CPG Week by BevNET & Nosh

In this episode:

On CPG Week, the podcast team talks about Danone’s repeated attempts to acquire kefir brand Lifeway Foods and a pending lawsuit pitting an ice cream brand against its parent company.

The podcast begins with a conversation about Pizza Hut, tomato wine and why Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous has a soft spot for the pizza chain’s salad bar. The team goes on to discuss Danone North America’s offers to acquire kefir brand Lifeway Foods and how it relates to the family battle surrounding the company. Then, the hosts discuss a lawsuit filed by Ben & Jerry’s against its owner, Unilever.

Show Highlights:

0:30 - The group discusses the potential drinkability of Pizza Hut’s Pizza Wine launch and Brad’s love of banana pepper and pineapple-laden pies.

3:30 - Lukas explains the back-and-forth that has taken place in the last two months between Lifeway Foods and its minority shareholder Danone North America, which has offered two bids to acquire the kefir brand.

5:15 - Brad provides some background on the feud between Lifeway’s controlling family, the Smolyanskys.

7:15 - The team discusses why Lifeway Foods thinks Danone’s offers are undervaluing the probiotic dairy company. (Since recording the episode, Lifeway has rejected the second acquisition offer).

9:00 - Monica describes why Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream is suing its parent company Unilever and how it sets up a fraught conversation over business versus mission in relation to the war in Gaza.

About the CPG Week

CPG Week is the podcast that explores the latest happenings in the consumer packaged goods industry. Join our seasoned reporting team as they dish out the week’s stories in quick, easy-to-digest episodes. Catch up on the top headlines of the week, dive into exclusive insights with the BevNET and Nosh teams, and set yourself up to make more informed business decisions. Tune in to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the dynamic world of packaged food and beverage.

New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to [email protected].

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

In this episode:

On CPG Week, the podcast team talks about the impact of Hurricane Helene on North Carolina CPG businesses and a slate of small brands shutting down.

Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and senior reporter Lukas Southard are joined by reporter Adrianne DeLuca this week in a conversation that begins with a look at how businesses are picking up the pieces after hurricane season. Then, the group walks through the most recent CPG business closures before a brief discussion about how inclusive hiring practices can build stronger workforces.

Show Highlights:

0:30 - The team talks about what they are excited for as they prepare for BevNET and Nosh Live in less than a month.

2:00 - It’s been about a month and half since Hurricane Helene devastated the southern Appalachia region. Learn how some CPG companies have tried to restart operations and rebuild their businesses after flooding, lack of utilities and downed trees impacted the local economy.

8:45 - Adrianne explains what happened at plant-based meat company No Evil and vertical farming operation Bowery Farms, which both announced they were closing recently.

10:30 - The closures also come as frozen treat maker Marco has shut down operations after a recall at its co-manufacturing facility created too many challenges to overcome. Monica goes on to compare these shutdowns to a recent report from SciFi Foods former founders called Graceful Exit.

13:00 - On a more positive side, Adrianne discusses her story about inclusive hiring practices implemented by some CPG companies.

About the CPG Week

CPG Week is the podcast that explores the latest happenings in the consumer packaged goods industry. Join our seasoned reporting team as they dish out the week’s stories in quick, easy-to-digest episodes. Catch up on the top headlines of the week, dive into exclusive insights with the BevNET and Nosh teams, and set yourself up to make more informed business decisions. Tune in to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the dynamic world of packaged food and beverage.

New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to [email protected].

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

In this episode:

On CPG Week, the podcast team talks about Celsius’ aspirations to go vertical and a variety of smaller acquisitions across food that nod to trends in M&A markets.

The group starts by discussing Celsius’ acquisition of the brand’s manufacturing partner Big Beverage’s production facility. Then, the group goes on to dive into acquisitions across various food categories, from protein bars to pizza dough. They discuss why these deals represent a growing trend of scaling through consolidation.

Show Highlights:

0:30 - The team discussed beverage samples from House of Cha, Bear n’ Beaver and Magic Cactus.

4:30 - How do energy brands compete in an increasingly crowded category? Senior reporter Brad Avery explains why Celsius’ answer is vertical integration with the acquisition of Big Beverage’s North Carolina manufacturing facility.

7:30 - In the past week, senior reporter Lukas Southard wrote about two acquisition deals: FITCRUNCH was added to 1440 Foods’ portfolio and Pipcorn and Spudsy came together in a new entity called UpSnack Brands. 

11:15 - Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and Brad go over two other deals involving Del Real Foods and DeIorio Foods, respectively.

13:00 - The group discusses why these various deals show a trend in M&A markets. Monica shares how that relates to insight given in a recent CoBank report.

About the CPG Week

CPG Week is the podcast that explores the latest happenings in the consumer packaged goods industry. Join our seasoned reporting team as they dish out the week’s stories in quick, easy-to-digest episodes. Catch up on the top headlines of the week, dive into exclusive insights with the BevNET and Nosh teams, and set yourself up to make more informed business decisions. Tune in to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the dynamic world of packaged food and beverage.

New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to [email protected].

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

In this episode:

On CPG Week, the podcast team talks about Keurig Dr Pepper’s (KDP) acquisition of GHOST Energy, Olipop’s sports sponsorship ambitions and a look at Whole Foods Market’s Trend Forecast.

After briefly discussing Thanksgiving side dishes, the CPG Week team unpacks KDP’s nearly $1 billion deal to acquire GHOST. Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and senior reporters Brad Avery and Lukas Southard discuss how this deal could change the energy drink category and distribution partnerships. The team moves on to Olipop’s growing portfolio of sports team partnerships and how it is becoming a formula for disrupting a category. Monica wraps up the show with a brief explanation of the Whole Foods 2025 trends list.

Show Highlights:

0:30 - Is lighting a candle scented as green bean casserole the best way to usher in the holiday season? The team debates Thanksgiving dishes and whether they should be part of Campbell’s new holiday-themed candle campaign.

1:45 - Brad explains why the news of KDP acquiring GHOST was somewhat surprising and how this fits into the beverage maker’s aim to build a suite of energy drinks and supplements.

4:45 - What does this deal mean for distribution in the energy category and the current appetite for bigger M&A deals? 

7:30 - Prebiotic soda brand Olipop has lined up a series of sports partnerships with professional teams and in arenas and stadiums. The group discusses why these deals are becoming a common avenue for emerging brands to gain awareness while also testing the waters by going head-to-head with Big Soda strategics.

14:00 - What trends will shape 2025? Monica runs through Whole Foods Market’s list of predictions.

About the CPG Week

CPG Week is the podcast that explores the latest happenings in the consumer packaged goods industry. Join our seasoned reporting team as they dish out the week’s stories in quick, easy-to-digest episodes. Catch up on the top headlines of the week, dive into exclusive insights with the BevNET and Nosh teams, and set yourself up to make more informed business decisions. Tune in to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the dynamic world of packaged food and beverage.

New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to [email protected].

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

In this episode:

On CPG Week, the podcast team talks about a bubbling controversy in boba, Jack Owoc’s return to energy and an update from this year’s National Association of Convenience Stores’ (NACS) yearly conference.

This week, senior reporters Brad Avery and Lukas Southard were joined by BevNET managing editor Martín Caballero. The group starts the podcast talking about how actor Simu Liu sparked a viral conversation about cultural appropriation centered on bubble tea. The podcasters go on to chat about Jack Owoc’s new caffeinated beverage Ai Energy. Marty goes on to discuss some of the trends he was tracking at this year’s NACS show in Las Vegas.

Show Highlights:

0:30 - Boba takes center stage in a conversation about appropriation versus appreciation. Lukas explains why an episode of Canada’s “Dragon’s Den” television show with Simu Liu sparked the debate. Brad and Marty weigh in on why this is not the first nor the last time the team will discuss the issue. 

8:30 - Brad details former Bang Energy founder Jack Owoc’s new AI-powered energy beverage.

11:00 - How is coffee blending into the energy category? Marty shares what he saw in this trend at this year’s NACS show and why it is telling of the ceiling in RTD coffee.

16:30 - Along with energy drinks, Marty also saw a lot happening in carbonated soft drinks at the show. He explains why better-for-you soda is driving innovation in the category.

About the CPG Week

CPG Week is the podcast that explores the latest happenings in the consumer packaged goods industry. Join our seasoned reporting team as they dish out the week’s stories in quick, easy-to-digest episodes. Catch up on the top headlines of the week, dive into exclusive insights with the BevNET and Nosh teams, and set yourself up to make more informed business decisions. Tune in to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the dynamic world of packaged food and beverage.

New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to [email protected].

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

In this episode:

On CPG Week, the podcast team talks about how retaliatory tariffs are plaguing the export market for American craft distillers.

Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and senior reporters Lukas Southard and Brad Avery are joined by special guest BevNET spirits editor Ferron Salniker to discuss a recent feature she wrote about how craft distillers have been pulled into a long simmering trade war. The group discusses the history of export taxes on American-made products, the impending reinstatement of various tariffs that impact liquor makers and what the potential impact could be on smaller producers.

Show Highlights:

0:30 - What does an espresso turkey-tini taste like? The group discussed their thoughts on the Thanksgiving-themed marketing campaign from Reynolds Wrap.

2:00 - As the presidential election comes to a head, both campaigns are talking about tariffs. Ferron explains why this conversation is especially important for the country’s craft distilling industry.

4:45 - Ferron explains how craft distillers are preparing for the tariffs to go back into effect in March 2025 and how it relates to a series of retaliatory tariffs that have rocked global exports of spirits among many other products unrelated to beverage.

10:15 - How does this relate to an overstock of American whiskey and the increased demand that has developed over the last decade? Ferron helps the team understand the complicated relationship between craft distillers and the economics of operating in the export market.

About the CPG Week

CPG Week is the podcast that explores the latest happenings in the consumer packaged goods industry. Join our seasoned reporting team as they dish out the week’s stories in quick, easy-to-digest episodes. Catch up on the top headlines of the week, dive into exclusive insights with the BevNET and Nosh teams, and set yourself up to make more informed business decisions. Tune in to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the dynamic world of packaged food and beverage.

New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to [email protected].

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

In this episode:

On CPG Week, the podcast team talks about the PepsiCo acquisition of Siete Foods, uncertainty about the future of a low-carbohydrate baking company and some high-profile beverage industry leadership changes.

The podcast hosts jump into the biggest deal of the last couple of weeks: Pepsi announcing its intent to acquire Mexican American, grain-free food maker Siete. After discussing how Siete’s new potential owners might grow and change the brand, the CPG Week team tries to unravel rumors circulating around better-for-you baking company BetterBrand. Finishing up the podcast, senior reporter Brad Avery goes through the latest leadership changes at enhanced water brand Lemon Perfect and canned water maker Liquid Death.

Show Highlights:

0:30 - The group discusses one of the stranger Halloween-themed marketing stunts: an Airheads candy scented foot spray.

2:00 - Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous goes through what we know so far about the proposed acquisition of Siete Foods by snack and beverage strategic PepsiCo. The team walks through what this could mean for the brand and what it has come to represent to consumers.

7:30 - Senior reporter Lukas Southard explains the rumors surrounding BetterBrand and the conflicting signals Nosh has been hearing about its delays in deliveries.

12:20 - Turning to beverages, Brad walks the team through some leadership moves at insurgent drink makers Lemon Perfect and Liquid Death.

About the CPG Week

CPG Week is the podcast that explores the latest happenings in the consumer packaged goods industry. Join our seasoned reporting team as they dish out the week’s stories in quick, easy-to-digest episodes. Catch up on the top headlines of the week, dive into exclusive insights with the BevNET and Nosh teams, and set yourself up to make more informed business decisions. Tune in to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the dynamic world of packaged food and beverage.

New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to [email protected].

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

In this episode:

On CPG Week, the podcast team talks about a number of lawsuits across food and beverage including another chapter in the PB&J wars and a couple deceptive labeling complaints for growing brands.

Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous kicked off the episode highlighting her hometown football team’s star athletes’ various food and beverage brands. The podcast hosts go on to talk about the bubbling battle between J.M. Smucker’s Uncrustables brand and emerging competitor Chubby Snacks. Then, senior reporter Lukas Southard explains why a three-year-old class action lawsuit against Flowers Foods’ Dave’s Killer Bread is back in the news, before the team discusses the latest lawsuit to hit better-for-you soda brand Poppi.

Show Highlights:

0:30 - Starting with the Kelce brothers’ Garage Beer brand and moving onto their “Kelce Mix” cereal in partnership with General Mills, the group talked about athlete-endorsed food and beverage and why electrolytes might not belong in RTD coffee. 

4:00 - The team discusses the most recent lawsuit from J.M. Smucker aimed at Chubby Snacks and why it relates to “healthy” food labeling.

10:00 - Lukas explains what is happening with a multiyear class action lawsuit against Dave’s Killer Bread’s protein claims and why there seems to be more of these types of cases being brought against CPG brands. Hint: There’s one law firm throwing a lot of fuel on the fire.

12:15 - Brad relates this all to soda maker Poppi’s multiple deceptive labeling lawsuits leading to a discussion about how much these various lawsuits relate to the products’ perceived health benefits and how much that is driving sales.

About the CPG Week

CPG Week is the podcast that explores the latest happenings in the consumer packaged goods industry. Join our seasoned reporting team as they dish out the week’s stories in quick, easy-to-digest episodes. Catch up on the top headlines of the week, dive into exclusive insights with the BevNET and Nosh teams, and set yourself up to make more informed business decisions. Tune in to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the dynamic world of packaged food and beverage.

New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to [email protected].

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

In this episode:

On CPG Week, the podcast team talks about Peter Rahal’s newest protein bar release, the PRIME and Feastables kid-focused Lunchly partnership, and how these two products relate to consumers' differentiated value demands from ingredients and nutrition.

Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous kicks off the podcast asking if senior reporters Brad Avery and Lukas Southard would try one of Peter Rahal’s new products: Hormbles Chormbles. Next, the group talks about Rahal’s other new brand, high-protein snack bar David. The team goes through some of the debate surrounding David’s ingredient list and how Rahal is taking a different approach to snack bars from his previous brand RXBAR. The podcast goes on to talk about a new entrant in kids lunch kits, Lunchly, which has paired influencer-led brands PRIME with MrBeast’s Feastables.

Show Highlights:

0:30 - What’s a Hormbles Chormbles, and how is it connected to the recently launched David protein bar?

3:15 - After teasing the well-publicized launch of RXBAR founder Peter Rahal’s return to the bar category with its 28-gram option David, the team talks about the conversation happening around the brand’s ingredients.

6:15 - The group goes on to discuss how this product seems to be focused on a target consumer who is prioritizing macronutrients like protein over clean label ingredient decks.

12:00 - Brad explains a new co-branded product entering kids lunch products, Lunchly. The group debates how influencer marketing is impacting this category and whether this is a release valve for brands needing a new product to drive growth.

About the CPG Week

CPG Week is the podcast that explores the latest happenings in the consumer packaged goods industry. Join our seasoned reporting team as they dish out the week’s stories in quick, easy-to-digest episodes. Catch up on the top headlines of the week, dive into exclusive insights with the BevNET and Nosh teams, and set yourself up to make more informed business decisions. Tune in to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the dynamic world of packaged food and beverage.

New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to [email protected].

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

In this episode:

On CPG Week, the podcast team talks co-branding, energy drink and protein supplement licensing with sweets makers, and the evolution of cannabis in sports and recovery drinks.

Kicking off the podcast, Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous shares that she is a fan of the new Oreo and Coca-Cola co-branded products, leading to the group sharing what two CPG products they would like to see paired up. The topic leads to a conversation about energy drink maker C4’s announcement that it was partnering with Hershey’s on a line of co-branded products. The discussion of candy and indulgent flavors in fitness products carries over into what is happening in the cannabis-infused sports and hydration categories. 

Show Highlights:

0:30 - Oreo-flavored Coke or Coke-flavored Oreos? There is something for everyone. The CPG Week hosts share their ideal co-branded products.

3:00 - Senior reporter Brad Avery discusses why Jolly Rancher-flavored energy drinks might be showing up in convenience stores soon thanks to the licensing partnership between Hershey and Nutrabolt’s C4 brand.

7:30 - The team chats about why indulgent and candy flavors seem to be doing so well in the sports performance category. 

9:00 - What happened to CBD in hydration and recovery products? Senior reporter Lukas Southard tells the group about his feature on cannabis sports drinks and why there seems to be more low-dose THC popping up in the category.

About the CPG Week

CPG Week is the podcast that explores the latest happenings in the consumer packaged goods industry. Join our seasoned reporting team as they dish out the week’s stories in quick, easy-to-digest episodes. Catch up on the top headlines of the week, dive into exclusive insights with the BevNET and Nosh teams, and set yourself up to make more informed business decisions. Tune in to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the dynamic world of packaged food and beverage.

New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to [email protected].

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts