CPG Week Podcast

In this episode: On CPG Week, the podcast team talks about how retaliatory tariffs are plaguing the export market for American craft distillers. Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and senior reporters Lukas Southard and Brad Avery are joined by special guest BevNET spirits editor Ferron Salniker to discuss a recent feature she wrote about how craft distillers have been pulled into a long simmering trade war. The group discusses the history of export taxes on American-made products, the impending reinstatement of various tariffs that impact liquor makers and what the potential impact could be on smaller producers. Show Highlights: 0:30 – What does an espresso turkey-tini taste like? The group discussed their thoughts on the Thanksgiving-themed marketing campaign from Reynolds Wrap. 2:00 – As the presidential election comes to a head, both campaigns are talking about tariffs. Ferron explains why this conversation is especially important for the country’s craft distilling industry. 4:45 – Ferron explains how craft distillers are preparing for the tariffs to go back into effect in March 2025 and how it relates to a series of retaliatory tariffs that have rocked global exports of spirits among many other products unrelated to beverage. 10:15 – How does this relate to an overstock of American whiskey and the increased demand that has developed over the last decade? Ferron helps the team understand the complicated relationship between craft distillers and the economics of operating in the export market. 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 CPG Week, the podcast team talks about the PepsiCo acquisition of Siete Foods, uncertainty about the future of a low-carbohydrate baking company and some high-profile beverage industry leadership changes. The podcast hosts jump into the biggest deal of the last couple of weeks: Pepsi announcing its intent to acquire Mexican American, grain-free food maker Siete. After discussing how Siete’s new potential owners might grow and change the brand, the CPG Week team tries to unravel rumors circulating around better-for-you baking company BetterBrand. Finishing up the podcast, senior reporter Brad Avery goes through the latest leadership changes at enhanced water brand Lemon Perfect and canned water maker Liquid Death. Show Highlights: 0:30 – The group discusses one of the stranger Halloween-themed marketing stunts: an Airheads candy scented foot spray. 2:00 – Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous goes through what we know so far about the proposed acquisition of Siete Foods by snack and beverage strategic PepsiCo. The team walks through what this could mean for the brand and what it has come to represent to consumers. 7:30 – Senior reporter Lukas Southard explains the rumors surrounding BetterBrand and the conflicting signals Nosh has been hearing about its delays in deliveries. 12:20 – Turning to beverages, Brad walks the team through some leadership moves at insurgent drink makers Lemon Perfect and Liquid Death. 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 CPG Week, the podcast team talks about Peter Rahal’s newest protein bar release, the PRIME and Feastables kid-focused Lunchly partnership, and how these two products relate to consumers’ differentiated value demands from ingredients and nutrition. Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous kicks off the podcast asking if senior reporters Brad Avery and Lukas Southard would try one of Peter Rahal’s new products: Hormbles Chormbles. Next, the group talks about Rahal’s other new brand, high-protein snack bar David. The team goes through some of the debate surrounding David’s ingredient list and how Rahal is taking a different approach to snack bars from his previous brand RXBAR. The podcast goes on to talk about a new entrant in kids lunch kits, Lunchly, which has paired influencer-led brands PRIME with MrBeast’s Feastables. Show Highlights: 0:30 – What’s a Hormbles Chormbles, and how is it connected to the recently launched David protein bar? 3:15 – After teasing the well-publicized launch of RXBAR founder Peter Rahal’s return to the bar category with its 28-gram option David, the team talks about the conversation happening around the brand’s ingredients. 6:15 – The group goes on to discuss how this product seems to be focused on a target consumer who is prioritizing macronutrients like protein over clean label ingredient decks. 12:00 – Brad explains a new co-branded product entering kids lunch products, Lunchly. The group debates how influencer marketing is impacting this category and whether this is a release valve for brands needing a new product to drive growth. 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 teases their Nosh Notables honorable mentions, details the latest investment for a fast-growing food brand and discusses the different marketing approaches food brands are taking in the Ozempic Era. Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and senior reporters Brad Avery and Lukas Southard talk about Oats Overnight Series B round and how the brand has built a strong consumer base in ecommerce. The team goes on to dive into the Brightfield Group’s exclusive BevNET/Nosh Q2 Report: The GLP-1/Ozempic Craze and reflects on how food brands are marketing around the continuing demand for weight loss solutions related to GLP-1 drugs. Show Highlights: 0:50 – The team shares their personal honorable mentions for Nosh Notables including a shoutout to Omsom’s founders, the creative mind behind Netflix’s “Unfrosted” and one of leading names in hot honey. 3:00 – Senior reporter Brad Avery talks about Oats Overnight’s recent $35 million investment announced this week. The company appears to be continuing its growth trajectory and resourcing its manufacturing and labor force with the new tranche of capital. 6:45 – Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous explains what was reported in the Brightfield Group’s Q2 dive into GLP-1 drugs and how consumers are responding to weight loss solutions in CPG. The conversation harkens back to previous podcast episodes where the team has discussed the growing trend towards weight loss products and how food and beverage brands are positioning around semaglutide drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. 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 expensive energy drink-themed accessories, IFT First and the latest legal quandary for Logan Paul’s drink brand, PRIME. Senior reporter Lukas Southard was in Chicago last week for IFT First where he got an inside look at how trends are incubated by suppliers and tells his co-hosts about the innovative new products on display. Later in the show, senior reporter Brad Avery discusses the new lawsuit filed against PRIME and what it might mean for the company. Show Highlights: 0:30 – What makes formal attire functional? According to 5-Hour Energy, its caffeinated cufflinks. Learn what Brad thinks about the energy drink’s most recent marketing campaign. 2:30 – Lukas explains what he learned at the Institute of Food Technologists’ yearly expo and how ingredient suppliers shape many of the food trends we see in the market. He explains how weight loss solutions, sweetener alternatives and plant-based ingredients were on full display. 5:50 – From fortified honey to baobab seed pod powder, Lukas tells the team about new products on display at the show before talking about how tracing, certifications and clinical studies were also highlighted at the show. 8:30 – PRIME is in legal hot water again. Brad talks about how the drink maker has raised the ire of the U.S. Olympic Committee and how it is another legal issue facing the insurgent hydration and energy brand. 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: Back from a long holiday weekend, the CPG Week podcast team got back to work with a quick quiz testing senior reporters Lukas Southard and Brad Avery on interesting new product launches. The team goes on to discuss the stories they wrote for the new series, Nosh Trendlines Report. The five-part series brought insight into recent developments within the CPG food industry focusing on topics like ingredients, retail distribution, operations, marketing and product categories. Show Highlights: 0:30 – The group plays a quick game of Two Truths And A Lie: CPG Week edition, where Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous questioned her co-hosts with some real and fake product launches. 2:30 – Lukas kicks off a discussion of the new Nosh Trendlines Report series with an explanation of his story focused on production. The group discusses the pros and cons of self-manufacturing and why more emerging companies seem to be taking this route. 7:00 – Brad tells the team about the story he co-wrote with editorial assistant Shauna Golden that focused on the trend of healthspan versus lifespan. 10:00 – In Monica’s Trendlines story, she focused on how natural food brands are moving away from using seed oils and marketing their products around “healthier” oils derived from avocados or olives. 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

CPG Week: Water That’s Not Beer And PE Firm Buys Cracker Company In this episode: In this episode, the CPG Week team starts with an update from Momofuku’s chili crunch trademark dispute. The conversation focuses on what has transpired, the implications for Chang’s appeal to consumers and how this is representative of what it takes for a CPG brand to hold a trademark. The group moves on to talk about why canned water is positioned as a beer alternative for live events and how the Liquid Death-effect is bringing new brands to the category. Later, BevNET Editor-in-Chief Jeff Klineman talks about his recent story covering new CPG private equity firm Forward Consumer Partners and its acquisition of a premium cracker brand. Show Highlights: 1:00 – Senior reporter Lukas Southard kicks off the podcast with an update about the headline-grabbing trademark dispute coming from David Chang’s Momofuku brand. The team unpacks what the recent developments say about public perception of celebrity chefs and how to navigate competition in a culturally significant category. 7:45 – The group discusses the growing trend of canned water marketing as a beer alternative and if this branding approach can draw consumer demand in on-premise locations like bars and live music venues. 12:40 – What drew new CPG private equity firm Forward Consumer Partners to buy artisanal cracker maker Firehook Bakery as its first acquisition? Editor-in-Chief Jeff Klineman explains why the pedigree of Forward Consumer Partners leadership might foretell the future of the cracker brand. 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