Can 5-hour’s “New and Improved Taste” Sway Consumers?
With the declaration that all 5-hour products have been reformulated to achieve a better taste profile, Living Essentials is hoping to quell some consumer unease with the energy shots.
Ray Latif
Producer, Taste Radio; Contributing Editor, BevNET
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.
Posts by Ray Latif
It’s True: Pepsi Expands Distribution, Adds New Sizes of Stevia-Infused Cola
Three months removed from PepsiCo’s launch of Pepsi True, a mid-calorie cola sweetened with stevia, the beverage and snack giant is now expanding distribution and introducing new sizes of the product to three U.S. cities.
Urban Remedy CEO: “Organic Food is the Bigger Opportunity”
As part of a wide-ranging interview, CEO Paul Coletta described Urban Remedy as "an organic food company that does juice, not a juice company that does food."
Pivotal Move: Vital Juice Scraps “Micro-juicery” Model, Begins Co-Packing
Vital Juice has liquidated its facilities in favor a business now predicated on working with regional co-packers that are also equipped with in-house HPP capabilities.
Video: Grady’s Cold-Brew Opens Up on “Bean Bags,” Non-Traditional Retail
Grady's co-founder Dave Sands described the bean bags as a critical extension for the brand, which had been limited at retail because its primary offering, a bottled liquid concentrate, requires refrigeration.
Distribution News, Brand Updates from the 2015 Winter Fancy Food Show and Beyond
Rounding out our coverage of the 2015 Winter Fancy Food Show is the following news regarding distribution gains for brands exhibiting at the event as well as updates on line extensions and product revamps.
Seeing Green: WhiteWave Invests $3 Million in HPP Juice Brand Daily Greens
Daily Greens founder Martin noted that while “several” strategic investors had expressed interest in the company, WhiteWave was “the right fit for us.”
Video: Pok Pok Som Uses Mixed Strategy to Market Drinking Vinegar
The biggest question for drinking vinegar is probably the most obvious one: how do you get people to buy it?
Video: After Greenshoots Shutters, Revive Kombucha Carves New DSD Path
Sean Lovett may have been wistful for the old days, but he had a business to run, and in the weeks leading to Greenshoots’ demise, he prepared for a transition in distribution, namely by creating his own.
Shaking Things Up: A Q&A with Powell & Mahoney Co-Founder Mark Mahoney
At the recently held 2015 Winter Fancy Food Show, we sat down with Mark Mahoney, co-founder of Powell & Mahoney, to discuss the evolution of the cocktail mixer category and how his company is keeping up with a burgeoning shelf set, as well as new retail and distribution opportunities for craft-centric brands and trends we can expect to see blossom in the coming months.
Video: The Evolution of Specialty on Display at the 2015 Winter Fancy Food Show
In this video, we examine what categories have benefited and how brands have adapted their retail and distribution strategies to take advantage of an evolved specialty channel.
Winter Fancy Food Show 2015 Photo Gallery: New Products, Brand Updates
Circling the show floor, BevNET visited with dozens of the beverage booths at the event and came away with a number of highlights regarding brand innovation, line extensions and new products.
Winter Fancy Food Show 2015: Cold-Brew Coffee, Kombucha Make Headway in Specialty and Beyond
An uptick of cold-brew coffee and kombucha exhibitors signals a desire for brands in each category to take on a greater market presence via the specialty channel and beyond.
Constellation Brands Names Bill Newlands as Chief Growth Officer
“With the addition of a Chief Growth Officer to the leadership team, we are creating a new structure within the business that will build upon our current successes and focus on long-term, margin enhancing and profitable growth opportunities across our beer, wine and spirits businesses," said Constellation CEO Rob Sands.