CPG Week Podcast

This week on the podcast, Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and senior reporter Brad Avery examine four stories shaping the packaged food industry: the seed funding round fueling a drink mix startup’s retail expansion, The EVERY Company’s latest step toward commercializing precision-fermented egg white proteins, Welch's bid to disrupt the frozen sandwich category, and the FDA's push for greater transparency around caffeine content.

In this episode: This week on the podcast, Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and senior reporter Lukas Southard discuss Kim Kardashian’s new energy beverage venture, Hippeas’ once-in-a-decade brand refresh, a class action complaint against functional iced tea brand Halfday Tonics, and new funding and distribution gains for Seth Goldman’s Just Ice Tea. Show Highlights: 0:20 – Reality-star-turned-entrepreneur Kim Kardashian has officially entered the beverage world, joining paraxanthine-powered energy drink UPDATE as a co-founder ahead of its national rollout to Walmart stores this spring. Monica details the partnership. 3:20 – After a decade in the market, chickpea-based snack brand Hippeas has made its most dramatic packaging design change yet. Lukas shares more. 4:45 – Functional iced tea brand Halfday Tonics has been hit with a proposed class action lawsuit, taking aim at the brand’s stated “prebiotic benefits.” Monica spills the tea. 7:10 – Speaking of tea, Just Ice Tea has closed a $9 million Series B funding round, backed by investors such as Total Wine & More co-founder Robert Trone, Taste Tomorrow Ventures, Polar Strategic Ventures and executives from New York DSD house Big Geyser. About CPG Week CPG Week is the podcast that explores the latest happenings in the consumer packaged goods industry. Join our seasoned reporting team as they dish out the week’s stories in quick, easy-to-digest episodes. Catch up on the top headlines of the week, dive into exclusive insights with the BevNET and Nosh teams, and set yourself up to make more informed business decisions. Tune in to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the dynamic world of packaged food and beverage. New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to [email protected]. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

In this episode: In this episode of CPG Week, Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and senior reporter Lukas Southard discuss recent investments in Bloom Nutrition, Tost and Magic Mind, plus meal kit makeovers and marathon-friendly food and beverage brands. Show Highlights: 0:15 – Nutrabolt has taken a majority stake in Bloom Nutrition, strengthening its position in categories including energy drinks and powdered supplements. Monica digs into the terms of the deal. 2:30 – Booze-free trailblazer Tost has secured over $1 million in bridge funding as it grows its distribution and targets on-premise opportunities with a new canned format. 5:05 – The meal kit market is in transition. Monica explains how Factor and Blue Apron are repositioning for today’s consumer needs. 6:40 – Magic Mind has raised $12.4 million of a nearly $16 million Series A round led by BFG Partners. Lukas breaks down what’s next for the wellness shot brand. 8:25 – Liquid Death goes up to 11, and a shoutout to runner-friendly food and beverage brands. About CPG Week CPG Week is the podcast that explores the latest happenings in the consumer packaged goods industry. Join our seasoned reporting team as they dish out the week’s stories in quick, easy-to-digest episodes. Catch up on the top headlines of the week, dive into exclusive insights with the BevNET and Nosh teams, and set yourself up to make more informed business decisions. Tune in to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the dynamic world of packaged food and beverage. New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to [email protected]. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

In this episode: The CPG Week team discusses the launch of a new soda line from sparkling water maker Spindrift just a month after its sale to a private equity group. Then, the group digs into the details of Celsius Holdings’ $1.8 billion acquisition of competitor Alani Nu and examines how the deal could impact distribution in the energy drink category as well as what the sale spells for prior owner (and PRIME maker) Congo Brands. Show Highlights: 0:30 – Pepperoni pizza soda – sip or spit? The group opines on Perfy’s limited-edition savory soft drink and why flavor novelty is a solid strategy for standing out in a crowded segment. 3:55 – And speaking of soda… Spindrift SODA is finally here. BevNET and Nosh senior reporter Brad Avery details the latest launch from sparkling water brand Spindrift just a month after its acquisition by Gryphon Investors. 7:40 – Celsius Holdings is set to acquire competitor Alani Nu for a cool $1.8 billion. Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous ponders how these two female-positioned beverage brands will benefit from the deal. 8:45 – Brad charts Alani Nu’s performance in the energy drink category compared to other emerging players. 9:10 – BevNET and Nosh senior reporter Lukas Southard questions how the deal will impact distribution, and Brad analyzes what the sale means for Alani Nu’s previous owner Congo Brands. About CPG Week CPG Week is the podcast that explores the latest happenings in the consumer packaged goods industry. Join our seasoned reporting team as they dish out the week’s stories in quick, easy-to-digest episodes. Catch up on the top headlines of the week, dive into exclusive insights with the BevNET and Nosh teams, and set yourself up to make more informed business decisions. Tune in to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the dynamic world of packaged food and beverage. New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to [email protected]. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

In this episode: Who doesn’t want a personal vending machine in their garage? The CPG Week talks about poppi’s recent publicity stunt and the backlash that has ensued before exploring how the CPG industry is evolving with convenience stores. A recent CoBank report highlighted how foodservice is making an impact with consumers in c-stores. The CPG Week team explores how the channel is offering fresh opportunities and new challenges to food and beverage brands. Show Highlights: 0:30 – There have been a lot of opinions about poppi’s vending machine marketing campaign that launched during the Super Bowl last weekend. The CPG Week team gives its takes. 4:15 – Senior reporter Brad Avery explains what he learned from a recent CoBank report about foodservice in the convenience channel. The group discusses how CPG brands are evolving with a shift in consumer buying behavior in the channel. 7:00 – How are next-generation brands adjusting strategy to better align with how consumers are using c-stores as food destinations as opposed to just a snack stop while filling the gas tank? 9:20 – Operating in the convenience channel is different than grocery retail. How are CPG operators prioritizing their distribution to meet a brand’s target audience? What does this mean for the larger food and beverage companies? 13:15 – The team discusses how the evolution of convenience stores towards better-for-you brands represents a recent shift in consumer behavior. About CPG Week CPG Week is the podcast that explores the latest happenings in the consumer packaged goods industry. Join our seasoned reporting team as they dish out the week’s stories in quick, easy-to-digest episodes. Catch up on the top headlines of the week, dive into exclusive insights with the BevNET and Nosh teams, and set yourself up to make more informed business decisions. Tune in to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the dynamic world of packaged food and beverage. New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to [email protected]. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

In this episode: On CPG Week, the podcast team talks about Keurig Dr Pepper’s (KDP) acquisition of GHOST Energy, Olipop’s sports sponsorship ambitions and a look at Whole Foods Market’s Trend Forecast. After briefly discussing Thanksgiving side dishes, the CPG Week team unpacks KDP’s nearly $1 billion deal to acquire GHOST. Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and senior reporters Brad Avery and Lukas Southard discuss how this deal could change the energy drink category and distribution partnerships. The team moves on to Olipop’s growing portfolio of sports team partnerships and how it is becoming a formula for disrupting a category. Monica wraps up the show with a brief explanation of the Whole Foods 2025 trends list. Show Highlights: 0:30 – Is lighting a candle scented as green bean casserole the best way to usher in the holiday season? The team debates Thanksgiving dishes and whether they should be part of Campbell’s new holiday-themed candle campaign. 1:45 – Brad explains why the news of KDP acquiring GHOST was somewhat surprising and how this fits into the beverage maker’s aim to build a suite of energy drinks and supplements. 4:45 – What does this deal mean for distribution in the energy category and the current appetite for bigger M&A deals? 7:30 – Prebiotic soda brand Olipop has lined up a series of sports partnerships with professional teams and in arenas and stadiums. The group discusses why these deals are becoming a common avenue for emerging brands to gain awareness while also testing the waters by going head-to-head with Big Soda strategics. 14:00 – What trends will shape 2025? Monica runs through Whole Foods Market’s list of predictions. About the CPG Week CPG Week is the podcast that explores the latest happenings in the consumer packaged goods industry. Join our seasoned reporting team as they dish out the week’s stories in quick, easy-to-digest episodes. Catch up on the top headlines of the week, dive into exclusive insights with the BevNET and Nosh teams, and set yourself up to make more informed business decisions. Tune in to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the dynamic world of packaged food and beverage. New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to [email protected]. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

In this episode: On this episode of CPG Week, the podcast team talks about “zombie brands,” a rumored mega-merger of snacks and sweets, a recap of earnings, and another lawsuit for PRIME. Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and senior reporter Lukas Southard are joined by BevNET managing editor Martín Caballero in a packed episode where they talk about the idea of zombie brands and how it relates to other CPG categories (and Steven Seagal movies?). The group also discusses a rumored acquisition of Kellanova brands by Mars and what this could mean for both food companies. Afterwards, the team goes on to review recent beverage company earnings reports and yet another legal case filed against Logan Paul’s PRIME beverage company. Show Highlights: 0:30 – Nostalgia is in and the podcast hosts discuss what discontinued CPG products should make a comeback. They share their favorite long-lost items from bubbly beverages to one of the OGs of the bar category. 3:15 – After reading a recent story in Modern Retail focused on the increasing amount of “zombie brands,” the team discusses how this idea relates to alternative meats and its links to the influx of new brands that came out of the pandemic and have since stalled as investment has waned. 8:15 – What could it mean for Kellanova to be acquired by sweets maker Mars and what does this foretell for both companies? The CPG Week podcast jumps into the rumors swirling around these food giants’ possible merger. 12:30 – Marty goes over recent earnings from Celsius and BellRing Brands with a look towards how the large strategics are utilizing their distribution networks to buoy revenue. 15:00 – PRIME is in more legal hot water after beverage manufacturer Refresco filed a $67 million lawsuit alleging Logan Paul’s brand backed out of a production deal. Marty goes through this latest suit and what it could mean for others in the energy and sports drink categories. About the CPG Week CPG Week is the podcast that explores the latest happenings in the consumer packaged goods industry. Join our seasoned reporting team as they dish out the week’s stories in quick, easy-to-digest episodes. Catch up on the top headlines of the week, dive into exclusive insights with the BevNET and Nosh teams, and set yourself up to make more informed business decisions. Tune in to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the dynamic world of packaged food and beverage. New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to [email protected]. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts