared with us how her brand is helping to change the way we think about alcohol by creating exciting and fun non-alcoholic drinks. She also gave us some insight into how DRY Botanical Bubbly has shifted focus over the last few years, and how they have managed to stay true to their original mission.

The wine industry was no exception to the disruptive nature of 2020. With in-person tastings cancelled and huge disruptions to the supply chain, many wineries had to be quick to adapt to the changing market. But how did these changes affect the wine industry as a whole, and will these trends continue into 2021 and beyond? This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the Executive Wine Editor at Food & Wine Magazine, Ray Isle. In this episode, Ray shared with us how the pandemic has affected the wine industry, and how wineries are adapting to new consumer behaviors. He also broke down some of the biggest trends in wine and even gave us a few wine recommendations.

 After many years in business, established brands often have to undergo a strategic revamp in order to keep their finger on the pulse of the industry. For many brands, this can be a make-it-or-break-it moment. However, with meaningful innovation and a concise marketing plan, this revamp can bring forth substantial growth for most established brands. This week on Beyond the Shelf we spoke with the CEO of King Juice Company and  Calypso Lemonade, David Klavsons.In this episode, David shared with us why it is so difficult to make zero-sugar lemonade that still tastes good, and how Calypso Lemonade has positioned itself to fill a void within the market. They also shared with us how packaging and branding have helped them see huge growth in business in the past year. 

Considering that coffee is often considered a staple pantry item for many Americans, how much do we actually know about where it comes from? This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the CEO and Co-Founder of Progeny Coffee, Maria Palacio. In this enlightening and educational episode, Maria shared with us how the traditional supply-chain often times does not benefit or support coffee farmers. They shared with us how Progeny is trying to fix these unstainable practices through direct partnerships with Colombian farmers. Maria also explained what a coffee score is, and how it affects the quality of coffee beans but also what that means for individual farmers. 

 Many new natural food brands often struggle to find their footing in this ever-expanding market.  With trends that are in constant flux, it can be quite difficult for new brands to find a niche within the natural foods market that can offer long-term sustainability. This week on Beyond the Shelf we spoke with Jeff Grogg, who is the Managing Director at JPG Resources. In this episode, we discussed the recent history of the natural foods industry, as well as common pitfalls new brands often fall into. Jeff also shared with us why microtrends (such as trendy ingredient-based products) have a short shelf life, and what sort of macrotrends brands should focus on when creating new products. 

Last year, it seemed that 2020 would be a huge year for the food & beverage industry. And in some ways it was. But, not for the reasons we thought. After 9 long months of adapting and growing as an industry, let us look into 2021 and consider how the industry will continue to change as we settle into a new normal. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke to the Vice President of Global Culinary & Innovation at ADM, John Stephanian. He walked us through ADM's recent report on the top 5 global food trends that will shape 2021. From sustainability to the importance of transparency, we discussed how the events of the past year have shaped 2021 food trends and what is next for the food and beverage industry. 

Functional products were one of the biggest trends in 2020 for the food & beverage industry.  From beverages to snacks, shoppers were gravitating towards products that not only taste great but also offer additional benefits. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke to the duo behind the extremely popular better-for-you soda company Poppi, Allison & Stephen Ellsworth. In this episode, Allison and Stephen told us all about how they created their delicious functional soda, as well as their experience securing a major investment opportunity on the hit ABC television show Shark Tank. They also gave us a sneak-peak into the very bright future of the company, including a huge growth in distribution in 2021. 

 Keeping cooking at home exciting and fun can be a tricky task - especially with everything going on in the world. Meal kits offer customers a unique at-home experience where they can try something new but from the comfort of their own home. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the Founder of Global Grub, Carley Sheehy. Global Grub creates meal kits that contain all the shelf-stable ingredients one would need to make unique international dishes, such as mochi, sushi, and ravioli. In this episode, Carley shared with us her experience with starting Global Grub, as well as how the pandemic has pushed more people to cook at home.