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.
In a major step intended to further its commitment toward simple ingredients and transparency, Spindrift has removed all natural flavors and essences from its sparkling waters and will discontinue its soda line. Spindrift founder and CEO Bill Creelman called the moves “belief decisions” that address growing consumer concerns about added flavors and sugar.
The strategic initiative is intended to support a planned expansion of its production plant. The San Francisco-based company is currently working with two early-stage, non-competing brands and is looking for more, said CEO and co-founder Alison Zarrow.
As part of a wide-ranging interview recorded for this edition of the BevNET Podcast, Talking Rain president and CEO Kevin Klock discussed why the company is now looking at opportunities to acquire brands and how it’s evaluating potential deals in the U.S. and abroad.
Powell & Mahoney is thinking small. The premium cocktail mixer brand will roll out a new line of 12 oz. canned sparkling mixers drinks at next week’s Natural Products Expo West 2017.
Based on internal research that found approximately one-third of coffee consumers have an aversion to stevia, High Brew has removed the zero-calorie sweetener from three of its products.
The decision to shutter the stores, which sold freshly prepared juices, snacks and sandwiches on-premise, will allow Starbucks “to sharpen its strategic focus” on Evolution Fresh’s RTD line of cold-pressed, high pressure processed juices, according to a company spokesperson.
In this podcast, Michael Schwartz, the co-founder and managing partner of Organic Food Incubator, a shared production facility and resource center for early-stage food and beverage companies, delved into the current landscape for start-up brands in metro New York, discussed top-of-mind ingredient and formulations embraced by entrepreneurs in the region and shared his take on effective sales, retail and distribution strategies for new brand owners.
Big Geyser COO Jerry Reda oversees a distribution network that includes over 25,000 retail accounts in the tri-state area. It’s a 24/7 job, but Reda, who we recently interviewed for this edition of the BevNET Podcast, says that he wakes up every day and loves what he does.
Coconut water leader Vita Coco is getting into the growing pool of dairy-alternative drinks with the launch of “Coconutmilk,” a new plant-based beverage made with coconut water, coconut cream and filtered water and contains no added sugar or carrageenan.
The “Be Not Bland” campaign features a series of television advertisements designed to embrace “authenticity and individuality, celebrating the people, places and personalities that fill life with flavor and ‘not bland’ moments." In a call with BevNET, Talking Rain CEO Kevin Klock described the campaign as “a long-term platform that we can build on.”
Betting that consumer demand for cold brew will percolate beyond coffee and into the RTD tea segment, Ito En North America has developed a new range of “ice-steeped” cold brew teas. The company will debut the products, which stretch across three of its brands -- matcha LOVE, TEAS’ TEA Organic and Oi Ocha -- at the upcoming Natural Products Expo West 2017.
Starbucks today announced that a new line of bottled teas under its Teavana brand will soon hit the market in four states. The news comes approximately eight months after Starbucks and Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI) announced a partnership in which the beer giant would manufacture and distribute the teas.
Mike Repole, the co-founder of BodyArmor, is unsatisfied. Why? Because BodyArmor, despite its impressive growth in recent years, is not the world’s top-selling sports drink brand. Repole, who also co-founded vitaminwater and is a horse-racing magnate and billionaire, clearly does not lack ambition.
Tractor Soda founder Travis Potter praised the investment as a partnership that will align the company with AccelFoods’ broad network of industry contacts and provide guidance on corporate staffing.
