Were they flops – or just ahead of their time?

In this episode, the hosts dig into one of the food and beverage industry's most intriguing debates: whether discontinued products failed because they were poorly conceived, or because the market simply wasn't ready. From drinkable soups and early functional shots to better-for-you snacks and non-alcoholic cocktail concepts, they revisit ideas that may have been too forward-thinking for their moment.

The conversation expands into how today's shifting trends, like functional ingredients and alcohol-free innovation, could give these once-shelved products a second chance at success, where timing, not taste, may have been the real barrier.

Show notes:

0:20: A Week Away. Real Chocolate Debate. Never Had A Shot/Ahead Of Its Time. Chips & I.V. – Ray gives a final call to register for Taste Radio's NYC meetup. Melissa highlights The Hershey Company's plan to return all Reese's and Hershey's products to classic milk and dark chocolate recipes by 2027, sparking a discussion about whether a shift back to "real" ingredients could reshape consumer expectations and premium chocolate demand. The hosts then explore discontinued products, debating whether they failed due to poor execution or were simply ahead of their time, including drinkable soup, better-for-you fruit snacks, non-alcoholic cocktails, and functional shots. They wrap with notable new products, including refreshed pita chip branding, a non-alcoholic "brew," and a quirky collaboration between Grillo's Pickles and Liquid I.V.

Brands in this episode: Hershey, Reese's, Culture Pop, Feastables, Nantucket Nectars, Terranean, Just Ice Tea, Honest Tea, Poland Spring, Liquid IV, Grillo's, Fly By Jing, Fishwife, Justin's, Butterfinger, Tony's Chocolonely, Eat the Change, Welch's, Proposition Cocktail Company, Taki Mai, Spacho, Ahhmigo, Karma, Activate, Mello, Coca-Cola, GoodBelly, Cheribundi, Rhinestone, Poland Spring, Daily Crunch, Fly by Jing, Fishwife, Evergreen, V8, Superfoodio

Celebrity might open the door, but execution is what blows it wide open – and Khloud is proving it.

Co-founded by Khloé Kardashian, the fast-growing functional snack brand has raced from launch to 29,000 doors in just months, secured nationwide placement in Starbucks, and expanded beyond its flagship protein popcorn with a new line of protein chips.

But Khloud's momentum isn't just about star power.

In this episode, co-founder and CEO Jeff Rubenstein – a seasoned CPG operator with leadership experience at Vita Coco and Poppi – shares candid lessons on execution, early pricing missteps, and why celebrity alone doesn't build a lasting brand. He also breaks down how balancing mass visibility with grassroots community-building is key to long-term success.Show notes:

0:20: Jeff Rubenstein, Co-Founder & CEO, Khloud – Jeff discusses his entrepreneurial journey from Coca-Cola to building multiple successful brands and now leading Khloud. He explains Khloud's focus on "female, fun, functionality, and flavor," positioning its products as stylish, better-for-you snacks that stand apart from traditionally male-oriented functional products. Jeff emphasizes that Khloud's success goes beyond celebrity backing and shares key lessons from scaling quickly, including operational challenges like supply shortages, the importance of investing early in the right manufacturing and operations partners, over-promoting and underestimating demand. He expects Khloud to evolve from a product-driven company into a brand-driven one, aiming to create emotional connections with consumers.

Brands in this episode: Khloud, Vita Coco, Coca-Cola, Poppi, Doritos, Alani Nu, Quest, Pringles, Lays, Fritos

Deals aren't slowing – they're stacking up. What explains five strategic acquisitions in under two weeks?

The hosts break down the latest wave of CPG deals, including HOP WTR's sale to Constellation Brands and So Good So You's acquisition by a private investment group – just two of several recent moves. They explore what's fueling continued buyer activity and why non-alcoholic, functional, and better-for-you beverage brands remain especially attractive targets.

Show notes:

0:20: Meet NYC. Good Hops, Good Investment. Pints Park. Frozen Dollars. Yoo Hoo! Yaza! – The hosts preview Taste Radio's upcoming NYC Meetup on April 16 and remind listeners that only registered attendees can join. They also unpack recent acquisitions of hop-infused beverage brand HOP WTR and wellness shot and energy drink company So Good So You, adding to a growing wave of CPG deals. The conversation explores rising demand for non-alcoholic, low-sugar, and functional beverages, along with the execution, focus, and timing required to build a successful brand. They also highlight Protein Pints' entry into a sports stadium as a case study in building awareness – from concessions to grocery shelves – and wrap with their product picks of the week, featuring indulgent coconut water, granola, globally inspired dips, and non-alcoholic cocktails.

Brands in this episode: Huel, Monaco Cocktails, Dirty Shirley, HOP WTR, So Good So You, Hoplark, Spindrift, Athletic Brewing, Lucky Saint, Vive Organic, Kor, Suja, Sol-ti, Protein Pints, Hey!Hunger, Mason Dixie Foods, Zico, 100 Coconuts, Harmless Harvest, Yoo-Hoo, Harney & Sons, Good Mood, Culture Pop, Yaza, Cedar's, Spritz Society, Stellar Granola, Medase

How did two 20-something founders turn a $7,000 investment into one of the fastest-growing brands in CPG, now selling one unit every three seconds? It started with a deceptively simple idea, relentless sampling, meticulous planning and a confident bet that protein ice cream could outshine the biggest names in the game.

I met up with Protein Pints co-founders Paul Reiss and Michael Meadows at Expo West 2026 to discuss the origins and development of their high-protein ice cream brand They share why leading with "protein" was key to standing out, how years of sampling and iteration shaped the product, and how they scaled from just 14 stores to over 10,000 in just under one year.

Fueled by strong branding, great taste, and relentless execution, their rapid rise highlights the power of product-market fit and founder conviction.

Show notes:

0:20: Interview: Michael Meadows & Paul Reiss, Co-Founders, Protein Pints – Paul and Michael reflect on their longtime friendship and how their college experiences ultimately led them to start a company together. They explain that including "protein" in the brand name was a deliberate choice, meant to clearly signal the product's core benefit in a crowded frozen aisle. They also detail the more than two years they spent preparing for launch, rigorously testing recipes, packaging, and branding through extensive sampling and feedback. To fund the business, they reinvested earnings from a small service venture and supplemented that capital with prize money from pitch competitions. They credit strong sales, clear positioning, and a relentless focus on taste as the primary driver of repeat purchases. They acknowledge concerns about scaling too quickly, but lean on conviction in their product and timing, bolstered by a growing team and a network of mentors.

Brands in this episode: Protein Pints, Taste Radio, SkinnyPop, Muscle Milk, Ben & Jerry's, Häagen-Dazs, Van Leeuwen, Super Coffee, Sauz

Billion-dollar deals, breakout brands, and "crazy ideas" that actually worked. The hosts dive into a wave of recent CPG acquisitions and what they signal for founders. Plus, a look at brands going global, a buzzworthy Negroni-inspired sparkling water, and a conversation with industry veteran Jeff Church and "Peaky Blinders" actor Matthew Postlethwaite on their upstart protein soda brand, Proda.

Show notes:

0:20: Registration Reminder. Linked Deals. Pond Crossing. Lapping It Up. Mex-BBQ. – The hosts kick off with reminders about upcoming Taste Radio and BevNET events before diving into recent acquisitions involving Huel, Monaco RTD cocktails, and Dirty Shirley. They note that these deals underscore the importance of long-term persistence, strong execution, and adapting to shifting consumer trends, emphasizing that most brands take years to reach such milestones. The conversation also touches on the challenges of expanding between the U.S. and U.K., highlighting how cultural differences and varying levels of consumer familiarity can influence success. Later, Ray shares sips of Lapo's latest opus, Melissa spotlights an innovative tea, and John features a flavorful nut butter and Mexican BBQ sauces, the latter sparking a broader discussion about the rise of similar products.

30:29: Interview: Jeff Church & Matthew Postlethwaite, Co-Founders, Proda – On location at Expo West 2026, Jeff and Matthew talk about how Proda was designed to deliver nutrition in a lighter, refreshing format. They discuss the inspiration behind the brand, their focus on taste and positioning, and how they're approaching a competitive beverage landscape with an exclusive Sprouts launch.

Brands in this episode: Proda, Huel, Monaco Cocktails, Dirty Shirley, Soylent, Sunnie, RXBAR, Vitaminwater, Goodles, Pop Chips, Liquid Death, Living Things, XOXO, Peeps, Crush, Slice, Suja, Lapo's, Sanzo, Mabi Tea, Bachan's, Ground Up, Paco Jones, Arriba, Tia Lupita, Tierra Negra, Oh My Dessert Butters, Olipop, Poppi, Rowdy Energy

Evergreen founder and CEO Emily Groden arrived at Expo West 2026 leading one of the fastest-growing brands in frozen breakfast. But just a few years earlier, she was hand-making waffles in a shared kitchen and pitching corner stores with a toaster tucked into a duffel bag.

In this episode, Emily explains how she turned a personal frustration into a breakout brand built on clean-label frozen waffles and pancakes made with real, whole-food ingredients. She shares why she refused to compromise on quality, even when it made manufacturing more difficult, and how Evergreen is leveraging protein innovation, strong retail data and a sharper family-focused brand identity to scale across channels.

It's a candid look at what it takes to build a modern CPG company – from zero experience to category leadership – while staying anchored to the mission of getting better food into more kids' hands.

Show notes:

0:20: Emily Groden, Founder & CEO, Evergreen – Emily discusses the launch of Evergreen's new pancakes and a clean-label protein line made with Greek yogurt and egg whites. She reflects on the brand's origins and how she built the company from scratch with no CPG background, self-funding the business and landing early retail accounts through scrappy, hands-on efforts. She explains how a recent rebrand helped better communicate Evergreen's core audience of families, shifting from a health-first perception to a more joyful, accessible identity. The conversation also covers Evergreen's broader mission to improve kids' nutrition at scale, its focus on affordability and mass distribution, and how strong retail data has fueled expansion by proving the brand brings new, high-value shoppers into the category. Emily also touches on fundraising, founder discipline, and why staying anchored to a clear personal "north star" has been critical to building the brand without compromising its values.

Brands in this episode: Evergreen

David Protein just got hit with a lawsuit claiming its macros don't add up, raising familiar questions about labeling, ingredients, and what happens when a fast-growing brand lands in the legal spotlight. The team breaks down the claims, why brands become litigation magnets, and whether consumers will care. Plus: a readout from Seafood Expo North America and Stiller Soda's attention-grabbing social push.

Show notes:

0:20: A Month-Ish Away. Stage Presence. Scaling, Suing. SENA Observations. Not Ben Stiller. Shots. – The hosts promote the upcoming Taste Radio NYC meetup and BevNET Live, including the New Beverage Showdown competition. They follow up with a discussion centered on David Protein and a class action lawsuit alleging discrepancies in the fat and calorie content of its bars. The hosts debate whether such controversies meaningfully impact consumer trust and how legal challenges are common for fast-growing brands. The conversation shifts to trends observed at the 2026 Seafood Expo North America trade show, where innovation focused on convenience, value-added products, and protein-rich offerings. The hosts also discuss a humorous social media campaign for Stiller's Soda featuring Ben Stiller, and highlight Monfefo wellness shots and indulgent "Killer Brownies."

Brands in this episode: David Protein, RXBAR, Diet Coke, Aqua Mar, Stiller Soda, Monfefo, Lumen, Vive Organic, Killer Brownie, Goldilocks, Vita Coco