Pete Lescoe chronicled his journey as an entrepreneur, including how he created a foundation for success as the founder of Food Should Taste Good, discussed his perspective on risk and explained why cash will always be king. He also spoke about the eventual sale of the company, why he got back in the food business and why he doesn’t think about happiness as a goal.
Sparkling CBD Beverages, which are produced by Colorado’s Best Drinks, LLC, is a line of agave sweetened carbonated soft drinks infused with 20 mg of CBD from organically grown hemp.
Hint founder/CEO Kara Goldin discussed the role of Hint’s brick-and-mortar retail store in supporting the company’s omnichannel strategy. She also spoke about best practices for e-commerce and why data from online sales is critical to understanding Hint’s audience. Also: a conversation with James Le Compte, the CEO of To’ak, an ultra-premium chocolate brand based in Ecuador.
Sip City Switchel has changed since our first review: originally a non-carbonated drink packaged in a glass bottle, it has now made the jump to a sparkling formulation in a 12 oz. can.
Cadence Cold Brew President Roy Lavalley is focused on delivering the top scoring nitro-infused cold brew coffee in a convenient RTD format. With no added sugar, flavors or other ingredients, Cadence highlights its single-origin beans in each SKU, bringing a clean label energy drink to market.
One of America’s greatest chefs, Nancy Silverton spoke about her approach to cooking and food innovation. She also explained why “having a business is not a hobby,” why she’s always trying to create food that is craveable, and how she navigates the challenges of modern marketing… aka making your restaurant bathroom “Instagrammable.”
Bar None is a line of naturally flavored beverages designed as non-alcoholic alternatives to classic cocktails. Their first four flavors include Sparkling Sangria, Dry Aged Cider, Bellini Spritz, and Spiced Ginger Mule.
Tiesta Tea co-founder/CEO Patrick Tannous explained why hitting the pavement and building strong relationships with retail buyers has been critical to the development of his company. Robert Jakobi, a serial food entrepreneur and founder of better-for-you soup company Bou, chronicled his journey from the U.K. to the U.S. and discussed differences in how business works within the two countries.
Dona Chai is a Brooklyn-based company that produces spice-based concentrates and in late 2018 introduced a line of spiced sodas. The line comes in three flavors, including Pink Peppercorn Lemon, Turmeric Honeybush and Juniper Lime.
Ellona Jarvis, the founder and CEO of Napa Hills, is on a mission to create plant-based products that improve people’s quality of life. The brand’s unique beverage delivers antioxidants from red wine in a non-alcoholic format.
San Diego-based organic beverage maker Sol-ti is one of the latest companies to expand into the CBD beverage category. Following in the footsteps of Sol-ti’s other products, the line is packaged in glass bottles, and processed with light filtration.
Lifeway Foods CEO Julie Smolyansky, who took the reins of her family’s business at age 27, explained how she built a brand with over $100 million in annual sales. She also discussed how she deals with persistent criticism, the company’s innovation strategy and why Lifeway releases some new products as “a marketing expense.”
Bear’s Fruit is a line of certified USDA Organic and Fair Trade kombucha that is produced in Brooklyn, NY. The brand’s current portfolio includes three varieties: Blueberry Lavender, Pineapple Mint and Strawberry Jalapeno.
In this clip recorded at Winter Fancy Food Show 2019, held Jan. 13-15, BevNET assistant editor Martín Caballero recaps some of the notable beverage news, new products and trends seen on the show floor, including a new look for a line of non-dairy yogurt drinks from coconut water maker Harmless Harvest and a rise in drinks featuring yuzu.
