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This week’s episode features interviews with the founders of three innovative brands and focuses on how each landed placement in their dream retailers. Jesse Wolfe, the founder of O’Dang Hummus, Kuli Kuli founder/CEO Lisa Curtis, and Tyler Noyes, the co-founder of Kalahari Biltong, discussed their respective paths into popular chains, including Publix, Walmart, Sam’s Club and Wegmans, and revealed key steps along the way.
Hailing from New Hampshire, King’s Brew Nitro Cold Brew is a multi-SKU line of ready-to-drink nitrogen-infused cold brew coffee drinks that are available in both 7.8 and 12 oz. cans.
NITI (or “Nutrition Is Today’s Intelligence”) Daily Detox is a high pressure processed (HPP) detox beverage available in a single SKU that blends lemon, mint, turmeric, and cardamom to create the brand’s sole SKU.
Rachael Young is the founder and CEO of YAYAYA, a beverage company focused on crafting feel-good functional energy drinks made with yaupon and infused with herbs. Described as a tea-like plant, Yaupon is high in caffeine and theobromine, a nootropic identified as a mood booster.
In this presentation recorded on June 14, 2019 at Cannabis Forum Summer 2019 in New York City, New Frontier Data chief knowledge officer John Kagia breaks down the “five forces” currently disrupting the global cannabis marketplace, including expanded legal access, therapeutic efficacy, product innovation, convenience, and growing social acceptance.
As part of our interview, Jelly Belly president/CEO Lisa Rowland Brasher discussed how the company’s focus on creating unique experiences for its consumers has contributed to its evolution into an iconic candy brand. She also discussed how “better for you” and functional varieties fit into the portfolio and recounted how one disastrous flavor that never made it to market turned out to be quite useful down the line. This episode is presented by Flavorman, the beverage architects.
UbU is a brand of sparkling beverages that includes SKUs that are enhanced with hemp-derived CBD. The company markets two lines -- Hemp Tonic Balance, with CBD, and Natural Energy Focus, which instead features ginseng -- both of which are unsweetened and caffeine free.
Rick’s Picks founder/CEO Rick Field discussed the origins of his premium pickle brand and how he identified white space in a legacy category. He also explained why he describes his company’s journey as “champagne on a beer budget,” the dangers of hitting an entrepreneurial plateau and how innovation has spurred a renewed interest in his brand.
Announced this Spring, Weller CBD Sparkling Water is the first beverage product from Weller, a company that produces CBD snacks and powdered products.
Lefteris Giaprakis is the founder and CEO of Drink Gifted Corp., the creators of mastic elixirs. The company aims to provide healthy and functional botanical beverages utilizing mastic, a fragrant sap from Greece known for its medicinal properties.
Pep Talk is a line of unsweetened flavored sparkling waters that features 55 mg of caffeine per 12 oz. can. The product is presently available in four flavors, including Pink Grapefruit, Lemon Lime, Pineapple Coconut, and Tangerine Blackberry.
Stew Leonard’s president/CEO Stew Leonard Jr. spoke about the company’s focus on customer interaction and how it has helped the company create a unique and high-quality shopping experience. He also discussed the evolution of the chain’s food offerings and how it selects brands for its stores, its efforts to stay on top of current food trends, his perspective on leadership, and how Stew Leonard’s is planning for the future.
With much of the cannabis space still in constant flux, BDS Analytics VP of consumer insights Jessica Lukas closed out the second day of BevNET Live Summer 2019, held June 13 in New York City, by breaking down the state of the market for both THC and CBD beverages and offering her predictions for what the next five years of cannabis drinks look like.
Agua Lucha is an upstart line of traditional Mexican-style aguas frescas that feature real fruit and all natural ingredients. The brand’s initial varieties include Limon, Tamarindo, Jamaica, and Mandarina.