This episode highlights notable news and new products from the perspective of Taste Radio hosts Ray Latif, Jacqui Brugliera and Mike Schneider, a recap on beverage-related innovation, news and trends observed at the recently held 2021 NACS trade show and interviews with the founders of emerging brands Retreat Foods and Little Red Kitchen Bake Shop.
Pinpointing the target audience for a product requires both anticipation of demand as well as flexibility towards evolving trends—a balancing act that the RTD segment has shown it can handle with dexterity through data.
Spirit makers celebrated everything from brand anniversaries to traditional holidays this month with the launch of a wide range of limited-edition tequila and mezcal varieties. The new tequilas featured contain flavors ranging from lemon and vanilla to turkey breast and sherry wine.
Canopy Growth Corporation has entered a definitive agreement to acquire cannabis edibles maker Wana Wellness for $297.5 million, which will go into effect upon federal legalization of THC in the U.S.
“Don’t drink your calories” is a classic piece of health advice, and American consumers are increasingly following it as average overall calorie consumption from beverages has fallen 10% since 2014, according to a new progress report on the Beverage Calories Initiative (BCI).
More Labs, the parent company of hangover shot brand Morning Recovery, announced this week it has raised $10 million in a Series B funding round. The round was led by Btomorrow Ventures, an investment arm of British American Tobacco (BAT), owner of cigarette brands like Camel, American Spirit and Newport.
PepsiCo-owned yerba mate brand Yachak Organic has rolled out a rebrand for its line of 16 oz. beverages. The refresh presents not just an entirely new visual identity for the brand, which launched in 2017 as a subsidiary of Rockstar Energy, but also aims to more firmly position the drink in the energy space.
After initially seeking to raise over $100 million, The Vita Coco Company is now targeting around $224 million by issuing 11.5 million shares, priced between $18 and $21 each, as part of its initial public offering next Thursday, the company announced.
San Francisco-based Rhythm CBD Seltzers, is deepening its presence in its home market with the announcement of its first distribution partner, Bay Area distributor Danlies. In signing with Danline, Rhythm has landed with an early adopter of CBD products which also services brands like VYBES, Daytrip, Kickback, Proposition Cocktail Co. and Kefla Organics in over 900 accounts.
After learning the business from his grandfather, legendary tequilero Don Julio González-Frausto Estrada, Eduardo “Lalo” Gonzalez is seeking to establish his own legacy in the industry through his eponymous premium blanco tequila brand, LALO.
From national distribution to failed innovation to keto-driven disruption, it’s all in a decade’s work for Buddha Brands’ co-founders Chris Magnone and Mark Cigos, who we profile in this episode of Taste Radio. We also sat down with Jen Ballen and Joe Magliano, the co-founders of Otherworld Foods, an upstart brand that aligns locally sourced and upcycled ingredients with nostalgia-inspired products.
Energy brands find their footing in multi-format portfolios with new 16 oz. and 12 oz. offerings from established brands; Snapple drops "Diet" and adds new elemental SKUs; Coke unveils a slate of new innovations across its brand portfolio.
In 2019, Day One was initially positioned to be a leading beverage brand for Genius Fund, a multimillion dollar startup that aimed to become a multibillion dollar leader in the California cannabis market. Now, under new ownership, Day One is relaunching, announcing this week plans to enter retail in seven states as well as resuming online direct-to-consumer sales.
After years of effort by activists including multiple legislative attempts, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 45 into law yesterday, creating a regulatory framework to immediately allow for the legal sale of CBD-infused products.
