ContenderCast with Justin Honaman

What do you do when you want your Bloody Mary but can't carry along all of the ingredients to mix the drink? You grab a MaryCan! Premium canned cocktails – cocktails on the go – are a fast-growing category and the team at Bar2Table is working hard to introduce your favorite cocktails, with great taste, the highest quality and in great packaging. Charlton Gronlund joins Justin for a "Part 2" to discuss this fast-growing alco-bev brand!

Razer Inc. is an American multinational corporation and technology company that makes, develops and sells consumer electronics, financial services, and gaming hardware. The brand was founded in 1998, then re-founded in 2005 by Min-Liang Tan and Robert "RazerGuy" Krakoff, although the business originated in 1999 in the US. Bob Ohlweiler, SVP of Global Sales & Marketing, joins Justin to discuss this high-octane brand!

As a mom, Dionne Laslo-Baker wanted to show her kids that real food can be delicious without adding malic acid, artificial colors, or artificial flavors. So she brought her PhD in Medical Science from the lab to the kitchen and created products she would be proud to give her own family. She also wanted to prove that business can be a force for good—helping to create a more colorful world filled with health, inclusivity, and joy. A world where everyone thrives, together. DeeBee's Organics is a Certified B Corporation, their factory uses solar power, and they champion employees' most loved causes through the DreamLauncher program. Dionne joins Justin to discuss this fast-growing brand!

Baijiu (pronounced bye-j'yo) means "white spirits" in Mandarin. It is a diverse drinks category that includes all traditional Chinese grain spirits. Most baijiu is distilled from sorghum, but it can also be made from other crops. The techniques deployed in baijiu production vary greatly by region and style, and different styles of baijiu can be as distinct as whiskey is to tequila. Baijiu is the world's most popular liquor by volume. China's National Statistics Bureau estimates that the country produces about 12.9 billion liters (3.4B gal) of baijiu annually. Put another way, there is more baijiu produced each year than the combined total of vodka and whisky—numbers two and three, respectively. Baijiu and Western spirits, broadly defined, are fundamentally different alcohols, which makes Chinese spirits an exciting new addition to the international spirits world. Co-founder Derek Sandhaus joins Justin to discuss this new exciting, up-and-coming alco-bev brand!

Tropical Smoothie Cafe, also referred to as Tropical Smoothie, is a restaurant franchise in the United States that operates more than 1400 locations nationwide. Tropical Smoothie began as a smoothie shop in 1993 along the panhandle of Florida. Tropical Smoothie Franchise Development Corporation was founded in 1997 in Destin, Florida, and the first franchised store opened in 1998 in Tallahassee, Florida. Tropical Smoothie Cafe is currently headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. CEO Charles Watson joins Justin to discuss restaurant strategy, growth and delivering an exceptional customer experience!

Fresh Press Farms are the makers of homegrown, cold pressed cooking oils. Crafting oil like this means they capture the best of the olive...or peanut, pecan, or sunflower seed because they make those oils, too! CEO Frederic Lebourg joins Justin to discuss this fast-growing brand.

Crisp Power. Your go-to for functional food with just 6g of net carbs and a whopping 28g of plant based protein per pack [1.75oz (50g)]. It's not just a snack; it's a revolution! Gilad Zilberberg joins Justin to discuss this fast-growing, innovative snack brand!

It all started when Diane's sister took a trip to India over 15 years ago, where she learned about the health and taste benefits of sprouted almonds. When you soak almonds in water for a long period of time, they "sprout". The result is easier to digest + more nutrient dense + crunchier almonds! Inspired by these health benefits + the "sprouted-nut-crunch", Diane began sprouting almonds and then dehydrating them, as opposed to roasting them, at home. She would then flavor them with real ingredients. She loved the way they tasted, and even more, the way they made her feel. She shared her sprouted snacks with friends and family members … who were always asking for more! Laurel, her niece and a healthy food lover with plentiful experience in marketing, fell in love with the snacks. Her interest was piqued. After doing some market research and going to Natural Products Expo West, Laurel and Diane realized sprouted snacks were truly unique from snacks already on the market. For the health-conscious consumer, a tasty + crunchy sprouted nut snack made with all real ingredients, no oil, and no added sugars would be a dream come true. Co-founder and CEO Laurel Orley joins Justin to discuss this fast-growing snack brand!

The LittleOak Company is on a mission to create products that care equally for our little ones and the world they will grow into. They believe that nothing can prepare our children for the world more than the world itself. Nature, after all, is our greatest provider. This is why they fell in love with the natural benefits of fresh goat milk and use it in our range of toddler drinks. Founder Elke Pascoe joins Justin to discuss this growing baby formula brand!

NYC is widely considered one of the most diverse cities in the world, with people, music, and FOOD from all over! After several years of cooking in some of the top restaurants in the city, Founder Alton But noticed that the non-alcoholic beverage pairings could have been more inspiring. NYC has some of the best Asian cuisines outside of Asia, only for the meals to be paired with the same old sodas and soft drinks that every other restaurant in the city carries. Alton and his team made it their mission to change this; they launched Moshi, a beverage brand made with unique Asian ingredients to pair with the Asian cuisine we all know and love. Alton joins Justin to discuss this growing beverage brand!