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.
Golazo founder and CEO Richard Tait said that despite continued growth of the brand in natural and conventional grocery channels as well as a loyal customer base, the company hadn’t reached profitability and was unable to secure the capital necessary to “take it to the next level.”
In the following gallery, culled from our social media coverage of the Fancy Food Show, we offer a comprehensive look at new products and brand updates from beverage companies exhibiting at the event.
Earlier this week Hensley & Co., an Anheuser Busch InBev distributorship based in Tucson, Ariz., announced that it has acquired Golden Eagle Distributors, and along with it the beer wholesaler’s non-alcoholic-focused Spike Beverage DSD unit.
Sipp Sparkling Organics today announced that, beginning in March, four of the brand’s varieties will be carried by 1,200 Target stores across the U.S.
Ever the high pressure innovator, FreshBev believes its future is in the bag.
In an interview filmed at BevNET Live Winter 2015, Rebecca Messina, VEB’s Senior Vice President of Marketing & Innovation, offers insight into how the Coca-Cola unit identifies high-potential growth brands.
Despite challenges building awareness and educating consumers about its uniquely formulated calorie- and sugar-free juices, Koa is making headway using a carefully planned marketing strategy to carve out shelf space in specialty and natural retailers in Southern California, Texas and parts of the Northeast.
Suja has rebranded its mainstream-oriented line of high pressure processed (HPP) juices and smoothies, dropping the word Essentials from its labels and more prominently calling out the products’ organic formulation and ingredients.
This brief video highlights a few memorable moments from the conference -- including speaker clips from Suja CEO Jeff Church, Stumptown Coffee president Joth Ricci and Bulletproof founder Dave Asprey -- as documented and edited by BevNET videographer Matt Rogers.
Moon Juice's expansion plans follow the addition of former Evolution Fresh executive Shawn Sugarman as president of the company.
Peet's eyes a super-premium future as cold brew becomes the beachhead.
JAB chairman Bart Becht hailed the deal as “a major step forward in the creation of our global coffee platform,” one that has rapidly expanded in recent weeks with JAB-controlled Peet’s acquiring Stumptown Coffee and taking majority ownership of Intelligentsia Coffee.
Earlier this year Bulletproof, a brand best known for a recipe of grass-fed butter-and-oil-infused coffee that is said to increase energy and improve health, opened its first retail store. In this video, BevNET speaks with manager Christopher Szeto about the brick-and-mortar location and its role in sharing the brand's philosophy of "biohacking."
The company, which in June launched a brand revamp -- dropping the word "soda" from its labels -- secured new placement in Target, Costco and Aplus/Sunoco and Holiday convenience stores. Dry is also in the midst of a test with Starbucks, which is the carrying the brand's Cucumber and Vanilla Bean varieties in its San Diego cafes through December.
