Expo East 2017 Video: MALK Hits Target, Stays The Course on HPP
Super-premium nut milk brand MALK continues to make headway in the conventional grocery channel and recently expanded its presence at Whole Foods.
Ray Latif
Producer, Taste Radio; Contributing Editor, BevNET
Ray has been with BevNET since March 2011 and oversees strategic planning and content for the Taste Radio podcast, BevNET's education platform and various aspects of BevNET conferences.
Posts by Ray Latif
Taste Radio Ep. 76: Bill Creelman Discusses Spindrift’s Crafty Strategy; MCT’s Moment
Episode 76 features a wide-ranging interview with Spindrift founder/CEO Bill Creelman, we explore the emergence of MCT oil, and chat it up with James Fayel, the founder and CEO of Zest Tea, in this week’s Elevator Talk. This episode is presented by Algarithm Ingredients.
Expo East 2017 Video: Trends and Insights
As expected, Expo East 2017 was a key showcase for innovative and on-trend product launches in both nascent and established beverage categories. Sorting through the nearly 200 drink exhibitors at the event, BevNET's John Craven and Ray Latif offer their take on the most notable and impactful new products for the industry in the above video.
Expo East 2017 Video: Evolution Fresh Unveils New Look, Probiotic & Plant-Based Protein Sublines
Cold-pressed juice pioneer Evolution Fresh unveiled a major packaging revamp and two probiotic-infused sublines at Expo East 2017. The Starbucks-owned brand also announced its commitment to 100 percent organic ingredients and formulations by 2019.
Taste Radio Ep. 75: Grandy Oats’ Founders on Why Authenticity Matters; The Evolution of Plant-Based “Meat”
Taste Radio Ep. 75 features an interview with Aaron Anker and Nat Peirce, who are the co-founders of organic granola maker Grandy Oats. We also explore the growing market for plant-based meat in the latest edition of Why is This a Thing? And we chat with Cindy Kasindorf, the co-Founder of Remedy Organics in this week’s Elevator Talk. This episode is presented by Virun.
Taste Radio Ep. 74: How Matt Thomas Built One of The Fastest Growing Kombucha Brands in the U.S.; Meet The Bitter Housewife
In a conversation with BevNET assistant editor Marty Caballero, Thomas discussed the origins of Townshend's, a premium tea retailer based in Portland, Ore., and its development of Brew Dr., which has become one of the fastest-growing brands in the breakout kombucha category. This week's episode of Taste Radio is presented by Virun.
Taste Radio Ep. 73: How Can Premiumization and Portland Define a Rich Career? Ask Joth Ricci.
This week’s episode of Taste Radio features a captivating interview with Joth Ricci, a veteran beverage executive with one of the most diverse, interesting and impactful track records of anyone in the industry. Over a 17-year career, Ricci has held roles as president of Stumptown Coffee, president and CEO of Jones Soda and managing director with beverage investment and advisory firm First Beverage Group. We recently traveled to Portland, Ore. to meet with Ricci, who is currently the president/CEO of Adelsheim Vineyard.
Taste Radio Ep. 72: Biena Bets on Big Future for Whole Food Protein; High Brew Coffee Takes Us For a Ride
Ep. 72 of Taste Radio features a conversation with Poorvi Patodia, founder and CEO of Biena, a fast-growing maker of roasted chickpea snacks. Patovia discussed how the combination of familiar snack flavors and a healthy, whole food option continues to win over investors, distributors, retailers and consumers.
Taste Radio Ep. 71: Why Intelligentsia’s Doug Zell Will Never Be Satisfied; Runa’s Gage Is “Fully Alive”
Ep. 71 of the podcast includes an interview with Doug Zell, co-founder, Intelligentsia Coffee. Zell discussed how Intelligentsia’s relentless pursuit for improvement permeates its retail and packaged coffee business and why “quality will always find an audience."
Taste Radio Ep. 70: Suja CEO Jeff Church: Here’s How To Make Your Own Luck; Kefir’s Moment
This week's episode spotlights a recent conversation with Jeff Church, the co-founder and CEO of Suja, who opined on the role of luck in business, why a thorough understanding of consumer demand is critical to success, and explained how “the rule of twos” helped steer the company through its growth and development.
Koa Ceases Operations, Founder Joins Dirty Lemon as COO
Unable to secure the necessary funding to continue production of its uniquely formulated beverages, Koa has shut down. Launched in 2009, the company developed a proprietary process to extract sugar and calories from a blend of fruit and vegetable juices, resulting in a clear, nutrient-rich drink that Koa marketed as “olakino.”
Taste Radio Ep. 69: Jon Sebastiani Is Kraving The Next Big Thing; Staying Hungry with Marketing Guru Greg Fleishman
This week’s episode of Taste Radio features a wide-ranging conversation with Krave Jerky and Sonoma Brands founder Jon Sebastiani. Recorded at the 2017 Summer Fancy Food Show, Sebastiani delved into his background in the food and beverage industry as an heir to a legacy wine family and talked about what spurred him to strike out on his own with Krave.
Coffee So Good Blooms From Midwest Roots, Real Ingredient Focus
Launched in 2016, the coffees are formulated with whole, clean label ingredients and come in five varieties, including Lavender Nutte and Cashew Mocha.
Drake Invests in MatchaBar, Whole Foods Picks Up RTD Line Nationwide
Matcha beverage maker and retailer MatchaBar is nearing completion of a new Series A funding round that includes rap icon Drake as an investor. The $2.5 million round is expected to close within the next few weeks and comes on the heels of a new national distribution deal with Whole Foods.