BevNET.com Staff

Posts by BevNET.com Staff

Editors Talk Trends and Takeaways From Expo West

Reporting live at Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, Calif., Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and BevNET managing editor Marty Caballero highlight key themes and insights, from the development of the coconut water category to the proliferation of beef tallow and more.

Taste Radio: Why Thrive Market Sees AI-Powered, Personalized Health As The Future

Thrive Market co-founder & CEO Nick Green believes the future of healthy living will be shaped less by trend-chasing and more by trust, technology, and simplicity. In this episode, he explains how the pioneering online grocer evaluates brands, why taste still matters most, and why he increasingly sees the company as an AI-driven platform helping consumers navigate health with greater clarity.

Taste Radio: Expo West 2026: Protein Dominates, But Flavor Decides

Expo West 2026 made one thing clear: food and beverage brands are racing to add function, but the ones that nail flavor have the best chance of winning. The hosts break down the show’s biggest trends, from protein-packed everything to standout brands in candy, beverages, frozen treats, and snacks, while sharing the products and ideas that reinforced a simple truth: in modern CPG, taste still comes first.

Taste Radio: She Built A ‘Nation’ Of Millions In CPG’s Toughest Category

Five people. Seven-figure DTC. Nationwide Whole Foods distribution. Ashley Nickelsen, the founder and CEO of nutrition bar and chocolate brand B.T.R. Nation, reveals how she turned velocity, online sales data, and creative-first Meta ads into a disciplined omnichannel growth engine – without shortcuts in one of grocery’s most competitive categories.

Taste Radio: Is Big Food Catching Up To Startups? And, A Legend Signs Off.

Is Big Food finally catching up to emerging brands on speed to market? As legacy CPG giants roll out protein- and fiber-forward innovations faster than ever, the team debates whether startups still hold the advantage. Plus, we give a heartfelt sendoff to Jacqui Brugliera as she departs BevNET after 12 years.

Taste Radio: The Tito’s of Snacks? How Mi Niña Is Building a Big Small Brand.

After decades in fine dining, renowned restaurateur Jamie Mammano turned his attention to a new challenge: reinventing the tortilla chip. In this episode, he shares how a small tortilla bakery experiment evolved into Mi Niña, one of the country’s fastest-growing premium tortilla chip brands, now sold in thousands of retailers nationwide, including Whole Foods, Target and Wegmans.

Taste Radio: Expo West Is Pricey. Here’s How To Make It Pay Off.

The real ROI of Expo West starts long before the show floor opens. In this episode, the team breaks down best practices for exhibitors looking to maximize your time and resources at one of the most competitive trade shows in the world.

Taste Radio: They Backed Poppi. Now The Angel Group Wants to Back You.

Behind nearly every breakout CPG brand is an early believer willing to write the first check. In this episode, Adam Spriggs of the early-stage investor community The Angel Group and a general partner at its funding arm, Supernatural Ventures, shares how a casual investing experiment evolved into a 275-member syndicate backing the next generation of emerging brands.