There’s an increasing number of people questioning the whole premise for dairy milk, either because they’ve embraced non-dairy paleo lifestyles, have environmental concerns associated with a dairy-centric agricultural system, or just plain don’t like the taste as much.

Billionaire yogurt maker Hamdi Ulukaya, who started Chobani, announced plans today to "invest in and cultivate emerging food entrepreneurs," according to an announcement from the company.

Promising brand propositions can fall apart if the flavor isn’t there, while marginally functional products can catch fire behind great taste. Brands will do whatever they can to maintain their flavor advantage (Coke’s secret formula, anyone?) while a switch in sweetener mix can totally undermine a product (Vitaminwater’s recent stevia experiment comes to mind).

A look at how the retailer is exploring new ways to execute behind its core competency.

How the sale of 17 percent of Monster to Coke could have gone.

For probiotic beverages, rising interest in both gut health and overall natural health have led to increased attention on the tiny bacterial strains embedded within the bottle. Mainstream growth is starting to come, with conventional retailers expanding the presence of brands like GT’s Kombucha, Lifeway Kefir, even newcomers like KeVita Sparkling Probiotic Drink and Goodbelly juices.

Jamba Juice, an 800-store line of juice franchises, is wading into the cold-pressed market, launching a four-SKU line of high pressure processed (HPP) juices that will be available in-store.