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.
For the past six years, Q Drinks’ founder Jordan Silbert has taken a slow and careful approach to line extensions, gradually evolving from a single-SKU tonic water to its current lineup, which includes a number of sodas and sparkling fruit drinks, all of which are packaged in glass bottles. Yet, when as massive a retailer as Target comes calling -- and is asking for cans -- Silbert knew that had to make a move and do it fast.
With updated branding, a new plastic package for its carbonated line and an emphasis on wider distribution of its products, Hint is positioning itself for broad growth in 2014. In this video, Hint CEO Kara Goldin discusses the company's approach to marketing and retail strategy amid a sea of competing products, as well as Hint’s widening consumer base and distribution opportunities created by the new PET bottle.
Despite the Fancy's Food's Show's penchant for lip-smacking and indulgent flavors, beverage companies aren't dim about the overall consumer shift toward healthier living, and several of those exhibiting at the recent event showcased new products aimed at health-focused consumers with a discerning palate.
With several intriguing product debuts and packaging updates from a number of the 50 beverage brands represented at the show, including Hint, Purity Organic, Califia Farms, ITO En and Q Drinks, attendees caught a glimpse of new beverage trends and innovation that are likely to remain on a steady course throughout 2014.
While HPP Food Services sees sustained growth in its high pressure processing business, a rising number of new and existing customers have begun to eschew capital investment in expensive juicing and pressing equipment in favor of contract production and co-packing services, and as result, it’s the company’s manufacturing arm that’s attracting an even greater level of interest and demand.
With a major round of investment in hand, Suja is set to launch a third line of cold-pressed/high pressure processed juice products, one that CEO Jeff Church hopes will catapult the brand into mainstream consciousness and attract a broad base of consumers.
In recent interview filmed on location at the company’s vast headquarters and juicery in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., founder and "Chief Juice Officer" Jimmy Rosenberg sat down with BevNET CEO John Craven for a wide-ranging interview in which Rosenberg offers his views on the rapid emergence of the cold-pressed juice category -- and its impact on the overall juice market -- as well as his long term vision for Evolution Fresh.
Three weeks after BevNET reported on the Tata Group’s decision to cease all new investment in Activate, co-founder Anders Eisner confirmed that he has acquired all financial interest in the brand from Tata as well as that of Tornante Co., the investment firm owned by his father, former Disney chief Michael Eisner. The deals were completed on Jan. 1, and while Eisner declined to share terms of the deals, he stated that he is now the sole owner of the company.
In a recent interview, Mamma Chia CEO Janie Hoffman explained that sales of of its chia-infused drinks have “doubled, if not tripled, with going into mainstream,” in large part due to rapidly growing awareness of chia -- and its nutritional content -- among mainstream consumers, and noted that the rapid and positive trajectory of the brand has given it the ability to innovate and take a leadership position in the world of chia.
Fueled by increased scrutiny and criticism about the energy drink category, nearly six in 10 Americans who are current consumers of the products say that they are concerned about potential health risks associated with the highly-caffeinated beverages, according to a new report from Mintel, a global research firm.
A new Wells Fargo Securities report covering Nielsen xAOC (expanded all outlets combined) sales data over a four-week period ending on Dec. 21 indicated that sales of carbonated soft drinks saw a minor decline in sales growth as compared to the same timeframe in the previous year, but that the category is still facing a difficult road ahead as consumers continue to shift to other beverage categories.
A new stevia sweetener jointly developed by The Coca-Cola Co. and said to have a closer taste to table sugar than other stevia products has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). On Monday, the FDA issued a No Objection GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) letter to Pure Circle, one that will allow the stevia producer to supply its Rebaudioside M (Reb M) ingredient for use in food and beverages.
Little Miracles, a line of tea-based, organic energy drinks that are distributed in 21 European countries, is aiming to make its U.S. launch next month, beginning in the Southern California market. The drinks, which are formulated with tea, fruit juice, Panex Ginseng, acai and agave, took in € 8 million (approximately $11 million) in 2013 sales.
When we asked attendees of BevNET Live Winter ’13 to describe their reactions to New Beverage Showdown 6, we heard a lot of the “same old, same old” about the beverage brand competition: compelling; dramatic; inspiring; nerve-wracking; sensational. Boring stuff, indeed.
