Just a Taste

For new and emerging brands in the food & beverage CPG industry, finding success means setting yourself apart and filling a hole in the market. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the Founder of Hillside Harvest, Kamaal Jarrett, about their line of Caribbean-inspired hot sauces. In this episode, we discussed why it is important for emerging food & beverage brands to find their niche within the industry. Kamaal gave us some background into why and how they selected the flavor profiles for their line of hot sauces, and how they overcame challenges with scaling their brand. We also discussed his experience on Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch.To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Beyond the Shelf is a food & beverage podcast that dives into a wide range of topics with guests from all corners of the food & beverage CPG industry, including founders/CEO's, marketers, chefs, dietitians, researchers, and other influencers. Topics range from retail and production trends, how food can help foster community and expert tips on food marketing and advertising claims, to inspiring stories from food & beverage companies, popular chefs, and much more! From ChefsBest – taste and quality experts in the food and beverage industry.What did you think about the episode? Let us know by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn

As the world's first eCommerce platform for health & sustainability-conscious shoppers, Thrive Market has helped make healthier and more sustainable food & beverage, and grocery items accessible across the country. This week on Beyond the Shelf we spoke with the Director of Merchandising of Thrive Market, James Ren.  On this episode, James shared with us how he and his team curate the eCommerce platform's selection of over 5500 products to align with what their customers care about most. We discussed some of the tools and guidelines the company uses to select new brands for the eCommerce platform to partner with, and how organizing their products into categories helps customers find products that align with their personal preferences. James also shared his thoughts on current food & beverage trends, including the increased interest in convenience, flexitarian diets, and the rise of functional foods/ingredients.To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Beyond the Shelf is a food & beverage podcast that dives into a wide range of topics with guests from all corners of the food & beverage industry, including founders/CEO's, marketers, chefs, dietitians, researchers, and other influencers. Topics range from retail and production trends, how food can help foster community and expert tips on food marketing and advertising claims, to inspiring stories from food & beverage companies, popular chefs, and much more! From ChefsBest – taste and quality experts in the food and beverage industry.What did you think about the episode? Let us know by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn

Plant-based meat alternatives have been one of the fastest-growing trends in food & beverage for the past several years. However, with plenty of brands in the market, standing out takes careful planning and innovative products. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with Aakash Shah (CEO & Co-Founder) and Damian Felchlin (COO & Co-Founder) of High Time Foods, creators of innovative plant-based meat alternatives for foodservice. Aakash and Damian shared with us why it was important for them to create a shelf-stable product that would give chefs the freedom to create interesting and diverse dishes. We also discussed how their product helps ease chefs' and consumers' concerns about traditional meat products.To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Beyond the Shelf is a food & beverage podcast that dives into a wide range of topics with guests from all corners of the food & beverage industry, including founders/CEO's, marketers, chefs, dietitians, researchers, and other influencers. Topics range from retail and production trends, how food can help foster community and expert tips on food marketing and advertising claims, to inspiring stories from food & beverage companies, popular chefs, and much more! From ChefsBest – taste and quality experts in the food and beverage industry.What did you think about the episode? Let us know by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn

This week on Beyond the Shelf we spoke with Isabelle Steichen (Co-Founder & CEO) and Allie Dempster (Co-Founder & CMO) of Lupii. In this episode, Isabelle & Allie shared some insights into how they are utilizing the mighty lupini bean to create a line of protein- and fiber-rich plant-based products. We discussed some of the barriers that come along when using an ingredient that is mostly unknown in American food products. Isabelle & Allie also discussed why introducing a line of pasta products was a natural next step for the brand, and they shed some light on how they hope to expand their business and spread the word about the power of the lupini bean in the future.To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Beyond the Shelf is a food & beverage podcast that dives into a wide range of topics with guests from all corners of the food & beverage industry, including founders/CEO's, marketers, chefs, dietitians, researchers, and other influencers. Topics range from retail and production trends, how food can help foster community and expert tips on food marketing and advertising claims, to inspiring stories from food & beverage companies, popular chefs, and much more! From ChefsBest – taste and quality experts in the food and beverage industry.What did you think about the episode? Let us know by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn

Although coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world, there's a lot that most consumers don't know about the powerful bean. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with Michael Sharon & Kal Freese, the Co-Founders of Taika - makers of a line of coffee and caffeinated beverages designed to address some of the common concerns about traditional coffee drinks. In this episode, Michael and Kal gave us some valuable insights into the coffee industry including why/how coffee can affect everyone differently, and why it was important for them to create a line of products that utilized adaptogenic ingredients. We also discussed how the brand has used innovative tech to create a loyal and engaged community, and how their partnership with Friends with Benefits is helping to fuel creativity.To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Beyond the Shelf is a food & beverage podcast that dives into a wide range of topics with guests from all corners of the food & beverage industry, including founders/CEO's, marketers, chefs, dietitians, researchers, and other influencers. Topics range from retail and production trends, and expert tips on food marketing and advertising claims, to inspiring stories from food & beverage companies, popular chefs, and much more! From ChefsBest – taste and quality experts in the food and beverage industry.What did you think about the episode? Let us know by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn

Once dominated by a handful of national brands, the beverage category has grown exponentially in the past few years. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the Director, Flavor Architect and COO of Flavorman, Tom Gibson and Scott Weddle. Flavorman helps beverage brands formulate and develop products, ranging from energy drinks, seltzers, RTD cocktails and more. In this episode, Tom and Scott shared with us how recent innovations and advancements in technology have helped to create more space for unique beverage products. We also discussed why and how flavor is so personal to each and every consumer, and how their process helps brands create scalable beverage products.To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Beyond the Shelf is a food & beverage podcast that dives into a wide range of topics with guests from all corners of the food & beverage industry, including founders/CEO's, marketers, chefs, dietitians, researchers, and other influencers. Topics range from retail and production trends, and expert tips on food marketing and advertising claims, to inspiring stories from food & beverage companies, popular chefs, and much more! From ChefsBest – taste and quality experts in the food and beverage industry.What did you think about the episode? Let us know by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn

Functional ingredients are not new to the food & beverage world - but over the past few years, an influx of consumers are showing a growing interest in food & beverage products that don't just taste great but also serves a functional purpose. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Brainiac Foods, Jonathan Wolfson. Focused on promoting brain health, Brainiac Foods has a line of snack products for the whole family that is loaded with better-for-you ingredients. In this episode, Jonathan gave us some insights into the ever-growing better-for-you market, and we discussed why brain health is often left out of the conversation when discussing health & wellness in food & beverages. We also discussed how the past three years have shifted consumers' understanding and interest in functional ingredients.To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Beyond the Shelf is a food & beverage podcast that dives into a wide range of topics with guests from all corners of the food & beverage industry, including founders/CEO's, marketers, chefs, dietitians, researchers, and other influencers. Topics range from retail and production trends, and expert tips on food marketing and advertising claims, to inspiring stories from food & beverage companies, popular chefs, and much more! From ChefsBest – taste and quality experts in the food and beverage industry.What did you think about the episode? Let us know by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn

Better-for-you variations of traditionally indulgent food & beverage products have the unique challenge of overcoming shoppers' misconceptions about the quality n and taste of "healthy" products. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the founders of TiDBiTS Candy, Kristi and David Vartanian. On this episode, David and Kristi gave us some insights into what led them to create a line of better-for-you candy. We also discussed why candy was late to the better-for-you trend, and why it's extremely important for them to highlight their product's simple ingredient lists and great flavor in their marketing efforts.To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Beyond the Shelf is a food & beverage podcast that dives into a wide range of topics with guests from all corners of the food & beverage industry, including founders/CEO's, marketers, chefs, dietitians, researchers, and other influencers. Topics range from retail and production trends, and expert tips on food marketing and advertising claims, to inspiring stories from food & beverage companies, popular chefs, and much more! From ChefsBest – taste and quality experts in the food and beverage industry.What did you think about the episode? Let us know by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn

Most modern food & beverage brands utilize organic social marketing to some extent, but how many are actually getting the most out of their efforts? This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with Vasa Martinez of Perfy, growthbuster, and Outer Aisle. In this episode, Vasa gave us some background into his extensive history in the food & beverage industry, including what led him to create growthbuster and Perfy. We also discussed what modern brands often misunderstand about organic social marketing, and why building a community is the best way to hit all points in a customer's journey.To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Beyond the Shelf is a food & beverage podcast that dives into a wide range of topics with guests from all corners of the food & beverage industry, including founders/CEO's, marketers, chefs, dietitians, researchers, and other influencers. Topics range from retail and production trends, expert tips on food marketing and advertising claims, to inspiring stories from food & beverage companies, popular chefs, and much more! From ChefsBest – taste and quality experts in the food and beverage industry.

Now seen as a very competitive market, the protein/nutritional bar category has gone through many ups and downs. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the Founder and CEO of JAMBAR, Jennifer Maxwell. As an industry veteran, Jennifer walked us through how the protein/nutritional bar category has shifted since she first created the iconic PowerBar brand several decades ago. She also gave us some insights into her latest brand, JAMBAR, including why it was important for them to create a nutritional and artisan product that gives back to their community.To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Beyond the Shelf is a food & beverage podcast that dives into a wide range of topics with guests from all corners of the food & beverage industry, including founders/CEO's, marketers, chefs, dietitians, researchers, and other influencers. Topics range from retail and production trends, expert tips on food marketing and advertising claims, to inspiring stories from food & beverage companies, popular chefs, and much more! From ChefsBest – taste and quality experts in the food and beverage industry.

In any new or up-and-coming categories within the food & beverage industry, a certain amount of brand education is necessary. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the Director of Brand Education at Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal, Éva Pelczer. In this episode, Éva took the time to clarify what the difference is between mezcal and tequila, and to debunk common misconceptions about the popular spirit. Éva also gave us some much-needed background on how mezcal is made, and why it's important to honor the indigenous communities in Mexico where the spirit is produced. As Director of Brand Education, Éva took the time to explain why it's important for Del Maguey to educate retailers and bartenders about the history and complexities of their products and how that benefits consumers.To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Beyond the Shelf is a food & beverage podcast that dives into a wide range of topics with guests from all corners of the food & beverage industry, including founders/CEO's, marketers, chefs, dietitians, researchers, and other influencers. Topics range from retail and production trends, expert tips on food marketing and advertising claims, to inspiring stories from food & beverage companies, popular chefs, and much more! From ChefsBest – taste and quality experts in the food and beverage industry.What did you think about the episode? Let us know by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn

For many food & beverage brands, finding success on Amazon can be a hit or miss. This week on Beyond the Shelf we spoke with the Co-Founder and CEO of Bizzy Coffee, Alex French. Bizzy Coffee is a top-selling brand on Amazon, and they just recently launched their coffee products in brick-and-mortar grocery retailers. In this episode, Alex shared with us how their brand found success on Amazon and gave us an invaluable playbook on how to improve your SEO to become a top-selling brand on Amazon and improve your organic reach. They also shared with us how they used Google Analytics to understand the demand for cold brew coffee to formulate a plan as to how Bizzy Coffee could fill a void within the food & beverage industry.To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

The beverage industry is an incredibly crowded market. Standing out on shelves takes more than just having a great-tasting product. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the Co-Founder and CEO of Aura Bora, Paul Voge. In this episode, Paul shared some of the common struggles that brands in the beverage industry face, and how their creative branding and flavor profiles are filling a void within the market. They also gave us some insights into their long-term goals which include getting into larger national grocery retailers and competing against legacy soda brands.To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Beyond the Shelf dives into the food & beverage industry with guests from all corners of the business including founders/CEO's, marketers, chefs, dietitians, researchers, and other influencers. Topics range from retail and production trends to expert tips on marketing to inspiring stories from growing companies, popular chefs, and much more! From ChefsBest – taste and quality experts in the food and beverage industry.What did you think about the episode? Let us know by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn

With the current state of the global supply chain, having accurate and real-time data is important for any food & beverage brand when managing their ag-operations. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the Chief Operating Officer of AgriTask, Amit Noam. In this episode, we discussed how AgriTask's innovative data-driven solutions help food & beverage companies manage their supply chains across the world. Amit also shared with us how data can be used to increase precision and predictability with resource and agriculture management and gave us some insights into the current state of the global supply chain.To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Beyond the Shelf dives into the food & beverage industry with guests from all corners of the business including founders/CEO's, marketers, chefs, dietitians, researchers, and other influencers. Topics range from retail and production trends to expert tips on marketing to inspiring stories from growing companies, popular chefs, and much more! From ChefsBest – taste and quality experts in the food and beverage industry.

Sensory testing is a vital aspect of any food & beverage brand's research and development process - but how can brands utilize their employees, their most trusted asset, to help with sensory testing and product development? This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the Business Development Manager at Silver Spring Foods, Shawn Kapanke. Founded in 1929, Silver Spring Foods is one of the largest producers of horseradish in the United States. In this episode, Shawn gave us some background into the family-owned business, and how the market for horseradish has shifted since the start of the company. We also discussed their Zing Master program, which consists of a collection of employees that help develop and conduct sensory testing on their products.To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Beyond the Shelf dives into the food & beverage industry with guests from all corners of the business including founders/CEO's, marketers, chefs, dietitians, researchers, and other influencers. Topics range from retail and production trends to expert tips on marketing to inspiring stories from growing companies, popular chefs, and much more! From ChefsBest – taste and quality experts in the food and beverage industry.What did you think about the episode? Let us know by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn

Co-branded products can be a valuable tool for many food & beverage brands. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the Founder & CEO of A-Sha Noodles, Young Chang. Young shared with us how his previous experience in the computer sciences and tech world allowed him to think outside the box in the food & beverage industry. We also discussed what the process was like in bringing an iconic Tawaineese brand to the United States, as well as what sets their products apart from other noodles on the market. Young also gave us some valuable insights into A-Sha Noodles' co-branded products with companies such as Sanrio and Momofuku.To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Beyond the Shelf dives into the food & beverage industry with guests from all corners of the business including founders/CEO's, marketers, chefs, dietitians, researchers, and other influencers. Topics range from retail and production trends to expert tips on marketing to inspiring stories from growing companies, popular chefs, and much more! From ChefsBest – taste and quality experts in the food and beverage industry. What did you think about the episode? Let us know by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn

This week, on a very special episode of Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with Chris Fardiniya, ChefsBest's Chief Business Development Officer. Last month, Chris had the pleasure of attending and representing ChefsBest at the 2022 Velocity Institute Innovation Expo + Conference, one of the largest gatherings for private brands, manufacturers, agencies, and other service providers. We sat down with him to discuss what leading experts in the private brand industry are discussing and what he learned from attending the conference. He shared with us why private brands are pushing the boundaries of the food & beverage industry by being bold and innovative, as well as what the future has in store for the growing market.To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Beyond the Shelf dives into the food & beverage industry with guests from all corners of the business including founders/CEO's, marketers, chefs, dietitians, researchers, and other influencers. Topics range from retail and production trends to expert tips on marketing to inspiring stories from growing companies, popular chefs, and much more! From ChefsBest – taste and quality experts in the food and beverage industry.Additional ResourcesTop 5 Themes from the 2022 Velocity Institute Innovation Expo + Conference – Part 1Top 5 Themes from the 2022 Velocity Institute Innovation Expo + Conference – Part 2

This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the Director of Syndicated Research at Murphy Research, Sarah Marion. Murphy Research's State of our Health (SOOH) series is the largest syndicated health and wellness data tracker. They have been collecting data on consumer behaviors and attitudes around health & wellness, fitness, and nutrition since 2018, and have helped some of the largest food & beverage CPG brands make informed and data-driven decisions. Sarah gave us some valuable insights into the SOOH series and how the data has changed within the past few years. We also discussed some of the biggest trends in health & wellness, including consumers' growing holistic approach to food and diets.To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Beyond the Shelf dives into the food & beverage industry with guests from all corners of the business including founders/CEO's, marketers, chefs, dietitians, researchers, and other influencers. Topics range from retail and production trends to expert tips on marketing to inspiring stories from growing companies, popular chefs, and much more! From ChefsBest – taste and quality experts in the food and beverage industry.

Gut health is a huge hot topic in the food & beverage industry. Kombucha and cultured products can be found in many different grocery aisles. However, a consistent hurdle for brands in this space is taste. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the Founder & CEO of wildwonder, Rosa Li. wildwonder has created a line of delicious, gut-healthy, immune-supporting prebiotic/probiotic beverages with complex and interesting flavor profiles. In this episode, Rosa shared her story of how the brand came to be and gave us some valuable insights into how gut health is a huge factor in our overall well-being.To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Beyond the Shelf dives into the food & beverage industry with guests from all corners of the business including founders/CEO's, marketers, chefs, dietitians, researchers, and other influencers. Topics range from retail and production trends to expert tips on marketing to inspiring stories from growing companies, popular chefs, and much more! From ChefsBest – taste and quality experts in the food and beverage industry.

Terms such as "organic", "grass-fed", and "natural" are used a lot in food & beverage marketing and branding - but what do these terms actually mean? This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the Co-Founder and Head of Creative & Branding at Maple Hill Creamery, Julia Joseph. In this episode, Julia broke down the differences between "organic" and "grass-fed" meat and dairy, and explained why grass-fed dairy products are often considered higher quality. We also discussed some of the issues that the dairy industry is facing, and what the future of the industry may look like.To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Beyond the Shelf dives into the food & beverage industry with guests from all corners of the business including founders/CEO's, marketers, chefs, dietitians, researchers, and other influencers. Topics range from retail and production trends to expert tips on marketing to inspiring stories from growing companies, popular chefs, and much more! From ChefsBest – taste and quality experts in the food and beverage industry.

The online grocery delivery market has grown exponentially since 2020. With more shoppers discovering the convenience of home grocery delivery, there's a growing interest for online grocers who provide sustainably sourced and local food & beverage products. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the CEO of Good Eggs, Bentley Hall. Good Eggs is a California-based online grocery delivery service that provides shoppers with access to local and sustainably sourced food & beverage producers. In this episode, Bentley gave us some background on Good Eggs' quality standards for producers and growers and why it's important for them (and their customers) to partner with sustainable and equitable companies. We also discussed their recent expansion into the Los Angeles market, and what the future has in store for their online grocery delivery services.To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Beyond the Shelf dives into the food & beverage industry with guests from all corners of the business including founders/CEO's, marketers, chefs, dietitians, researchers, and other influencers. Topics range from retail and production trends to expert tips on marketing to inspiring stories from growing companies, popular chefs, and much more! From ChefsBest – taste and quality experts in the food and beverage industry. What did you think about the episode? Let us know by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn

In the past few years, artisan ice cream brands have leveraged their unique and innovative flavor profiles and high-quality products to become a massively growing market across the country. This week on Beyond the Shelf presented by ChefsBest, we spoke with the Founder & CEO of Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream, Ben Van Leeuwen. In this episode, Ben gave us some background as to how driving an ice cream truck as a teenager led him to open a fan favorite ice cream brand.  He also shared with us some of the lessons he learned along the way, including how creating a line of vegan ice cream flavors differs from traditional dairy flavors.To learn more about his innovative ice cream brand, please visit vanleeuwenicecream.comTo stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Beyond the Shelf dives into the food & beverage industry with guests from all corners of the business including founders/CEO's, marketers, chefs, dietitians, researchers, and other influencers. Topics range from retail and production trends to expert tips on marketing to inspiring stories from growing companies, popular chefs, and much more! From ChefsBest – taste and quality experts in the food and beverage industry.

Creating a plant-based meat brand that not only fills a void in the market but also serves a larger purpose, is the goal for many modern food & beverage brand managers.  This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the Co-Founder & CEO of Nowadays, Max Elder. In this episode, Max shared with us how his background and experience in the Humanities helped him gain a different perspective on the plant-based meat alternative market. We discussed how the market has shifted in the past 10 years, and why it was important for them to create a plant-based meat brand with minimal ingredients that could be scaled as the brand grows.To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Beyond the Shelf dives into the food & beverage industry with guests from all corners of the business including founders/CEO's, marketers, chefs, dietitians, researchers, and other influencers. Topics range from retail and production trends to expert tips on marketing to inspiring stories from growing companies, popular chefs, and much more! From ChefsBest – taste and quality experts in the food and beverage industry. What did you think about the episode? Let us know by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn

There is a growing appetite for socially conscious brands. Shoppers want great products that support their communities and initiatives that they care about. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the Co-Founder of the socially conscious brand BLK & Bold Specialty Beverages, Rod Johnson. In this episode, Rod shared with us how he and his friend/business partner, Pernell Cezar, created a line of specialty beverages that gives back to communities across the nation and internationally. He also shared how in just a few years their brand gained quite a bit of traction, which landed them partnerships with the NBA and Ben & Jerry's, as well as why he believes there should be more socially conscious brands.To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Beyond the Shelf dives into the food & beverage industry with guests from all corners of the business including founders/CEO's, marketers, chefs, dietitians, researchers, and other influencers. Topics range from retail and production trends to expert tips on marketing to inspiring stories from growing companies, popular chefs, and much more! From ChefsBest – taste and quality experts in the food and beverage industry.

Accessing fresh produce is a constant struggle for many Americans. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the CEO of Eden Green Technology, Eddy Badrina. In this episode, we discussed their greenhouse systems and vertical farming technology that are helping to bring nutritious, fresh, and safe food to communities across the country. Eddy shared with us how their technology differs from traditional greenhouse and vertical farming systems, why shortening the supply chain benefits retailers and consumers, and how their technology can produce fresh fruits and vegetables year around.To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Beyond the Shelf dives into the food & beverage industry with guests from all corners of the business including founders/CEO's, marketers, chefs, dietitians, researchers, and other influencers. Topics range from retail and production trends to expert tips on marketing to inspiring stories from growing companies, popular chefs, and much more! From ChefsBest – taste and quality experts in the food and beverage industry.

The food & beverage industry needs to talk about water conservation. Every year, massive amounts of water are used in the agriculture industry. Typically, this water is viewed as a byproduct of traditional food manufacturing methods, but a few brands are helping to change the way we view water conservation. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the Founder of Kazoo Snacks, Josh Death. In this episode, Josh shared with us how each bag of their upcycled corn tortilla chips saves 20 gallons of water. He also gave us some insights into their patent-pending manufacturing process and the importance of brands pushing for sustainability and transparency in all areas of the food & beverage industry.To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

The plant-based meat industry has grown exponentially within the past few years. With a few brands entering the foodservice space and releasing innovative new products - there's no doubting that the market will continue to grow. This week on Beyond the Shelf we spoke to the Co-Founders of Hungry Planet, Jody & Todd Boyman. In this episode, we discussed how Jody's decision to go plant-based as a teenager prompted them to create a line of truly plant-based meat alternatives that are meant to be used as direct substitutions for traditional meat products. Todd & Jody shared why they believe it's important to appeal to flexitarians (those who are looking to cut down on their meat consumption), and how entering the foodservice industry has helped grow their business.To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Is your brand ready to handle a crisis? It's a bridge that we never want to cross, but a crisis management plan is an extremely valuable tool that all brands should have. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the Owner & Principal of TexHahn Media, Jeff Hahn. Jeff provided us with some valuable insights into what food & beverage companies should know about crisis management, including why it's important to have an established crisis response team, who should be on that team, and what steps should be made when responding to a crisis. We also spoke to Jeff about his new book Breaking Bad News: 12 Essential Crisis Communication Tools, and discussed a few fascinating case studies.To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. And to learn more about Jeff Hahn's book please visit breakingbadnewsbook.com

As we enter 2022, sustainability in the food industry is a huge hot topic. This week on Beyond the Shelf we spoke with Kathryn Bernell, the CEO & Founder of reHarvest Provisions. Kathryn shared her journey to create a line of smoothie pops made from whole fruits and veggies that would otherwise be considered "waste". She gave us some valuable insights into how much waste is created by the food industry, and how organizations such as The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation are to improve sustainability in the food industryTo stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

 Gut-friendly products have been on the rise for the past few years. With shoppers increasingly interested in improving their wellness through food, many have turned their attention to their gut health. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the Founder of Alex's Awesome Sourdough, Alex Corsini. In this episode, Alex gave us a rundown of how they created a line of delicious gut-friendly sourdough pizzas, and how his experience in the tech space and personal health journey led to the creation of his brand. Alex also shared a few tips for emerging entrepreneurs in the food & beverage industry. To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. 

The growing popularity and success of the private label industry are changing the way that shoppers view grocery stores. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the President of the Retail Brands Institute, Christopher Durham, who gave us some invaluable insights into the world of private brands/private labels/store brands. In our interview, he shared how the past two years have dramatically shifted the goals and needs for many private labels. We also discussed how the next few years will be extremely monumental for the private label industry, and how the Retail Brands Institute is helping to create an opportunity for industry leaders to network and grow.To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Curating unique customer experiences is a vital marketing tactic for most modern brands. Virtual and in-person events help brands create stronger and lasting relationships with customers. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with Daniel Yaffe, the Co-Founder and COO of AnyRoad. In our interview, Daniel shares how experiential marketing is changing the way that customers interact with brands. He gave us some insights into the often misunderstood and underutilized power of experiential marketing, as well as how AnyRoad is helping brands track and analyze valuable data from curated customer experiences.  To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. What did you think about the episode? Let us know by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn

Maneuvering through the food & beverage industry as a small family business is extremely tricky. It takes practice and sometimes failure to really find your space and your market. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the Founder & CEO of Six-Point Creative, Meghan Lynch. In this episode, Meghan shares some valuable insights into what they believe can help and hinder new small family businesses' growth and development. They also explained why sometimes it's best for business owners to say "no" to opportunities, and why more is not always better.To learn more about Six-Point Creative, and to access information for small businesses, please visit sixpointcreative.com/beyondtheshelfTo stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Despite being considered a bar staple, bitters are often a very misunderstood product. What exactly are they? And how has the market for them changed over the past ten years? This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the Co-Founder and CMO of The Bitter Housewife, Genevieve Brazelton. In this episode, Genevieve gave us some much-needed insights into the bitters market, as well as walked us through the process of how they are made. We also discussed the ever-growing non-alcoholic spirits/beverage market, and how consumer interest in better-for-you options is changing the industry.To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

 The recent cocktail boom has marked a significant shift in the beer, wine, and spirits industry. Focused on complex flavor profiles and international-inspired ingredients, this recent resurgence has been a long time in the making. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with author, journalist, and cocktail connoisseur, André Darlington. His latest book, Booze Cruise: A Tour of the World's Essential Mixed Drinks, chronicles his travels across the globe to the world's top cocktail destinations. In our interview, we discussed what he learned along his travels as well as how the world of cocktails and mixology has changed in the past 20 years. We also talked about what has caused the recent cocktail boom, and what he really thinks about celebrity-backed spirits. You can order his latest book Booze Cruise: A Tour of the World's Essential Mixed Drinks on Amazon.To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Nutritional labels are not only an extremely important resource/tool for consumers but also for food manufacturers. With a growing demand for more transparency in the food & beverage industry, having access to thorough nutrition analysis can help companies better inform their customers. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with Sonia Couto, the Founder of MenuSano. They've created an online nutrition analysis software that helps restaurants and food manufacturers create accurate nutritional labels. In this episode, Sonia shared with us how they created the software and why software like this is important to consumers.To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

The protein bar category has always been a challenge for brands to enter. Between finding space on overcrowded shelves, and the challenge of keeping up with consumer interests - the protein bar category is increasingly tough to stand out in. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the Founders of Buddha Brands, Mark Cigos and Christopher Magnone. In this episode, Mark & Chris share how they came to create a protein bar that is free from GMOs, palm oil, sugar alcohols, dairy, and soy. They also explain why it was so important for them to create a clean-label protein bar, and gave us some insights into how innovation is challenging the protein bar category. To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.What did you think about the episode? Let us know by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn

Typically, better-for-you products are often characterized by their functional properties but often aren't seen as indulgent. Although great strides have been made in the industry to make better-for-you products that taste great, overcoming that long-standing stereotype is a battle that many brands are tackling. This week on Beyond the Shelf presented by ChefsBest, we spoke with the Founder of Chasin' Dreams Farm, Sydney Chasin. In this episode, Sydney gives us some background into the farming and production of sorghum, an ancient grain that is extremely versatile and is considered to be environmentally sustainable. She also shares how Chasin' Dreams created a popped sorghum product that is helping to fill the market of indulgent better-for-you products. To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.What did you think about the episode? Let us know by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn

In this very special 100th episode of Beyond the Shelf presented by ChefsBest, we spoke with the Marketing Director of Vitamins, Minerals and, Supplements at Church & Dwight, Michael Vercelletto. In this episode, Michael shared with us how Vitafusion and L'il Critters have continued to share their core value of providing delicious vitamins for all. We also discussed how the last year has shaped the vitamin and supplement industry, as well as how their partnership with the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation is helping to bring fresh affordable food options to underserved communities.  To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.What did you think about the episode? Let us know by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn

Creating a social strategy that works for your brand takes quite a bit of trial and error.  This week on Beyond the Shelf we spoke with Nicole Hamzeloo, Founder and CEO of Thrive Collective Co. In this episode, Nicole shared her best practices for emerging food & beverage brands that are looking to create a social strategy to help drive traffic to their eCommerce sites. We also discussed the importance of finding what works best for your brand, and why you don't necessarily have to be active on all social media platforms. To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.What did you think about the episode? Let us know by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn

It's no industry secret that grocery stores only sell fruits and vegetables that are aesthetically appealing to shoppers. Favoring produce with limited to no blemishes or discoloration, typically only the "best looking" produce is available for shoppers - but what happens to all the fruits and vegetables that are deemed "unmarketable?" This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with Ben Moore, the Founder of The Ugly Company. Ben's company sells dried fruit snacks made from upcycled fruits that have previously been identified as being unable to be sold in grocery stores. In this episode, Ben shared with us how his background in farming gave him the resources and experience to create a brand that is tackling our food waste problem one ugly fruit at a time.To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – and don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. What did you think about the episode? Let us know by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn

 Known as one of the most expensive spices in the world, there's much about saffron that Western cultures often misunderstand. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the CEO & Co-Founder of Heray Spice, Mohammad Salehi. In this episode, Mohammad shared with us how their business is bringing equity to Afghani farmers through promoting sustainable farming practices as well as helping to de-mystify American's knowledge of saffron. They also gave us some much-needed insight into the global saffron market, and the variety of quality that can be found around the world. If you are interested in being a guest on Beyond the Shelf, please email us at info@chefsbest.comTo stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio - or visit our website.What did you think about the episode?  Let us know by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Innovation products are often a risky move for food & beverage brands. Even with substantial market testing and research, your core customers may still not be receptive to new flavor profiles. But what if you could use your most dedicated customers to help beta-test new products? This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the Founder & CEO of Oats Overnight, Brian Tate. Brian shared with us how Oats Overnight utilizes a subscription service to get feedback on new flavor profiles from their core customers. With over 20,000 people signed up for their monthly subscription service, and an internal collaborative work model, Oats Overnight is able to get direct feedback from those who love and support the brand. If you are interested in being a guest on Beyond the Shelf, please email us at info@chefsbest.comTo stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio - or visit our website.What did you think about the episode?  Let us know by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

The hard seltzer category has exploded in the past two years. With dozens of national and regional brands on shelves and new products launching every month, the category has become highly competitive. However, the category seems to be lacking in variety and innovation in flavor profiles and ingredients - until now. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the Co-Founders of SESH, Nate Medow & Zeke Bronfman. In this episode, Nate and Zeke share their journey of making a low-calorie, low-carb, naturally flavored, diabetic-friendly hard seltzer with robust flavor profiles. The duo explained how they saw a void in the highly saturated hard seltzer market and sought to create a line of beverages inspired by classic cocktails while appealing to health-conscious shoppers. If you are interested in being a guest on Beyond the Shelf, please email us at info@chefsbest.comTo stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio - or visit our website.What did you think about the episode?  Let us know by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This week on Beyond the Shelf, we finish our conversation with Pamela Deese, Partner at Arent Fox in Washington DC. Last week, in episode 2, we discussed what happens when brands make claims that are not or cannot be substantiated, and how ad claim laws and regulations apply to social media advertising. This week is all about awards and certifications, including how brands can earn them, how they may be used in marketing, and why you should never create your own certification program. We also touched on how advertisers (and your legal teams) can keep up with recent NAD rulings, and why it's important to do so.If you would like to listen to the previous episodes of our series Navigating Ad Claims with Pamela Deese, you can stream them all on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – or wherever you get your episodes. If you enjoyed the series, please subscribe/follow to Beyond the Shelf on your preferred podcast platform and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.What did you think about the episode? Let us know by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedInBeyond the Shelf dives into the food and beverage industry with guests from all corners of the business including founders/CEO’s, marketers, chefs, dietitians, researchers, and other influencers. Topics range from retail and production trends to expert tips on marketing to inspiring stories from growing companies, popular chefs, and much more! From ChefsBest – taste and quality experts in the food and beverage industry.Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast episode does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available within this episode and promotional material are for general informational purposes only. Information within this episode may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information. Listeners of this episode should contact their attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular legal matter. No reader, user, or browser of this site should act or refrain from acting on the basis of information on this site without first seeking legal advice from counsel in the relevant jurisdiction.

This week on Beyond the Shelf, we continue our conversation with Pamela Deese, Partner at Arent Fox. In last week's episode, Pam gave us an overview of what ad claims are, who makes them, and what is needed to make them. This week, we discussed what happens when brands make claims that are not or cannot be substantiated. Pam shares how the National Advertising Division (NAD) of the Better Business Bureau works, and what brands need to know about the laws and regulations surrounding advertising claims. Also in the episode, we spoke about how social media factors into existing advertising laws, and why it's important that Social Media Managers at food & beverage companies should be trained on how to make accurate ad claims.On next week’s episode of Beyond the Shelf, we finish our conversation with Pamela Deese by discussing how awards and certifications can be used properly in advertising, as well as a few recent NAD rulings that advertisers and marketers should be aware of. To be notified when the next episode is live, please subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – or wherever you get your episodes.What did you think about the episode? Let us know by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedInBeyond the Shelf dives into the food and beverage industry with guests from all corners of the business including founders/CEO’s, marketers, chefs, dietitians, researchers, and other influencers. Topics range from retail and production trends to expert tips on marketing to inspiring stories from growing companies, popular chefs, and much more! From ChefsBest – taste and quality experts in the food and beverage industry.Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast episode does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available within this episode and promotional material are for general informational purposes only. Information within this episode may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information. Listeners of this episode should contact their attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular legal matter.  No reader, user, or browser of this site should act or refrain from acting on the basis of information on this site without first seeking legal advice from counsel in the relevant jurisdiction.

This week on Beyond the Shelf, we are extremely excited to release the first episode of a 3-part series on Navigating Ad Claims with Pamela Deese, Partner at Arent Fox in Washington D.C. In this first episode, Pam gave us an overview of what types of claims can be made in advertising, who makes them, and what is needed to make them. She also breaks down the process that food & beverage brands need to consider before making any sort of claim in their marketing materials and touched upon what happens if a claim is made without proper substantiation. On next week's episode of Beyond the Shelf, we continue our conversation with Pamela Deese by discussing some of the possible legal ramifications of making unsubstantiated ad claims, as well as how social media and digital marketing fit into the current laws and regulations regarding advertising. To be notified when the next episode is live, please subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio – or wherever you get your episodes. What did you think about the episode? Let us know by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn @chefsbestIf you are interested in being a guest on Beyond the Shelf, please email us at info@chefsbest.comDisclaimer: The information provided in this podcast episode does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available within this episode and promotional material are for general informational purposes only. Information within this episode may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information. Listeners of this episode should contact their attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular legal matter.  No reader, user, or browser of this site should act or refrain from acting on the basis of information on this site without first seeking legal advice from counsel in the relevant jurisdiction.

 This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the President and Founder of wanu water, Todd O'Gara. wanu water has created flavored, nutrient-infused functional beverages that help boost your energy and metabolism. In this episode, we discussed the history of the beverage industry including how sugary drinks gained popularity throughout the 90s and 2000s, and how tides are quickly turning. Todd gave us some insights into where they felt the industry was lacking, and their functional beverages are hitting on a lot of the trends that consumers are interested in. If you are interested in being a guest on Beyond the Shelf, please email us at info@chefsbest.comTo stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio - or visit our website.What did you think about the episode? Have you tried Swoon? Let us know by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn @chefsbest

 As one of the biggest wine producers in the country, every year California's wildfire season takes a huge toll on our local and national wine industry. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with Winemaker and the Owner of Hesperian Wines, Philippe Langner. In this episode, Philippe gave us some insights into how California wildfires affect the wine industry in Napa Valley. He also shed some light on the extensive aging process of wine, and how environmental factors play a huge role in the production of high-quality wine - as well as how he is working towards overcoming last year's record-breaking fire season. If you are interested in being a guest on Beyond the Shelf, please email us at info@chefsbest.com To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio - or visit our website. What did you think about the episode? Have you tried Swoon? Let us know by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn @chefsbest

Cracking the code of creating a zero-sugar beverage that still tastes great has been a challenge for many brands for many decades. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we spoke with the co-founders of Swoon, Jennifer Ross and Cristina Ros Blankfein. Jennifer shared her experience living with diabetes and how that led them to create a line of diabetic-friendly lemonades and simple syrup that contains zero sugar and no artificial sweeteners. They also gave us some background into why creating a zero-sugar beverage is so tricky, and what the reception has been like since they launched.If you are interested in being a guest on Beyond the Shelf, please email us at info@chefsbest.com To stay up to date on all new episodes, subscribe to Beyond the Shelf on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio - or visit our website. What did you think about the episode? Have you tried Swoon? Let us know by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedInUse chefsbest20 at tasteswoon.com for 20% off your purchase. Offer is only valid on your first order.

It's not often that we get to follow-up with brands we previously interviewed. However, after watching their business rapidly expand, one of their products qualifying for a ChefsBest Excellence Award, and seeing their recent announcement about going public - we just knew we had to have them back on. This week on Beyond the Shelf, we had the honor of speaking with entrepreneur and Co-CEO of Stryve Biltong, Jaxie Alt. In this exciting follow-up to a previous episode with the Co-Founder of Stryve, Gabe Carimi, Jaxie gave us an update on how the brand has been doing and gives us a few hints as to what's next for them. She also shares what the process has been like as the brand prepares to go public this Spring, as well as the importance of educating consumers about the health-benefits of biltong.