Taste Radio

Here’s a hypothetical question: What if we were to tell you that one could start a food company and in less than five years sell it for $600 million? Would that be something you’d be interested in? (That was a rhetorical question.)

As unlikely as it sounds, that’s exactly what happened to Peter Rahal, the co-founder and CEO of RXBAR. Launched in 2013, RXBAR, which markets clean label protein bars, quickly became one of the fastest growing snack brands in the U.S. The company had net sales of approxim

Courtney Reum wants food and beverage entrepreneurs to ask themselves one question: how can I make my company more 'techable'? Reum is the co-founder of M13, a brand development and investment firm focused on "accelerating businesses at the nexus of consumer products, technology, and media." Founded in 2016, M13 has investments in many well-known brands, including Lyft, Pinterest, Blue Bottle Coffee, Pressed Juicery and Snap. In an interview included in this episode of Taste Radio, Reum, who along with brother Carter launched M13 following the sale of their spirit brand Veev, spoke about his belief that the fundamentals for food and beverage business are evolving and, how companies can use technology to directly reach and better understand their consumers. "We're getting so much data where it's easier than ever to find your tribe, to get cohort data, that almost every brand its techable to some degree," Reum said. Hear much more from Reum in our interview, including lessons from the rapid development of Veev, how brands can best identify white space in a crowded consumer products marketplace and M13's philosophy regarding investment and incubation. Also in this episode: A conversation with Wing Lam, the wild and winsome co-founder of Wahoo's, the iconic Southern California-based restaurant chain which serves Mexican cuisine tinged with Brazilian and Asian flavors. Lam discussed how Wahoo's, which celebrated its 30th anniversary this year, has maintained and nurtured the spirit of its first location as it has expanded and how the company, known for its partnerships with surfers and surf-focused brands, identifies authentic partnerships. And in the latest edition of Elevator Talk, we're joined by Simon Cheng, the CEO and co-creator of Pique Tea, a brand of "cold brewed tea crystals" that dissolve in water. Show notes: 2:23: From One Costa to the Another -- A couple of our esteemed hosts took some much deserved time off last week. Mike was in Costa Rica while John Craven visited Santa Monica; the pair discussed notable libations and foods during their travels. Ray chatted about attending a premiere event for the HBO drama "Westworld," and the show's partnership with Westward Single Malt Whiskey, described as "a grain-to-glass celebration of the American pioneer spirit." 9:18: Interview: Courtney Reum, Co-Founder, Veev/M13 -- Recorded at M13 offices in Beverly Hills, Courtney Reum discussed the backstory and mission behind the investment/incubation/accelerator firm. As part of the conversation, Reum explained how M13 was created "as a company for starting companies where we use a playbook approach of repeatable behaviors… to demonstrate success across different brands and categories" and why they "really believe in the convergence of consumer brands, media and tech." 43:33: Interview: Wing Lam, Co-Founder, Wahoo's -- If you've spent any time in Southern California and hankered for a fish taco, you've probably been to Wahoo's. We sat down with co-founder Wing Lam at the company's location in Torrance, Calif and discussed how Wahoo's which just celebrated its 30th anniversary and has over 60 locations in the U.S. and one in Japan, has grown over the years and how it's become an institution in surfer/extreme sports community. 1:00:06: Elevator Talk: Simon Cheng, CEO/Co-Founder, Pique Tea -- Simon Cheng is the CEO and co-creator of Pique Tea, the maker of "cold brewed tea crystals" that dissolve in water. We caught with Simon at Expo West 2018 and connected for this edition of Elevator Talk. Show notes: Brands in this episode: Westward Single Malt Whiskey, KeVita, Pressed Juicery, Kite Hill, Blue Bottle Coffee, Daily Harvest, Rebloom, Chomps, Pique Tea

Courtney Reum wants food and beverage entrepreneurs to ask themselves one question: how can I make my company more ‘techable’?

Reum is the co-founder of M13, a brand development and investment firm focused on “accelerating businesses at the nexus of consumer products, technology, and media.” Founded in 2016, M13 has investments in many well-known brands, including Lyft, Pinterest, Blue Bottle Coffee, Pressed Juicery and Snap.

In an interview included in this episode of Taste Radio, Reum, who alon

A self-described "entrepreneurial junkie," Lance Collins -- despite remarkable success in the beverage business -- is itching for his next fix. Collins, the creator of Fuze, Nos, BodyArmor and Core, is already quite wealthy, so why is he still chasing the juice (so to speak)? In an interview included in this episode of Taste Radio, Collins explained that he's addicted to the next big idea and to see it succeed, believes that he has to run faster than anyone else. "My whole thing is, it's not the big eat the small, it's the fast eat the slow," Collins said. "And we're really fast in our decisions, and I think we make the right ones." Listen to our full-length conversation with Collins in which he spoke about his amazing journey as an entrepreneur, which includes both staggering success and colossal failure (think $10 million losses), his approach to branding and innovation and why he aims to be "the pulse before the trend." Also included in this episode: An interview with Jordan Silbert, who is the founder and CEO of Q Drinks, a premium cocktail mixer brand that has played a key role in the growth and evolution of the category and, by extension, the carbonated beverage aisle as a whole. Silbert spoke about Q Drinks' role ushering in a new era for cocktail mixers, why he's careful with every dollar, and the advisors and mentors that helped shape the brand's success. Show notes 1:27: Kiwis and Coffee -- Food and beverage samples were aplenty this week and the hosts noshed and sipped on a few interesting products, including those from new healthy snack brands and cold brew coffee makers. 9:52: Interview: Lance Collins, Founder, Fuze/BodyArmor/Core -- The hosts visited über entrepreneur Lance Collins, who's the founder of iconic beverage brands Fuze, Nos, BodyArmor and Core, at his home in Beverly Hills, where they spoke about his incredible career, lessons learned and his passion for innovation and entrepreneurship. 38:24: Interview: Jordan Silbert, Founder/CEO, Q Drinks -- It's been a decade since he launched the premium cocktail mixer brand, and while he admits that he's not the most patient entrepreneur Silbert has played the long-game nonetheless. Hear how financial discipline, hustle and perseverance has paid dividends for Q Drinks. Brands in this episode: Rind Snacks, Point Blank Cold Brew, Sandows, Riff Cold Brew, Beacon Blend, Growing Roots, Fuze, Nos, BodyArmor, Core, Q Drinks

A self-described “entrepreneurial junkie,” Lance Collins -- despite remarkable success in the beverage business -- is itching for his next fix.

Collins, the creator of Fuze, Nos, BodyArmor and Core, is already quite wealthy, so why is he still chasing the juice (so to speak)? In an interview included in this episode of Taste Radio, Collins explained that he’s addicted to the next big idea and to see it succeed, believes that he has to run faster than anyone else.

“My whole thing is, it’s not the

The notion that one might have to sacrifice some flavor when choosing healthier food options never entered Daphne Oz's mind. An influential chef, New York Times-bestselling author, and Emmy Award-winning television host of ABC's "The Chew," Oz has for years sought to dispel the notion that healthy eating means depriving oneself of tasty food. "I've spent my career trying to make people understand that eating well, fueling your body, letting your body thrive on good food -- it should be delicious. It should not be a sacrifice; it should feel like an indulgence," Oz said in an interview included in this episode of Taste Radio. That perspective was a big part of her motivation to invest in Pure Spoon, a maker of high pressure processed organic purees for babies and children. In our conversation, Oz, who also joined Pure Spoon as its Chief Innovation Officer, praised the brand and its products as representative of the fresh, flavorful and eminently healthy food that consumers will embrace given the opportunity to try them. She also discussed how, as a writer, TV personality and social media influencer, she attempts to educate consumers about healthy eating in an authentic and meaningful way. Also in this episode: an Elevator Talk double feature with pitches from the founders of two innovative food brands -- No Evil Foods and Ayoba-Yo -- and accompanying feedback from the hosts. This episode is presented by RISE Brewing Co. Show notes: 1:59: ATX, Pies and Videotape -- Ray chats about a recent visit to Austin and notes the city's embrace of homegrown brands, including Waterloo, Mighty Swell, HeyDay, High Brew and Shiner. Landis talks about a new video that details the application process for BevNET Live's New Beverage Showdown. Craven explains what we do with samples that come into the office: added to our databases, photographed for social media, reviewed, consumed. Mike and Ray note that the samples often offer a glimpse into emerging trends. 10:05: Interview: Daphne Oz, Chief Innovation Officer, Pure Spoon; Former Host, The Chew -- Daphne Oz is a chef New York Times-bestselling author, and Emmy Award-winning television host, and chef who co-hosted the ABC show "The Chew" for six seasons. She recently joined Pure Spoon, a brand of healthy HPP organic purees for babies and kids as the company's Chief Innovation Officer. Mike Schneider met up with Oz at Natural Products Expo West 2018 where they spoke about her roles as an influencer and industry expert and her transition to entrepreneurship with Pure Spoon. 37:24: Elevator Talk: We've got another extended edition of Elevator Talk, featuring Sadrah Schadel, Co-Founder, No Evil Foods, a brand of plant-based meat products, and Wian van Blommestein, the owner of Ayoba-Yo, a brand of South African meat snacks. Brands in this episode: Waterloo, Mighty Swell, HeyDay Coffee, High Brew Coffee, Shiner, Topo Chico, Pure Spoon, No Evil Foods, Ayoba-Yo

The notion that one might have to sacrifice some flavor when choosing healthier food options never entered Daphne Oz’s mind.

An influential chef, New York Times-bestselling author, and Emmy Award-winning television host of ABC’s “The Chew,” Oz has for years sought to dispel the notion that healthy eating means depriving oneself of tasty food.

“I’ve spent my career trying to make people understand that eating well, fueling your body, letting your body thrive on good food -- it should be delici

Here's a novel recipe: Start with equal parts of Amazon and Whole Foods. Add a dash of Costco. Blend and serve. What's in front of you is a healthy serving of Thrive Market, and co-founder and co-CEO Nick Green wants everyone to have a plate. An e-commerce, membership-based retailer, Thrive Market was founded in 2015 with a mission "to make the world's highest quality natural and organic products affordable for every American family." For an annual fee of $60, members get access a broad range of grocery items priced 30–50 percent below retail and shipped free. The model appears to be working: to date, Thrive has attracted over a half-million members with an average annual income of $70,000, according to Green, who joined us for an interview included in this episode of Taste Radio. As part of our conversation, Green spoke about Thrive's rapid development and the convergence of trends that have made the platform attractive to investors, brands and consumers. He also explained that while social mission-driven businesses often have "an inherent dynamic tension in between that mission and the business," for Thrive "they're actually the same thing." "If we make healthy living affordable for everyone, there's tens of billions of dollars [worth of] business to be built," Green said. "And if we succeed in building that business, we're going to have done something really good." Also in this episode, we hear short business pitches from the founders of a couple upstart companies -- Dave Burchianti, the founder of sparkling juice brand Hubble and Mary Kosir, the founder of WholeMe, a brand of whole food snacks -- in the latest edition of Elevator Talk. The pitches are followed by feedback and constructive criticism from the hosts. This episode is presented by RISE Brewing Co. Show notes: 2:07: They're Much Better Live -- The hosts chat about the upcoming BevNET Live and NOSH Live Summer 2018 events along with features and content highlights for the shows. 9:24: Interview: Nick Greene, Co-founder & Co-CEO, Thrive Market -- Thrive is an e-commerce membership-based retailer offering natural and organic food products at reduced costs. BevNET and Project NOSH editor-in-chief Jeff Klineman met with Thrive co-founder and co-CEO Nick Green at Natural Products Expo West 2018 where they discussed the company's business model and rapid development. 37:59: Let's hear from the founders of a couple upstart companies in an extended edition of Elevator Talk, followed by thoughts and some constructive criticism on their pitches. First up is Dave Burchianti, the founder of sparkling juice brand Hubble followed by Mary Kosir, the founder of WholeMe, a Minneapolis-based brand of whole food snacks. Brands in this episode: Hubble, WholeMe

Here’s a novel recipe: Start with equal parts of Amazon and Whole Foods. Add a dash of Costco. Blend and serve. What’s in front of you is a healthy serving of Thrive Market, and co-founder and co-CEO Nick Green wants everyone to have a plate.

An e-commerce, membership-based retailer, Thrive Market was founded in 2015 with a mission “to make the world's highest quality natural and organic products affordable for every American family.” For an annual fee of $60, members get access a broad range of gr

Will and Jaden Smith are global icons who's popularity transcends both film and music and across multiple generations of fans. So why have they taken a cautious approach to promoting JUST Water, the sustainable water brand co-founded by the Smiths in 2015? "This was a brand that was missionized and born of a child's care. We wanted to make sure that wasn't something that was overshadowed by celebrity endorsement," Will Smith said in a recent interview included in this episode of Taste Radio. As part of our conversation, Will and Jaden discussed how their roles as co-founders of JUST Water have evolved and how they're strategically using their media platforms to support the development of the sustainable water brand. This episode also includes an Elevator Talk extravaganza, featuring elevator pitches from the founders of four upstart food and beverage brands -- Honey Mamma's, Phit, Doctor D's and Naughty Noah's -- along with accompanying feedback from the hosts. This episode is presented by Ruby Rockets. Show notes: 1:28: The Celeb Effect: The hosts discuss the impact and evolution of celebrity investment in food and beverage brands, including Vitaminwater, Bai, Street King, Soda Shaq and Newman's Own. 8:09: Interview: Will & Jaden Smith, Co-Founder, JUST Water -- BevNET staff reporter Brad Avery sat down with Will and Jaden Smith at Natural Products Expo West 2018 where the global icons discussed their role as investors in and advocates for JUST Water, the brand's recent move into flavored SKUs and how they're using their media platforms to support the development of the sustainable water brand. 21:49: Elevator Talk: We're just weeks away from the summer 2018 editions of BevNET Live and NOSH Live and with them, the events' signature brand competitions, the New Beverage Showdown and NOSH Pitch Slam. We thought it a good opportunity for an extended edition of Elevator Talk where we'll hear from a few upstart brands and offer a few words of feedback on their pitches. Christy Goldsby, the CEO/founder, Honey Mama's, which makes honey-sweetened, cacao-based snacks Christopher Moss, the CEO of Phit, a brand of alkaline water enhancers Stuart Dimson, the co-founder, Dr. D's, a maker of sparkling probiotic beverages JimmyTay Trinh, the founder of Naughty Noah's, a brand of Vietnamese instant Pho noodle soups. Brands in this episode: JUST Water, Vitaminwater, Bai, SK (Street King) Energy, Danny DeVito's Limoncello, Soda Shaq, Newman's Own, Honey Mama's, Phit, Doctor D's, Naughty Noah's