Ray Latif is the lead host, producer, and content editor of Taste Radio, BevNET’s flagship podcast and the go-to show for food and beverage industry insights. With 14 years of experience in the industry, Ray is a seasoned journalist known for his sharp interviews and in-depth coverage of trends, innovation, and news. He began his career at BevNET as an assistant editor, later advancing to managing editor of both the website and magazine. Since 2016, he’s been the driving force behind Taste Radio, overseeing everything from content strategy to production. Ray’s conversational style and meticulous research have earned him widespread praise from both guests and listeners. He has had the privilege of interviewing a diverse range of high-profile figures, including Patrick Mahomes, Jennifer Garner, Dan Aykroyd, Kobe Bryant, Padma Lakshmi, and Brad Paisley. His ability to connect with entrepreneurs, celebrities, and industry leaders has made Taste Radio a must-listen for anyone interested in the evolving world of food and beverage.
Tamara Arbib, the founder of Rebel Kitchen, a U.K.-based brand of organic, coconut milk-based beverages, Arbib envisions her company as being a leader in plant-based nutrition as a way to “effect change in people’s health on a global scale.”
In this podcast, we look back at previous editions of BevNET's New Beverage Showdown and identify key attributes of successful presentations and commonalities among winners. We also discuss where some brands stumbled and things to avoid while under the spotlight.
The plaintiffs claim that because some Vita Coco products are manufactured in other countries, including the Philippines, and Malaysia, All Market “is unjustly enriched by continuing to market and sell its [coconut water] in a way that misleads consumers into believing that all Vita Coco is Brazilian, manufactured in Brazil and made from Brazilian coconuts.”
The agency recommends that food and beverage companies that list evaporated cane juice as an ingredient instead use “sugar” and optionally accompany it with “a truthful, non-misleading descriptor to distinguish the ingredient from other cane-based sweeteners.”
Saratoga Spring Water Company has filed a petition to cancel the trademarked name of Saratoga Juice Bar claiming that its use of the word “Saratoga” could cause confusion among consumers and damages its water brand.
In this edition of the BevNET Podcast, we discuss the swelling ranks of premium water brands and efforts by marketers to stand out from the pack. We also examine why a growing number of beverage entrepreneurs are bypassing co-packers and opting to build their own production facilities.
Although the premium set of premixed cocktails is still in its infancy, Joia co-founder and CEO Bob Safford believes that it will eventually be “bigger than craft soda.”
Food and beverage conglomerate WhiteWave Foods has waded into the fast-growing cold-brew coffee category with the launch of STōK, a new line of RTD iced coffees. The company quietly launched the brand in March, leading with two multi-serve offerings and recently debuted three single-serve varieties.
In this podcast, BevNET CEO John Craven interviews Doug Evans, the founder and CEO of Juicero, a new high-tech countertop juicing machine. Evans discusses the development of Juicero, its introduction to the market and how it fits into the expanding landscape for cold-pressed juice. He also responds to criticism about the unit’s price tag ($700) and talks about his long-term vision for Juicero.
PepsiCo recently completed a test of warmed soft drinks and teas at approximately 12 CVS locations in the Boston area. Packaged in 7.5 oz. cans, the beverages, which included colas and teas, were displayed in a countertop warming cabinet heated to 122°F.
Every week we receive samples of new drinks sent to us from a wide variety of beverage companies. Most of the products are loaded into a cooler in the front of the office and available to everyone. While some drinks fly off the shelf, others sit around for weeks on end. In this podcast, we discuss why this happens and attempt to delineate the reasons behind consumption decisions in the office.
In this edition of the BevNET podcast, Alex Matthews, the co-founder and CEO of Juice Served Here, discusses the thriving market for cold-pressed juice in Southern California -- “there’s probably going to come a moment when there’s a juicery on every street corner here in L.A.,” he says -- and why he believes “staying true to your mission” will be the key factor for success among the growing range of juice companies in the region.
The announcement follows a successful test in which DPSG distributed Core in Northern California, parts of Nevada and western Pennsylvania beginning in September, 2015. Core president and operating manager Paul Nadel said that the goal of the trial was “to see how the two companies interacted” and evaluate potential for a larger partnership.
Beyoncé’s investment was part of a capital raise that closed in February, according to WTRMLN WTR co-founder Jody Levy. That raise included funding from CAVU Venture Partners and other undisclosed investors, however, Levy declined to offer details on the total amount of the raise and Beyoncé’s contribution, citing investor confidentiality.
