Fresh off an exhilarating meetup in London, the team shines a spotlight on the standout brands that captivated attendees at the event. They delve into how fiber-forward brands are reshaping their categories and why Gen X might be your brand's unexpected secret weapon. This episode also revisits insightful interviews from Taste Radio's San Diego meetup, featuring Sol-ti CCO Shawn Hamilton and visionary founders behind Recoup, Innerbloom, Hydr8, Erva Brew Co., and Lixir.

Show notes:

0:25: British Debrief. Nom News. Big Candy Revamp. X's & $'s. Fiber FTW. 'Key' Crisps. – The hosts reflect on their recent London meetup, highlighting standout interviews with Olivia Ferdi of Trip, Kathryn Bricken of Doughlicious, and Olly Dixon of Something & Nothing. They also shine a spotlight on attendees Veronique Mbida, founder of Bantu Chocolate, and Fan Yang of Other Foods, whose interview with Mike featured a hilarious outtake. Melissa previews upcoming educational content and community resources launching on Nombase, while the hosts encourage listeners to attend BevNET's upcoming events in L.A., sharing personal stories of meaningful connections and business breakthroughs from past shows. The conversation also turns to new data revealing Gen X as the leading force in CPG purchasing power, underscoring the importance of engaging older demographics. Finally, the hosts introduce a wave of innovative, better-for-you snacks, from a "gigantic" brand revamp and playfully "dirty" chocolate to bold, zesty chips and beyond.

30:43: Interviews from Taste Radio's San Diego Meetup – Held at BevNET's West Coast office, our lineup includes a conversation with Shawn Hamilton, Chief Commercial Officer of Sol-ti, who detailed how the wellness and juice shot brand scaled from a Southern California startup into a national powerhouse with products in over 15,000 retail locations and sold nationally at Starbucks. We also speak with the founders of several exciting emerging brands, including Erva Brew Co., a fresh take on yerba mate; Innerbloom, a startup crafting kanna-based tonics for mood and focus; Hydr8, a mission-driven water brand supporting veterans; Lua Coffee, which markets Vietnamese-style coffee infused with MCT oil; Birdie, a new sparkling tea brand with standout branding; Recoup, a brand of gut-healthy hydration drinks and a past winner of BevNET's New Beverage Showdown; and Lixir, a brand reimagining mead for the modern drinker.

Brands in this episode: Sol-ti, Trip, Doughlicious, Something & Nothing, Orangina, Other Foods, Bantu Chocolate, Terranean, Halfday, Gigantic Candy, Dirty Gut, Royo Bread, Zesty Z, Yaza, Huel, TruBar, Keya's, Recoup, Innerbloom, Hydr8, Erva Brew Co., Lixir, Lua Coffee, Birdie