CPG Week Podcast

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

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: In a jam-packed episode, the CPG Week podcast covers a lot of ground from cannabis to kava with a healthy recap of the Specialty Food Association’s Summer Fancy Food Show from earlier in the week. To start, senior reporter Brad Avery explains the big news out of the cannabis industry as Curaleaf announced it was entering hemp-derived THC with edibles and beverages available in a new DTC store. Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and senior reporter Lukas Southard review some of the innovative products and trends they saw in New York City this week at Summer Fancy Food. The team wraps up talking about kava beverages and why the category’s future seems to be intertwined with the slightly more controversial kratom ingredient. Show Highlights: 0:30 – Curaleaf, marijuana cultivator and dispensary company, is moving into the hemp-derived THC market by launching a new DTC website: thehempcompany.com. Not only could this shake up the regulatory environment but is a statement by a leading cannabis industry stakeholder. 3:30 – Amid the cheese and hot sauce, Monica and Lukas discuss what they saw and tasted while wandering the aisles of the Summer Fancy Food Show. Lukas talks about a brand pairing savory biscuits with adult beverages while Monica snacked on the latest entrant in the freeze-dried trend. 7:10 – The team discusses how texture and experiential snacking are driving innovation by many brands across a multitude of categories including jerky, frozen desserts, sweets and convenience meals. 13:30 – Lukas explains what he learned while reporting on the kava category and why its future as a functional, non-alcoholic alternative is linked to another mood-altering ingredient, kratom. 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: What did the CPG Week team think of Netflix’s “Unfrosted” movie? The group dives into Jerry Seinfeld’s Pop-Tarts biopic and why it is a (partially) accurate portrayal of the R&D process of creating a CPG food product. Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous shares some of the latest snack trends as related to the Sweets & Snacks Expo happening this week. Senior reporter Lukas Southard goes on to unpack the unfolding cocoa pricing crisis and what that means for chocolate producers. Finally, senior reporter Brad Avery talks about the latest update from Foxtrot’s sudden dissolution and what happened at the asset auction. Show Highlights: 1:30 – Monica takes the temperature of Brad and Lukas’ opinions of Netflix’s “Unfrosted” movie. They discuss their personal takes on the comedy centered on Pop-Tarts and discuss how the CPG industry is interpreting its representation of the R&D process in packaged food. 7:00 – In light of the Sweets & Snacks Expo happening this week, Monica talks about the latest trends in the categories released by the National Confectioners Association in conjunction with the food show. 8:10 – What’s happening with cocoa pricing, and how that might impact chocolate producer margins as waning supply continues to push pricing up? Lukas explains what has happened in the last six months and how food tech innovation might be a growing solution to the problem. 12:05 – Brad updates the team on the latest from the abrupt closure of Foxtrot including what happened at the asset auction for both Foxtrot and Dom’s Kitchen & 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