CPG Week Podcast

In this episode: The annual Natural Products Expo West trade show might spell tired feet and too much hand sanitizer for some, but it’s also one of the biggest events for new product unveils and a chance to take the temperature of the CPG industry. The podcast team discusses what they are looking out for at this year’s show. Show Highlights: 0:45 – Along with treadmill weight-training and chugging kombucha, the CPG Week team talks about how they are preparing for this week’s big show. 3:30 – Senior reporter Lukas Southard will be checking in on meat snack makers while also checking out the new better-for-you snack brand Wild Fox Foods, launched by the founders of Kevin’s Natural Foods. 5:00 – Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous will be keeping an eye out for some of the trends the team has been tracking in the last year including GLP-1 companions and seed oil-free products. 6:30 – Amid an uncertain trade landscape, senior reporter Brad Avery will be tracking what brands are saying about looming tariffs. For more ways to prepare, check out last year’s Unofficial Guide to Expo West: Surviving (And Thriving) at Expo West: An Investor’s Perspective The ABCs of Expo West How to Stay Healthy, Safe and Sane at Expo West Expo Etiquette: From Hawkeye to Hijack No Booth? No Problem: Backpacking at Expo West 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, the CPG Week podcast team discusses the emerging trends spotted on the show floor at the final Winter Fancy Food Show and why the Specialty Food Association is replacing the long-running tradeshow with a new event next year. Then, the group talks about the adult non-alcoholic beverage category, including sales data and standout brands. Show Highlights: 0:30 – Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous recaps the trends from the Winter Fancy Food Show and explains why the Specialty Food Association is retiring the event after a nearly five-decade run. 10:00 – Senior reporter Lukas Southard discusses his Damp January and shares NIQ data on the adult non-alcoholic beverage category. 11:45 – Senior reporter Brad Avery details his experience with the growing sober-curious movement and highlights a mass market retailer expanding its assortment of booze-free beverages. 13:50 – The group debates the pronunciation of a new celebrity-founded brand in the near-beer segment. 15:40 – The Surgeon General denounces alcohol as “one of the leading preventable causes of cancer.” Will this lead to a decrease in consumption? 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, the CPG Week team goes back through some of the trends they tracked in 2024 while looking ahead to predictions and issues to watch in the new year. Kicking off a discussion on 2024 trends, senior reporter Brad Avery starts with an update on the energy drink category and its evolution over the past year. Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous explains how consumer interest in GLP-1 drugs has impacted food and beverage. Senior reporter Lukas Southard talks private label prioritization and how it relates to inflation. The team goes on to look ahead with predictions about 2025 trends to watch, including an emphasis on seed oil-free products, consolidation, and the impact of tariffs and inflation on the CPG industry. Show Highlights: 0:30 – Energy drinks continue to dominate the beverage category with renewed strength behind women-positioned options. This time last year, big CPG companies were wringing their hands over the impact of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic or Wegovy, but 2024 brought a slew of brands positioned toward the opportunity in the weight-loss consumer group. 4:00 – Whether it’s Walmart’s bettergoods or Amazon Saver, private label is on the rise with no sign of slowing. The team discusses how retailers like CVS are bringing new energy with its new Well Market store brand and what it means long term for retail. 6:45 – It’s often difficult to make bold predictions for the coming year, but the CPG Week hosts discuss how a minor trend like no seed oils might bubble up in 2025 and how it aligns with a growing rancor about ultra-processed foods. 9:00 – The group also predicts a continuation of the M&A activity witnessed in 2024, how potential tariffs and inflation could impact the industry, and why Monica is calling 2025 the Year of Ranch. 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 Celsius’ aspirations to go vertical and a variety of smaller acquisitions across food that nod to trends in M&A markets. The group starts by discussing Celsius’ acquisition of the brand’s manufacturing partner Big Beverage’s production facility. Then, the group goes on to dive into acquisitions across various food categories, from protein bars to pizza dough. They discuss why these deals represent a growing trend of scaling through consolidation. Show Highlights: 0:30 – The team discussed beverage samples from House of Cha, Bear n’ Beaver and Magic Cactus. 4:30 – How do energy brands compete in an increasingly crowded category? Senior reporter Brad Avery explains why Celsius’ answer is vertical integration with the acquisition of Big Beverage’s North Carolina manufacturing facility. 7:30 – In the past week, senior reporter Lukas Southard wrote about two acquisition deals: FITCRUNCH was added to 1440 Foods’ portfolio and Pipcorn and Spudsy came together in a new entity called UpSnack Brands. 11:15 – Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and Brad go over two other deals involving Del Real Foods and DeIorio Foods, respectively. 13:00 – The group discusses why these various deals show a trend in M&A markets. Monica shares how that relates to insight given in a recent CoBank report. 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 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 CPG Week, the podcast team talks about a bubbling controversy in boba, Jack Owoc’s return to energy and an update from the National Association of Convenience Stores’ (NACS) yearly conference. This week, senior reporters Brad Avery and Lukas Southard were joined by BevNET managing editor Martín Caballero. The group starts the podcast talking about how actor Simu Liu sparked a viral conversation about cultural appropriation centered on bubble tea. The podcasters go on to chat about Jack Owoc’s new caffeinated beverage Ai Energy. Marty goes on to discuss some of the trends he was tracking at this year’s NACS show in Las Vegas. Show Highlights: 0:30 – Boba takes center stage in a conversation about appropriation versus appreciation. Lukas explains why an episode of Canada’s “Dragon’s Den” television show with Simu Liu sparked the debate. Brad and Marty weigh in on why this is not the first nor the last time the team will discuss the issue. 8:30 – Brad details former Bang Energy founder Jack Owoc’s new AI-powered energy beverage. 11:00 – How is coffee blending into the energy category? Marty shares what he saw in this trend at this year’s NACS show and why it is telling of the ceiling in RTD coffee. 16:30 – Along with energy drinks, Marty also saw a lot happening in carbonated soft drinks at the show. He explains why better-for-you soda is driving innovation in the category. 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 the episode of CPG Week, the team conducts a wide-ranging, mid-year quiz related to some of the quirkier elements of the industry this year. Joined by BevNET Editor-in-Chief Jeff Klineman, the podcast hosts — Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and senior reporters Lukas Southard and Brad Avery — all came to the show with a trivia question to test each other’s news knowledge. The questions ranged from butter statues of famous athletes and food culture celebrity biopics to Pop-Tarts and “Brat Summer.” Show Highlights: 0:30 – As Labor Day ushers in the unofficial end of school break, the group shares their personal favorite snacks of the summer with a nod to the impending “pumpkin spice” season. 3:30 – Jeff kicks off the quiz with a multiple-choice question addressing the overlap of food and professional sports. 7:15 – Monica’s question leads to a discussion of the announcement that Mars is acquiring Pop-Tarts maker Kellanova. 14:00 – Ushered in by Charlie XCX’s hit album “Brat,” Brad asks which sausage maker has capitalized on one of the summer’s biggest hashtag trends. 15:30 – Who is the latest food icon to be announced as the subject of a biopic? Spoiler: It’s not Guy Fieri, but that might be the group’s favorite option for future biographical films. 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