Ray Latif

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.

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Posts by Ray Latif

BevNET TV: AQUAhydrate Gets Famous

Attention grocery and convenience store retailers: you may soon find yourself having a face-to-face meeting with the celebrity rapper, actor, and fashion maven known simply as “Diddy.” In short, he wants to sell you water. On Wednesday, Sean “Diddy” Combs and actor/producer Mark Wahlberg took the stage at a recent press conference to officially announce their involvement in enhanced water brand AQUAHydrate and their roles in driving business strategy and retail development of the brand.

Energizing the Natural Matrix: NEO to Launch Organic Energy Drink

The plan is simple: leverage the brand strength and distribution gains of NEO Water in the natural channel to launch an energy drink where few products currently exist. The execution? It’ll take some time, but the strategy appears to – excuse the expression – hold water.

Expo West Debut: Sambazon’s New Smoothies, Cleanse Program

With Natural Products Expo West just over a week away, Sambazon has unveiled two new varieties to its line of organic superfood smoothies and a new line of cleanse products. While Sambazon will debut its Energy Mocha Java and Blended Breakfast smoothies at the upcoming show, the company will hold off on an official launch for Purifying Cleanse, a line of three organic superfood beverages, which is being test marketed exclusively at Costco stores in California and Texas.

Expo West Debut: Sneaky Pete’s New Packaging

Sneaky Pete’s has completely overhauled the packaging for its line of oat-based drinks and will debut the new look at the upcoming Natural Products Expo West show. The revamp comes amid growing consumer awareness of oat beverages, a nascent category that – according to one industry expert - appears primed for a breakout year.

Popcorn! Peanuts! Amway Energy Drinks!

Amway (yes, that Amway) has opened up its first U.S. storefront in a rather odd place: Citi Field, home of the New York Mets. The multi-billion dollar direct seller of household and consumer goods, including XS energy drinks and shots, announced that The Amway Business Center at Citi Field will be “a dynamic, one-of-a-kind facility” that will allow its sales agents “to freely connect, learn new valuable insights, and share the exciting Amway opportunity with prospects.”

Mamma Chia is Making Moves

A couple years ago, Janie Hoffman was blending chia seed and juice drinks in the kitchen of her home. Today, Hoffman is at the helm of one of the fastest growing natural beverage companies in the U.S., and following a breakout year for Mamma Chia, the company announced three moves aimed at supporting and extending that growth.

Bossa Nova Becomes Latest Casualty of 2013

Less than four years after acquiring the brand, Beverages Holdings, LLC, the parent company of Sunny Delight Beverages Co., has discontinued Bossa Nova, the line of açai and superfruit juice drinks that was once pegged as a rising star in beverage industry. Bossa Nova is the latest casualty of 2013 following the shutdown of protein drink line Mix1, Bean & Body coffee drinks, and beverage incubator Brain-Twist.

PepsiCo CFO: Sweetener Innovation Could Fundamentally Change Cola Business

Following PepsiCo’s fourth quarter earnings call last week in which CEO Indra Nooyi announced that the company will lead the cola category via “disruptive innovation,” its CFO stated that its work with new natural sweeteners could “fundamentally change some of the elements of the core product offering in carbonated soft drinks.”

Expo West Intro: Califia Farms Iced Coffee with AlmondMilk

In the midst of rising demand for iced coffee products, Califia Farms announced that it will throw its hat into the ring with a new line of natural coffee drinks designed for vegan and non-soy consumers. Califia Farms, which markets a line of natural juices and almond milk products, will introduce Califia Farms Iced Coffee with AlmondMilk at the upcoming Natural Products Expo West show.

Honest Tea Looks to Make a Splash With New Kids Line

Extending its reach in the kids’ beverage category, Honest Tea has introduced Honest Splash, a new line of 70-calorie juice drinks. In a statement, Honest Tea called the products an “evolution of the Honest Kids brand” that is designed for older children. Honest Splash will be sold exclusively at Target from mid-March until the end of June, when the drinks will roll out to other retailers.

Beverage Industry Seeks Delay in Enforcement of NYC Soda Ban

Opponents of New York City's impending ban on large format sugary drinks appeared in court today in hopes of delaying its enforcement until a lawsuit filed against the city is settled. Beverage marketers and retailers attempted to persuade Manhattan state Supreme Court Justice Milton Tingling that if ban does go into effect as planned, companies risk losing sales if the ban is ultimately deemed unlawful.

Monster Goes for Nutrition, Muscle

After months of vociferous criticism from elected officials and consumer advocates who allege that its products are inadequately labeled, Monster Beverage Corp. will begin using a “Nutrition Facts” panel on its energy drinks and introduce labeling that includes the caffeine content of its products, according to the Associated Press.

Starbucks Takes Evolution Fresh Eastward

Fourteen months after acquiring the brand, Starbucks today launched Evolution Fresh products in its cafés in New York City and Boston. The company said that while East Coast availability of Evolution Fresh will initially be limited to its stores in the two cities, the expansion “furthers growth plans to be in approximately 8,000 Starbucks and grocery locations by the end of the year.”

Say Aloe To a Rebrand: ChanTea Becomes TEAloe

Shedding the Asian-themed elements of the product in favor of an ingredient-focused name and package, Gourmetti Brands has rebranded ChanTea as TEAloe. The new label will place greater emphasis on the tea/aloe combination brand’s brewed tea content in hopes of eliciting stronger consumer awareness and connection to the brand, as well as a more robust presence alongside other tea beverages.