CPG Week Podcast

This week, the podcast tackles a series of M&A deals from Goodles’ recent acquisition by Barilla, a renewed partnership between Keurig Dr Pepper and Chobani, Nestlé’s divestments and Peter Rahal’s big news week.

In this episode: No more blue tongues or Flamin’ Hot Cheetos fingers? On this episode, the CPG Week podcast dives into the recent FDA/HHS directive to remove synthetic food dyes from food and beverages. The podcast team discusses the feasibility of the plan and how it could complicate food manufacturing. Show Highlights: 0:30 – Monica explains the Food and Drug Administration and Health and Human Services’ new directive for manufacturers to voluntarily phase out the use of eight synthetic food dyes by the end of 2026. 2:30 – The group discusses why the proposed timeline for banning these food dyes might be too aggressive for many larger food companies. 5:30 – Pivoting to natural sources will not only force consumers to adjust to a new visual norm but will require a heavy lift for supply chain sourcing. 9:00 – Even as industry groups debate the feasibility and necessity for the directive, the podcast team talks about how many countries and states have already started the process of phasing out these synthetic dyes in the interest of public health. 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 team is turning its attention to how small brands are navigating tariff turmoil. The CPG Week podcast hosts talked with several food and beverage founders about the issues most pressing for their respective businesses amid the rapidly changing environment. From pulling back on trade spend to changing packaging solutions and tariff-related spring sales, emerging brands are getting creative in how they plan to survive a potentially protracted period of import taxes. Show Highlights: 0:30 – Is Pirate’s Booty on its way back to its founder Rob Ehrlich? At the moment, the brand appears to be staying under Hershey ownership, but Ehrlich continues his nearly two-year campaign hinting that it will be back in the Vegan Rob’s portfolio. 4:15 – Tariffs are all the rage right now, but how are small food and beverage brands dealing with added costs? Senior reporter Brad Avery explained what Just Ice Tea founder Seth Goldman said about his company’s moves to ease the burden of new import taxes. 7:00 – The dynamic nature that tariffs have been announced to the public has caused not only uncertainty but also a fear that demand shock will cause prices to rise steeply. 10:30 – Packaging is a major concern for CPG entrepreneurs because much of it comes from China, which is facing over 100% tariffs currently. For many brands, pivoting to a domestic supplier is not available, leaving limited options to counter elevated costs. 14:00 – There are only so many ways to squeeze cost-savings out of a startup’s supply chain, especially when many of these costs are being felt weeks or months after orders were made. 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: Hot honey, hot pink totes and hot takes. The CPG Week team is back from Anaheim and ready to discuss all the new things they saw at the yearly Natural Products Expo West show. From bubbling trends to maturing categories, the podcast hosts discuss protein popping up in everything, meat snacks, a further distancing from seed oils, next-gen sodas and the surprising innovation tasted within the convention halls. Show Highlights: 0:30 – BevNET has launched its latest platform, Nombase, a centralized hub for the CPG industry with resources like a directory of over 10,000 brands and partners, job boards and a new place to post important company announcements. 2:15 – The team jumps into its Expo West recap discussing “Big Kefir,” protein snacks and surprising (and unsurprising) brand collaborations. 9:30 – Senior reporter Brad Avery talks about saturation of the better-for-you soda set and his impressions of Perfy’s Pepperoni Pizza and Cherry Cola flavors. 12:00 – The CPG Week hosts share what they heard from stakeholders about the impact of tariffs, supply chain issues and inflation they are expecting this year. 16:30 – One hot take being echoed in the wake of Expo West was a lack of innovation on the floor. The podcasters share the best innovations they tasted including candy-flavored dates, new bao buns and instant scrambled egg cups. 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: Remember the U.S. craft distillers’ consternation over a potential trade war? The CPG Week team is joined by BevNET Editor-in-Chief Jeff Klineman to understand how tariffs are impacting nearly all of the CPG industry after a whirlwind Monday paused the 25% import taxes on Mexican and Canadian products. After a quick discussion about Super Bowl food and beverage choices, the group unravels how CPG brands from spirits to food makers to contract manufacturers are preparing for an uncertain future. Show Highlights: 0:30 – This Sunday marks the annual February tradition of drinking beer and eating Buffalo wings while watching advertisements and famous musicians perform in the middle of a field (plus a bit of football). The group discusses whether they will be noshing on Kansas City BBQ or Philly cheesesteaks during the Super Bowl. 4:20 – Jeff explains why tariffs are an especially important topic for many U.S. CPG brands. He explains that it is not just concerning from a cost perspective but also impacts the long-term sales of American products abroad. 7:30 – It goes deeper than raw ingredient sourcing for many brands but reverberates in other aspects of manufacturing like the equipment and machine parts that U.S. suppliers buy from China, Mexico and Canada. 9:30 – Brad talks about how potential tariffs could impact U.S. producers with aluminum pricing which is largely sourced from China and Canada. 11:00 – How are international brands reacting to the looming trade war? Some Canadian startups are weighing moving operations to the U.S. Jeff shares insights from supply chain experts about how brands can adapt to a fluid import environment. 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: It’s likely not news to anyone who has bought groceries in the last two years that food costs are up. Due to environmental issues, supply chain challenges, tariffs and demand, eggs have become a quintessential example of why costs at the checkout will likely continue to be higher than most consumers would prefer. Household staples like eggs, cocoa and coffee are quickly turning into nonessentials for many grocery shoppers as inflation continues to plague the industry. Show Highlights: 0:30 – Do sour candy and pickles mix? Monica asks the team if they would “chew or spew” Van Holten’s expanded LTO partnership with Warheads candy. 3:15 – Why are eggs so expensive these days and how is it reflective of the broader topic of grocery inflation? The team dives into why eggs might be expensive forever. 6:30 – How will the high cost of eggs and other household staples cause ripple effects throughout consumer buying behavior? The podcasters explain why prices won’t likely fall but might stabilize. 10:00 – It’s not just eggs that have been on an expensive rollercoaster ride. Coffee, cocoa and many other commodity shortages are impacting how CPG brands and consumers are adjusting to dynamic prices. 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

On this week’s show, NOSH editor Carol Ortenberg and the founder and CEO of Zack’s Mighty, Zack Gazzaniga, dive right into a corny discussion on the origins of the brand, and the special corn variety behind its unique taste and texture. The duo grind through the brand’s supply chain journey and how different audiences respond to the details of that sourcing story. Show Highlights: 02:03: Building a tortilla chip that doesn’t break in guac starts with good corn. For Zack’s Mighty, that pursuit of the perfect corn had its founder venturing to different continents and through the 10,000 year history of the iconic cobs. 14:12: Growing a brand with a complex supply chain sometimes requires compromises. Zack talks through the choices he had to make and why these decisions have ultimately allowed the brand to scale. 15:49: How did consumers respond to the brand’s corn history lesson? Zack explains how the brand narrowed in on its best selling feature and dialed in its marketing messaging. 22:46: Profitability remains key and Zack explains why different steps along the company’s supply chain appealed to investors. “If something is easy to make, then it’s probably not that special. When something is hard, it just means that there’s not an existing supply chain for that and I think that can help you be unique.” -Zack Gazzaniga About The NOSH Podcast The staff of NOSH.com takes listeners inside the business of natural, organic, sustainable and healthy food during the NOSH Podcast. Using interviews and discussion, the team illuminates the news, brands, people, trends, and money affecting the world of packaged food. New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to [email protected]. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts