CPG Week Podcast

In this episode: This week, the podcast team is discussing a pair of funding rounds recently announced by functional beverage brands Culture Pop and Ryl Tea, with highlights from conversations with the businesses’ respective leaders about expansion plans. Next, the CPG Week hosts tackle the topic of vertical farming and the challenges startups are facing as funding dries up. Show Highlights: 0:30 – Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous points out that this weekend marks a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence: Easter falling on April 20, also known as the stoner’s holiday, 4/20. The team muses on how to celebrate appropriately. 2:50 – Senior reporter Lukas Southard shares insights from his conversation with Culture Pop founder Tom First on the probiotic beverage brand’s recent $15 million funding and its plans to compete in the modern soda set. 8:00 – Time for some Ryl news. Senior reporter Brad Avery explains how the maker of functional canned beverage brand Ryl Tea plans to use its new chunk of change. 13:55 – The team turns its attention to vertical farming, a concept that has struggled to live up to its own hype and the heaps of cash flowing into it early on. Lukas points to a pattern of overinvestment and underperformance across food technology in general. 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 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 covers four acquisitions in food and beverage including Spindrift’s anticipated sale and the unexpected new owner of Simple Mills. To start the show, the team discusses how the likely ban of TikTok will affect CPG brands. The group moves on to talk through recent acquisitions of Spindrift, Simple Mills, Sauer Brands and Yerbae. The podcast explains what these deals mean for the brands being acquired and how they fit into the portfolios of their new owners. Show Highlights: 0:30 – With U.S. operations of TikTok likely to shut down on January 19, many CPG brands will lose an important platform for new customer acquisition. The team discusses what this means for emerging brands and how they might pivot. 4:30 – Senior reporter Brad Avery walks the group through Gryphon Investors’ acquisition of Spindrift and why this exit was a long time coming. 6:45 – Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous explains why better-for-you snack brand Simple Mills might be a good fit for baked goods and bread company Flowers Foods. 10:00 – Moving onto spices and condiments, senior reporter Lukas Southard gives an overview of Advent International’s purchase of Duke’s Mayo and Mateo’s Gourmet Salsa maker Sauer Brands from Falfurrias Capital Partners. 11:45 – Lastly, Brad goes through Safety Shot’s acquisition of sparkling caffeinated beverage brand Yerbae, explaining why the deal could breathe needed energy into the yerba mate drink maker. 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, Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and senior reporters Lukas Southard and Brad Avery talk about two different retailers’ returns from bankruptcy. The CPG Week podcasters discuss how there is a differing consensus about the expected returns of Foxtrot and Boisson. While some suppliers seem ready to return to Foxtrot shelves, there appears to be more hesitancy among brands who’ve formerly worked with NA retailer Boisson. In other news, a different low- and no-alcohol retailer gets an endorsement from bev-alc private equity firm in the form of a capital investment. Show Highlights: 0:30 – Are truffles overrated? HuffPost thinks so; the CPG Week team responds. 1:45 – For Foxtrot founder Mike LaVitola, its return is not a comeback so much as a “totally new company.” The CPG Week group looks at what it means for the next-gen convenience store to return to business both from a brand perspective and from a macro-industry angle. 6:00 – Alternatively, there appears to be some trepidation surrounding the return of non-alcoholic beverage retailer Boisson. Lukas runs through a recent BevNET story that dissected suppliers’ opinions about Boisson’s return in light of the unfinished business and unpaid bills that haven’t been completely addressed. 12:30 – Not all non-alc retailers are struggling to win over brands. Charleston, S.C.-based Sèchey landed investment from InvestBev last week. Brad details how the new capital is an approval of one company’s approach to growing in NA beverages. 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

  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: The Nosh and BevNET team bring on spirits editor Ferron Salniker to dive into why the adult non-alcoholic beverage category might be facing struggles as news broke that Boisson, one of the largest independent retailers of NA beverages, is closing its brick-and-mortar stores. The team talks about what this says about the category as a whole and what might come next as non-alc brands move into larger retail distribution. Later, Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and senior reporters Lukas Southard and Brad Avery discuss provocative branding in energy drinks and how finding a lane in the competitive category is forcing at least one player to rebrand itself. Show Highlights: 2:00 – BevNET spirits editor Ferron Salniker joins the podcast to explain all that we know about the recent news that non-alcoholic adult beverage retailer Boisson has suddenly shuttered all its stores. 4:15 – The team discusses how the news reframes the non-alc category as the trend moves from niche to being carried among larger distributors and retail chains. 7:20 – Where does this leave the non-alc category and what does this foretell for the industry if one of its earliest adopters and largest independent retailers is having trouble? Ferron gives some insight into how the Boisson news is representative of how the category is growing as a whole. 11:15 – Lukas explains why Lucky F*ck Energy rebranding as just Lucky Energy is unsurprising but also speaks to how the attention economy and brands like Liquid Death have influenced other brands to increasingly push the envelope with edgy marketing campaigns. 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