CPG Week Podcast

In this episode: This week on the podcast, Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and senior reporter Lukas Southard discuss how Gatorade is courting dehydrated non-athletes, Laird Superfood’s acquisition strategy, the impact of GLP-1s on consumer purchasing behavior and what’s happening in hemp. Show Highlights: 0:20 – Gatorade is entering a “transformational new era” as it broadens its addressable audience beyond elite athletes and platforms with multiple tiers of hydration products. 2:45 – With help from its new majority investor, Nexus Capital Partners, Laird Superfood has made its second acquisition in less than six months, establishing itself as a buyer in the functional wellness set. 6:00 – How are GLP-1 drugs impacting CPG food and beverage? Monica dives into recent data from sales and marketing company Acosta Group, tracing purchasing trends. 9:45 – Lukas goes through the latest intoxicating hemp category news, including a legislative solution proposed by Sen. Rand Paul and how industry stakeholders are safeguarding against the impending November ban. 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: This week, the podcast explores the implications of the Congressional spending bill on the hemp beverage industry and why there is a silver lining to the defined timeline for product sales. Senior reporters Brad Avery and Lukas Southard also discuss Gopuff’s big investment round and why there is so much synergy between energy drinks and fitness supplements. The podcasters conclude the episode with a taste test of new beverages and snacks. Show Highlights: 0:20 – Hemp is facing an existential crisis after Congress passed its newest spending bill, putting a 365-day timeline in place for hemp-derived beverage sales to continue. Brad and Lukas discuss what stakeholders have been saying in the last week, what we might see moving forward with lobbying efforts and what could happen in the broader cannabis industry. 8:00 – Gopuff has secured a $250 million investment as it puts more resources behind its artificial intelligence technology that will make the online grocery delivery platform more efficient. 9:00 – Another fitness supplement brand, RAW Nutrition, is aiming to go deeper in energy drinks with its BUM Energy brand by adding significant industry experience to its team. Brad and Lukas discuss the trend of gym supplement brands finding a broad consumer base with energy drinks. 12:45 – For the first time in a long time, Brad and Lukas are in the same room recording so the two reporters decided to try new food and drink together and discuss how these samples represent some trends in their respective categories. 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 Brad Avery analyze the evolution of private label from off-brand to on-trend. The podcasters also discuss recent examples of the protein craze in Wandering Bear’s new latte line and Brami’s lupini bean-based pasta. Additionally, the hosts dig into British mixer brand Fever-Tree’s partnership with Molson Coors and an interesting new innovation in the frozen aisle. Show Highlights: 0:15 – Grocer retailers are beefing up private label assortments with a focus on protein, global flavors and premium positioning. Monica explains how consumer perceptions of store brands are changing. 3:15 – Cold brew coffee maker Wandering Bear is leaning into the protein craze. Brad highlights the strategy behind the latest launch. 5:00 – Can America’s obsession with protein drive mainstream adoption of the lupini bean. Italian food company Brami believes so. 6:30 – British mixer brand Fever-Tree is benefiting from its partnership with Molson Coors. Brad breaks down the deal. 8:05 – Brad and Monica discuss functional ice cubes and the return of RC Cola (What? It never left?). 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 Brad Avery dig into an acquisition, an acquisition attempt and an acquisition target, as well as an artificial intelligence mishap. Show Highlights: 0:15 – Daring Foods has been acquired by v2food with backing by Ajinomoto. Monica details why the plant-based poultry producer is a sizzling target in a fizzling category. 2:20 – Is the third time the charm? Danone has made yet another attempt to acquire kefir maker Lifeway Foods. Brad explains why this effort may be different. 5:05 – Is Bachan’s on the block? The Japanese barbecue sauce brand is reportedly testing the market for a sale. Monica shares insights on the business and category. 6:10 – Bang Energy founder Jack Owoc is in hot water with a Florida federal judge after submitting court paperwork generated by artificial intelligence and featuring imaginary legal citations. 8:45 – Graza is getting into glass, and the New York State Fair is getting into butter. Also, the hosts shout out beverage entrepreneur Kayla Castaneda for helping to create the canned aguas frescas category in the U.S. 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 talk through two legal battles facing Chobani’s La Colombe brand and Uncle Nearest Whiskey. The team also examines Doughlicious’ new investment round and Beyond’s decision to rebrand itself away from the “meat” alternatives. The duo wrap up with a discussion of this year’s Nosh Notables list released this week. Show Highlights: 0:15 – Doughlicious announced a $5 million investment round this week. The money will go towards helping build out a U.S.-based manufacturing system as tariffs have prevented the U.K. brand from becoming profitable. 1:15 – Amid Danone’s third attempt to acquire Lifeway, the French dairy company is also suing Chobani again. This time, Danone is claiming La Colombe has committed trademark infringement of one of the Stok Cold Brew brand’s SKUs. 2:30 – Beyond Meat is changing its name to refocus the brand away from being an animal protein alternative. The move is part of the company’s larger plan to bring consumers back to the brand after years of slumping sales. 4:00 – Uncle Nearest Whiskey is under fire as one of its creditors is calling for the distillery to be placed under the leadership of a receiver. 5:30 – On a lighter note, Monica and Lukas discuss breast milk ice cream, a High Noon and Celsius mix-up, and this year’s Nosh Notables. 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 this episode, the CPG Week podcast team digs into the declines of two prominent plant-based brands before discussing the acquisitions of Mary’s Gone Crackers and Kate Farms. Next, the hosts highlight the latest celebrity to launch a coffee brand. (Maybe a hot sauce would have been more appropriate?). Show Highlights: 0:15 – The team kicks off the podcast discussing the downfall of mycelium meat maker Meati, who is reportedly selling for $4 million – after raising a total of $450 million during its lifespan. Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous provides a rundown of recent events that led to this point. 2:15 – Beyond Meat is also on the backburner. The plant-based patty purveyor recently secured $100 million in debt financing after a particularly brutal quarter that saw U.S. retail and foodservice sales declining by double digits. 5:00 – Senior reporter Brad Avery unpacks the sale of gluten-free pioneer Mary’s Gone Crackers to a Dare Foods subsidiary. What does it mean for the company going forward? 5:55 – Danone has struck a deal for Kate Farms, a maker of plant-based baby formula. The French dairy giant expands its reach into a new segment of the market. Brad discusses why the acquisition is consistent with Danone’s recently stated goals. 6:55 – Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis is launching a coffee business (and speaking at BevNET Live!), Mid-Day Squares co-founder Jake Karls can finally eat his brand’s products, and Pepsi is playing dirty in Coke’s backyard. 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 this episode of CPG Week, senior reporters Brad Avery and Lukas Southard walk through the biggest news items of the week. The reporters discuss Guayakí’s rebrand to Yerba Madre, how intoxicating hemp brands have leveraged DTC to grow and a pair of recent earnings reports showing a slow start to the year. Brad and Lukas finish up with a welfare check on Free Bird founder Jay Williams after a playfully disturbing post on LinkedIn. Show Highlights: 0:20 – Say bye to Guayakí and hello to Yerba Madre. Brad runs through his recent conversation with Yerba Madre (formerly Guayakí) CEO Ben Mand about the rebrand and how it reaffirms the tea maker as the flagbearer for yerba mate in the U.S. 2:30—Lukas updates Brad on the most recent regulatory wins and losses for the intoxicating hemp beverage category. The two discuss how the category is growing online amid a push for closer alignment with beverage alcohol. 6:30 – Ghost has been sued by Mondelēz, which claims that the energy drink brand cannot use the trademarks for Sour Patch Kids, Oreo, Swedish Fish and Chips Ahoy after being acquired by Keurig Dr Pepper. 8:00 – Lukas runs through Celsius’ “slow start” to the year with its Q1 earnings. Brad chimes in with Black Rifle Coffee’s latest quarterly earnings, also representing lower revenue growth. 9:45 – On a lighter note, the duo discusses a comical post from Free Bird canned water’s founder Jay Williams about a recent run-in with McDonald’s Hamburglar. 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