CPG Week by BevNET & Nosh

This week, podcast co-hosts Brad Avery and Lukas Southard kick up their feet and sip on the growth of the relaxation beverage category. The episode also covers a developing rift between Make America Healthy Again advocates and the White House, more lawsuits over sweeteners and RIND Snacks pivot deeper into co-packing.

On this episode of the CPG Week Podcast, co-hosts Brad Avery and Lukas Southard cover how Recess is adding more industry know-how to its leadership ranks, the impact of elevated pricing in grocery and convenience retail and rumors about a popular oil brand seeking a buyer. Show Highlights: 0:30 - Are a popular Bar and Bat Mitzvah sweet treat going to disappear from shelves? Brad explains why the news that Sunkist was discontinuing its Fruit Gems line caused panic among the American Jewish community. 2:30 - Recess has hired veteran industry leaders as it aims to be a category leader in the relaxation beverage category. 6:00 - Inflation has remained stubbornly high, but what does that mean for retailers? After going through recent macro grocery pricing data, Lukas and Brad discuss the impact on retail strategy. 8:30 - From grocery to convenience, Brad covers a recent Jefferies analysis of c-store sales data across beverage categories. 11:30 - Is squeeze-bottled olive oil brand Graza looking to sell? In the shadow of the Purely Elizabeth and Goodles acquisitions, the podcast hosts discuss how Graza's potential sale could be another example of a next-gen food brand making a high-value exit. 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, CPG Week co-hosts Brad Avery and Lukas Southard take a quick hit from the juice shots category on the news that functional brand Sol-Ti raised a new tranche of capital. After exploring if shots have a ceiling, the team discusses how the meal kit category is increasingly relying on celebrity chefs to build brands, a new app for UPF-averse consumers and C4's new beer-flavored energy drink. Show Highlights: 0:30 - Lukas explains why a $30 million funding round for shot brand Sol-Ti might be a signal to consumer preference for small-format functional drinks. 6:00 - Sir Kensington co-founder Mark Ramadan and Eleven Madison Park chef Daniel Humm have launched Riff Meal Kits, a premium take on the cook-it-yourself category. Brad and Lukas debate how much of an impact celebrity chefs have on the meal kit set. 11:10 - Lukas relates why a new app for ultra-processed food, third-party certification, Non-UPF Verified, could help both consumers and brands understand how the trend is playing out in buying patterns. 12:45 - Is there a market for beer-flavored energy drinks? C4 thinks so, but Lukas and Brad parse out their skepticism. 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, BevNET CPG Media senior reporters Brad Avery and Lukas Southard get jacked talking about protein, exploring Beyond's expansion into new protein formats and the whey supply shortage. Later in the show, the hosts discuss Battle Bars' rebrand, energy brand Echelon's new strategy and a legal dispute between Big Food and Big Sugar. Show Highlights: 1:00 - Brad explains how Beyond is expanding its repositioned identity as an alt protein brand into new categories like bars and powders. 5:00 - As demand for more protein continues across food and beverage categories, the supply of whey has taken a hit. Lukas and Brad discuss how this has impacted commodity costs, forcing some brands to implement price hikes. 8:45 - Brad gives an update on veteran-founded brand Battle Bars. He compares the snack bar brand's strategy to a different military-aligned beverage Echelon. 10:30 - There is a fresh lawsuit between large food companies alleging that big sugar providers have colluded to artificially raise the cost of the sweet ingredient. 12:00 - Amid the launch of fall flavors, Brad and Lukas relate their opinions (and hot takes) about pumpkin spice and apple as limited time offerings. 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 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. Show Highlights: 1:00 - Brad and Lukas dive into Barilla's acquisition of next-generation mac and cheese brand Goodles and why it's a strong fit for the legacy pasta company. 4:30 - KDP has agreed to sell its minority stake in Chobani, along with a Pennsylvania production facility. The podcast duo discusses the implications for both companies. 9:00 - Brad provides context on Nestlé's recent divestitures, including the offloading of Nuun less than five years after acquiring the hydration tablet brand. 12:00 - The parent company of David Protein, Medici Brands, had a big week raising a $250 million Series B and launching new products. Brad hears what Lukas learned from his multiple conversations with founder and CEO Peter Rahal. 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