Taste Radio

While debate over the country's travel and immigration policies continues to dominate the news cycle, Christopher Kimball is thinking beyond borders. The founder of iconic cooking show “America’s Test Kitchen,” Kimball believes that all food has a cultural value with the potential to bypass walls and transcend politics.

“You almost can experience a culture through the food,” he said in an interview included in this episode of Taste Radio. “There’s context around [a] recipe, and you learn a lo

Stop us when this sounds familiar: two young entrepreneurs have an idea for a disruptive food concept, but lack experience and need help -- with everything. In the case of Amanda Klane and Drew Harrington, who together launched frozen Greek yogurt brand Yasso while fresh out of college, identifying and aligning with the right partners meant building around their vision of success. "When we started the business, we were 23," Klane said in an interview included in this episode of Taste Radio. "We clearly knew we didn't know everything. It was 'how do we find people that are smarter than us and can provide assistance and support, but also allow us to do what it is we love to do and grow the brand the way we want to?'" The strategy has paid dividends. Since its launch in 2009, Yasso, which is positioned as a healthier and low-calorie alternative to traditional ice cream brands, has become a bona fide star in the freezer aisle, racking up over $82 million in sales last year. As part of our interview, Klane and Harrington discussed the inspiration behind the brand, how they identified an opportunity to disrupt a legacy category, the importance of value-added financial partners, and why trash cans became a key part of the brand's marketing strategy. Pizza and ice cream is, of course, a popular pairing. So to go with Yasso's healthier take on the latter, how about a serving of Cali'Flour? The fast-growing brand sells vegetable-based, gluten-free frozen pizza crusts that are made with just four ingredients. Founded in 2015 by Amy Lacey, Cali'Flour has attracted a loyal following and established a thriving direct-to-consumer business. In a recent interview, Lacey spoke about staying ahead of a hot trend, how the brand incorporates consumer feedback into its R&D strategy, and why the company doesn't make hero products. Show notes: 2:35: Elevation, Enlightenment, Expo -- The hosts discuss the migration of Elevator Talk to YouTube and Instagram TV, the release of BevNET Magazine's July/August 2018 issue and cover story on the "31 of the most powerful women in the industry," the upcoming Natural Products Expo East show, and a bevy of new and interesting products that arrived at the office over the past week. 14:26: Interview: Drew Harrington and Amanda Klane, Co-Founders/Co-CEOs, Yasso -- Harrington and Klane are the founders of Yasso, a popular ice cream brand that uses Greek yogurt as the base of its tasty treats. The childhood friends and co-CEOs recently sat down with Project NOSH editor Carol Ortenberg and BevNET CMO Mike Schneider, where they spoke about the brand's ascendance, its innovation and marketing strategy and the keys to its partnership with majority investor Castanea Partners. 35:39: Interview: Amy Lacey, Founder/Owner, Cali'flour Foods -- Lacey sat down with BevNET CMO Mike Schneider at the 2018 Summer Fancy Food Show, where they spoke about the launch and development of Cali'Flour, which is promoted as the "Original Cauliflower Pizza Crust." Lacey, who participated in the Pitch Slam competition at NOSH Live Summer 2017, discussed the brand's origins, how it has attempted to separate itself from competing brands and why listening to its customers has been critical to its growth. Brands in this episode: Mother Kombucha, Up Mountain Switchel, Mother Beverage, Dirty Lemon, Mikey's, Crispy Green, Yoplait, Red Bull, Yasso, Ben & Jerry's, Annie's, Nantucket Nectars, Halo Top, Enlightened, Arctic Zero, Cali'Flour

Stop us when this sounds familiar: two young entrepreneurs have an idea for a disruptive food concept, but lack experience and need help -- with everything.

In the case of Amanda Klane and Drew Harrington, who together launched frozen Greek yogurt brand Yasso while fresh out of college, identifying and aligning with the right partners meant building around their vision of success.

“When we started the business, we were 23,” Klane said in an interview included in this episode of Taste Radio. “We cle

When considering business decisions, Rip Pruisken, the co-founder and CEO of fast-growing snack brand Rip Van Wafels, asks himself a simple question: "Is it true?" In an interview included in this episode of Taste Radio, Pruisken stated his belief that at the foundation of every decision is a known truth that, when identified and accepted, will present a clear conclusion. "You're trying to really look at the reality and trying to diagnose, 'Okay, well, is this strategy really leading to my goals? Are the people on our team really the right ones to achieve those goals? Are the goals reasonable in the first place?'" he said. "And so, once you go through this iterative process on a regular cadence of 'is it truing?' these different facets of your goals, your work machine and the outcomes, you're… going to understand how to goalset better and then also how to adapt better as a result of your execution through that process." Trusting the process has yielded retail relationships based on value and velocity. As part of the interview, Pruisken discussed the origins for the brand of stroopwafels, a traditional Dutch snack comprised of two thin wafels with a caramel filling in between. He also detailed how Rip Van identifies and leverages captive audiences, such as getting placement in the kitchens of Silicon Valley tech companies, and how it has taken alternative paths to retail for the product, which is now sold at a number of grocery and coffee chains, including 12,000 Starbucks locations nationwide. Like Pruisken, Ely Key, the co-founder and CEO of Up Mountain Switchel, sells a product steeped in cultural traditions. Promoted for its sweet and savory drinking experience and gut health benefits, switchel has been pegged as a trendy beverage to watch for the past few years. In a conversation included in this episode, Key spoke about Up Mountain's efforts to build education and awareness for the brand through storytelling, why listening to its customers yielded critical information about their purchasing decisions, and the importance of working with and learning from your competitors. Show notes: 2:23: A Gut Feeling About This Episode: The hosts examine the emergence of shrub and switchel beverages amid growing consumer interest around gut health, discuss top headlines on BevNET and Project NOSH, and chat about a few recent visitors to the office. 16:55: Interview: Rip Pruisken, Co-Founder/CEO, Rip Van -- Recorded at Dave's Coffee in Providence, R.I., Pruisken discussed the launch and development of his stroopwafel brand, which he co-founded in 2010 while an undergraduate at Brown University. Pruisken spoke about the brand's evolution -- from sales to college students to tech firms in Silicon Valley to Starbucks cafes -- and what he's learned about patience, strategy and meeting Howard Schultz. 43:10: Interview: Ely Key, Co-Founder, Up Mountain Switchel -- In this interview, recorded at the 2018 Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City, Key shares details about the early days of his brand, how he and his co-founders navigated common mistakes without losing their shirts, why he urges business partnerships with family and friends, and how staying close to the ground -- and its primary consumers -- has shaped the company's communications strategy. Brands in this episode: GT's CocoYo, Coconut Cult, Element Shrub, CideRoad, Vermont Village, Fizzy Fox, Superior Switchel, Up Mountain Switchel, Sip City, False-Ox, Bragg's, MatchaBar, Smashmallow, Juice Press, Kween Foods, Rip Van, Chobani

When considering business decisions, Rip Pruisken, the co-founder and CEO of fast-growing snack brand Rip Van Wafels, asks himself a simple question: “Is it true?” In an interview included in this episode of Taste Radio, Pruisken stated his belief that at the foundation of every decision is a known truth that, when identified and accepted, will present a clear conclusion.

“You’re trying to really look at the reality and trying to diagnose, ‘Okay, well, is this strategy really leading to my goals?

Reflecting on a 31-year-career that has seen him evolve from an acclaimed chef and founder of an award-winning restaurant group to a media personality and successful CPG food entrepreneur, Rick Bayless points to authenticity as the guiding principle in his own journey and as an indispensable element to success in the food business. "I want the real deal," Bayless said in an interview included in this episode of Taste Radio. "I don't want to modify a recipe just to make it more mass." As part of our conversation, Bayless discussed the origins of his food career, the launch, development and eventual sale of his packaged food brand, Frontera Foods, why he was ahead of the game on clean labels and transparency, and his take on the future of food. Like Bayless, Susie Fogelson also has her share of experience at the intersection of food and media. For nearly 15 years, Susie spearheaded marketing strategy for the Food Network and Cooking Channel, culminating in her role as the senior vice president of marketing & brand strategy. In our second interview, Fogelson shared insights gleaned from her career at the Food Network, including the importance of purpose-driven marketing and why transparency is an opportunity for brands to tell a story. Also included in this episode: a conversation with Jamie Meltzer, the founder and CEO of Watermelon Road, an upstart brand of fruit jerky and the winner of NOSH Live Summer 2018's Pitch Slam 4. Show notes: 1:42: Meals, Wheels and West: The hosts discussed Expo West housing, the business of meal kits, including the recent shuttering of Chef'd, and WeWork's transition to a meatless office culture. 12:02: Interview: Rick Bayless, Founder, Frontera Foods -- Recorded at the 2018 Fancy Food Show, Bayless, known for his expertise in Mexican cooking and cuisine, discussed how he cut his teeth in the food business as the host of the PBS series "Cooking Mexican," and the development of his acclaimed restaurant group. He also spoke about entering the packaged food business with Frontera Foods, a brand of gourmet Mexican products that includes salsas, sauces, and meals and its acquisition by ConAgra Foods in 2016 for $108.9 million, a sale that Bayless fleshed out in the interview. 34:23: Interview: Susie Fogelson, Founder, F&Co -- After 15 years leading marketing efforts at the Food Network and Cooking Channel, Fogelson founded founded F&Co., a boutique consultancy that works with food brands to develop a blueprint for storytelling and experiences. In our conversation, recorded at the 2018 Summer Fancy Food Show, she offers her perspective on the evolution of the food space and how brands can best communicate with their consumers. 55:23: Interview: Jamie Meltzer, Founder, Watermelon Road -- Meltzer sat down with us following her big win and experience in NOSH Live's Pitch Slam 4, and discussed her experience in the competition, finding her brand's voice and what's next for her brand. Brands in this episode: Chef'd, Blue Apron, Hello Fresh, Frontera Foods, Hippeas, 4505 Meats, Watermelon Road

Reflecting on a 31-year-career that has seen him evolve from an acclaimed chef and founder of an award-winning restaurant group to a media personality and successful CPG food entrepreneur, Rick Bayless points to authenticity as the guiding principle in his own journey and as an indispensable element to success in the food business.

"I want the real deal,” Bayless said in an interview included in this episode of Taste Radio. “I don't want to modify a recipe just to make it more mass."

As part of our co

Brian Rudolph is a big believer in cold calling. The co-founder and CEO of Banza -- a brand of chickpea-based pasta that's promoted as a protein-rich, gluten-free and nutritious alternative to traditional varieties -- said that while rejection is to be expected with unsolicited outreach, persistence and civility have led to big wins for the company. "We got rejected all the time," Rudolph said in an interview included in this episode of Taste Radio. "Sometimes people just don't answer, but you have to recognize that it's okay to follow up. And a lot times we wouldn't get a response until the fourth or fifth time. So many of our early retail relationships came from cold outreach. You'd be surprised; you can cold call the headquarters of a retailer and say 'who's the buyer for XYZ?' [and] you'll find who it is, and just leave them a voicemail. Of course, be polite, but be polite and relentless." The tenacity has paid off for Banza, which just four years after its launch has become one of the top-selling pasta brands at Whole Foods and Target. Banza is carried at over 8,000 retail locations, is a category best-seller on Amazon and has attracted a rabid consumer following. As part of our interview, Rudolph spoke about the roots of his business, including the impact of Banza's appearance on a reality TV competition, why he's positioning the brand as an "agent of change," when to turn down new retail opportunities, and the company's innovative method for collecting consumer feedback. Also in this episode: A conversation with MatchaBar co-founder/CEO Graham Fortgang. Positioned as a healthier alternative to traditional energy drinks and coffee, MatchaBar has embraced an unconventional approach to marketing its beverages and primary ingredient, ceremonial grade matcha. Fortgang discussed the company's approach to disrupting the energy category, how MatchaBar aligns with influencers and measures their reach and impact, and the company's process for identifying and providing value to its retail partners. We also sit down with founders of Simply Soupreme, Jackie Greene & Taylor Rossi, who were victorious in BevNET Live's New Beverage Showdown 15. Show notes: 2:10: Craven's Cooler: The hosts chat about a Brooklyn Crafted Happy Hour at BevNET HQ, a sampling of King's Brew Nitro-Infused Cold Brew Coffee, detoxwater Cryptokiwi and running into the founder of Chi Kitchen Kimchi. 11:45: Interview: Brian Rudolph, Co-Founder/CEO, Banza -- Alongside his brother and co-founder Scott, Rudolph launched the chickpea-based pasta brand in 2014. In our interview, recorded at the 2018 Summer Fancy Food, Rudolph discussed the early days of Banza, how an appearance on CNBC's "Restaurant Startup" accelerated its growth, the company's mission to be "the Chobani of pasta," and the brand's approach to evaluating investment opportunities and attracting new retail partners. 33:05: Interview: Graham Fortgang, Co-Founder, MatchaBar -- A fast-growing maker and retailer of matcha drinks, the company operates cafes in New York and Los Angeles and its ready-to-drink beverages are sold nationwide at Whole Foods. At the 2018 Summer Fancy Food, Fortgang spoke about how the company works with and provides value to its retail and influencer partners and measures the relationships using tangible metrics. He also discussed MatchaBar recent completion of an $8 million round of funding that attracted investment from music producer Diplo and NFL Super Bowl MVP Von Miller, and an innovative marketing initiative launched in collaboration with Facebook and Whole Foods. 52:40: Interview: Jackie Greene & Taylor Rossi, Founders, Simply Soupreme -- Greene & Rossi, are the founders of Simply Soupreme, a brand of super-premium bottled soups. Victorious in BevNET Live's New Beverage Showdown 15, Greene and Rossi discussed their big win and talked about their experience in the Showdown and the next steps for the company, which was awarded $10,000 in prizes.

Brian Rudolph is a big believer in cold calling. The co-founder and CEO of Banza -- a brand of chickpea-based pasta that’s promoted as a protein-rich, gluten-free and nutritious alternative to traditional varieties -- said that while rejection is to be expected with unsolicited outreach, persistence and civility have led to big wins for the company.

“We got rejected all the time,” Rudolph said in an interview included in this episode of Taste Radio. “Sometimes people just don’t answer, but you ha