Podcasts about krave jerky

These days, keeping it simple is one way to be different. At a time when brands are packing their products with processed ingredients and novel sweeteners, some companies are taking a stripped down approach… and getting noticed. This episode, which features an interview with Stephanie McGregor, a veteran food and beverage executive and founder of plant-based drink brand Ringa, explores that dynamic. Show notes: 0:25: Mussel-ed Out. RSVP & See You In S.B. Real Corn Flakes. Live Slice. Miso & Pita. Kartik FTW. – Ray shares some important advice about dining out based on recent experience. Our Miami meetup is 10 days away – we'd appreciate it if you register for the event. The ECB folks snack on some premium simple cereal and talk about how consumers may perceive it versus competing products. They also chat about a couple soda brand revamps – including that of a classic brand now marketed as “healthy” – snack on extra crispy pita chips, and highlight a miso-infused tomato sauce and a brand called “DryWater,” before Mike unpacks a box of goodies sent to him from Doosra founder (and CPG king ) Kartik Das. 27:28: Stephanie McGregor, Founder & CEO, Ringa – Launched in 2023, Ringa is a brand of plant-based functional beverages made with all organic ingredients, including moringa, apple cider vinegar and prebiotic fiber from agave inulin. A veteran food and beverage brand executive who has worked with vitaminwater, Pop Chips and Smashmallow, Stephanie talks about her inspiration to launch a beverage brand, how she is attempting to align education about functional ingredients to a common habit, why she's not chasing demand for gut-friendly sodas, and what she's learned from taking a slow and sustainable approach to retail growth. Brands in this episode: Ringa, The Real Cereal Co., Ringa, Chef's Life, Live Soda, Better Booch, Slice, Suja, Sauz, Terranean, Bitchin Sauce, DryWater, Sacred Bev, See The Elephant Amaro, Sip Herbals, Rishi Snacks, Doosra, Baabu, Chikka Chikka, Fishwife, Huwa, Kimbala, Vitaminwater, Pop Chips, Krave Jerky, Bark Thins, Smashmallow, Kuli Kuli

This week, Cassie and Erica chat with Alyssa Marie Marchino, Social Media and Content Manager at Sweet Loren's. In this episode, Alyssa shares how the brand's marketing department has found success (as a team of only 4!) and gives us an inside look at the strategy behind launching two new products, puff pasty and pizza crust, from conception to reality. She also shares her top tip for each social platform that Sweet Loren's is currently present on, and explains why she thinks we'll be reverting back to still images as the future of social media unfolds. Here's a peek at what we cover in this episode: [00:02:48] - Alyssa shares her journey from majoring in accounting to gaining experience in events and social, eventually joining the HIPPEAS Field Marketing team then moving on to Krave Jerky, Owl's Brew, and now Sweet Loren's. She also explains her current day to day responsibilities, including content planning for future launches and managing social, brand partnerships, creators, ambassadors, and more. [00:06:25] - Alyssa walks us through her favorite projects at the brand - like the strategic launch of seasonal flavors - and explains how the team is able to tell the Sweet Loren's brand story through educational content and selective partnerships. [00:10:12] - Alyssa gives us a peek into the marketing strategy around Sweet Loren's two newest products, Puff Pastry and Pizza Crust, and how the brand thinks about sharing these products on social. [00:28:00] - Alyssa dives deeper into the brand's current social media strategy, noting their tried and true post formats and why they're prioritizing TikTok for the rest of this year. She also shares her top tip for each of these platforms: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest, and LinkedIn, and her predictions for the future of social. Grab a drink and listen in to this week's Marketing Happy Hour conversation! ____ Other episodes you'll enjoy if you enjoyed Alyssa's episode: How Strong Branding + Community Influences Retail Demand | Lauren Murphy of Fishwife Easy-to-Implement Tips for Each Social Media Platform | Carson Mason of Papa Johns Creating Fresh and Innovative Social-First Content | Jacynth Serrano Rodriguez of Our Place ____ Say hi! DM us on Instagram and let us know which episodes you're loving - we can't wait to hear from you!  Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our FREE MHH Insiders online community to connect with Millennial and Gen Z marketing professionals around the world!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get the latest from MHH, straight to your inbox: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our email list!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Alyssa: Instagram | LinkedIn Check out Sweet Loren's: Instagram | TikTok | Pinterest | Facebook | sweetlorens.com Follow MHH on Social: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ New to Marketing Happy Hour (or just want more)? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download our Marketing Happy Hour Starter Kit⁠⁠ Connect with Co-Host Erica: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Co-Host Cassie: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This podcast is an MHH Media production. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more about MHH Media!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Interested in starting your own podcast? Grab our Podcast Launch Strategy Guide here.⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/marketinghappyhour/support

Jeremy Smith is the founder and CEO of LaunchPad, a full-service strategy, branding, and broker group focused on Costco. He has spent over 35 years in strategic sales, branding, and marketing, and has worked with some of the world's most iconic brands including Apple, Chobani, Krave Jerky, and Bob's Red Mill. On this episode of ITS, Jeremy breaks down Costco for the emerging brand: When it makes sense, what we need to have nailed down before the launch, what motivates a Costco buyer, and perhaps most importantly, when to decide you're NOT ready. HRN is home to transformative exchanges about food. Our 35+ member-supported food podcasts empower eaters to cultivate a radically better world. This month, we're asking you to join us. Become a monthly sustaining member at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.In The Sauce is Powered by Simplecast.

Today I'm joined by Courtney Reum, co-founder of M13 — a brand development and investment company.    In this episode, we discuss the shifting venture capital ecosystem, trends in health and wellness, and the firm's investments in companies like Tonal, Headspace, and ClassPass. Plus, Courtney shares his frameworks for evaluating potential investments.    More from Fitt Insider    Fitt Insider helps operators stay informed and make better decisions. We produce a weekly newsletter and podcast, curate an industry jobs board, and invest in early-stage companies.   *** Subscribe to our newsletter: https://insider.fitt.co/newsletter/   *** Visit the jobs board: https://jobs.fitt.co/   *** View current investment and get in touch: https://insider.fitt.co/investments/   More from Courtney   Courtney Reum is an innovator whose goal is to create impact towards global change. In April 2016, Courtney co-founded M13, a Los Angeles based brand development and investment company that accelerates businesses at the nexus of consumer products, technology, and media. M13 focuses on building emerging entrepreneurial businesses, and will directly invest more than $100 million of investments over the next 5 years.    Courtney began his career as an Investment Banker at Goldman Sachs in New York, working with such brands as Procter & Gamble, Under Armour, and Vitamin Water. In 2007, following his career at Goldman Sachs, Courtney and his brother Carter Reum established VEEV Spirits with the goal of creating “a better way to drink”. Originally offering a first of its kind vodka alternative, VEEV Spirits quickly grew to be one of the fastest-growing independent brands in the country and later, with the addition of VitaFrute™ Cocktails by VEEV, the first line of organic ready-to-drink cocktails.  VEEV has been honored as the winner of the Technomic Fast 50 Award and by Inc. Magazine as one of the 500 Fastest-Growing Companies in the U.S. (#7 in the food & beverage category).     While growing VEEV, Courtney & Carter began investing and providing guidance as advisors and board members to emerging businesses. Some of their select early investments include Bonobos, Birchbox, Warby Parker, Pinterest, Lyft, Kevita, and Krave Jerky. In 2016, Courtney & Carter sold a majority stake of VEEV Spirits to a multi-national strategic buyer, allowing them to found M13 and focus on their entrepreneurial stewardship of consumer brands. M13 currently has investments in 100+ companies spanning consumer brands, media, and technology.    Courtney holds a B.A. with distinction from Columbia University in New York and is an alumni of Harvard Business School.  He is also an active member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and has served as the President of the Bel-Air Chapter. Courtney was appointed as one of Mayor Eric Garcetti's Commissioners for the Los Angeles Convention Center & Tourism Authority and is philanthropically involved as a Board Member of the Los Angeles Opera and City Year, which helps underserved schools.    Courtney was named one of the 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs of both 2014 and 2015 by Goldman Sachs at its annual Builders + Innovators Summit, featured in Inc's “500 fastest growing private companies in America,” and included in the Forbes “30 Under 30” list. Courtney serves as a contributing writer for Inc magazine and is featured in best-selling books such as Richard Branson's “Screw Business as Usual” and Blake Mycoskie's (TOMs Shoes) “Start Something that Matters.”    Finally, Courtney and his brother are the authors of the national bestseller Shortcut Your Startup, which was published by Simon & Schuster in January 2018 and aimed to share their insights and empower the next generation of entrepreneurs. 

Presented by Ferret: Ferret is the first relationship intelligence tool for all business savvy investors to know, for the first time, who they can trust Click Here to jump to the top of the waitlist. Presented by Gorgias: Gorgias is the #1 helpdesk for Shopify, Magento and BigCommerce stores, and can turn your customer support into a profit center.If you're looking to increase your retention for your business, mention Consumer VC and get 2 months of Gorgias for free. Click Here to get started. Thank you Ben Jang for the intro to our guest today, Jon Sebastiani, founder of Sonoma Brands and Krave Jerky. Sonoma Brands is a private equity firm focused on the growth sectors of the consumer economy. Krave was one of the first better for you beef jerky brands on the market. Jon is the first founder we've had on this show that not only scaled and sold his company to a strategic, but also reacquired the company. Some of the questions I ask Jon: You're a fourth generation wine maker, and was president of Viansa winery. Why did you decide to become an entrepreneur and focus on beef jerky? What were your first steps when you decided to start the brand? When did you realize Krave was gaining traction? What were some of the things you did right or went your way that led to Krave's success? Looking back, what were some of the mistakes that you made? How did the sale to Hershey come about? Why did you decide to create Sonoma Brands? Why do you decide to focus on the growth stage instead of early stages? What's different creating and scaling a brand now vs. when you did it with Krave? What are elements you look for in businesses? What is the opportunity investing in consumer brands? Why did you buy Krave back? What are current trends you're passionate about? Do you only look at single category businesses? How do you think about growth vs. profitability? Is there a trend that you think is misunderstood? As an investor what is a good exit? What's one thing you would change about venture capital? What's one book that inspired you personally and one book that inspired you professionally? What's the best piece of advice that you've received? What's one piece of advice for founders?

How do you effect positive and sustainable change in the food system? If you’re Seth Goldman, you begin with tea and continue with mushrooms. As the co-founder of Honest Tea and chair of the board of Beyond Meat, Goldman has played a key role in democratizing access to organic beverages and plant-based meat. His latest venture, Eat The Change, is a mission-driven platform designed to give people “daily, actionable choices that make a difference” via chef-crafted, planet-friendly snacks. Last month, Eat The Change launched its first products, a line of organic mushroom jerky created by co-founder and celebrity chef Spike Mendelsohn, who is also Goldman’s partner in PLNT Burger, a chain of plant-based, quick-service restaurants. In an interview featured on social media platform Clubhouse and recorded for this episode, Goldman discussed how the Eat The Change fits into the context of his career, why he and Mendelsohn chose to lead with mushroom jerky and how the company plans to communicate the brand's mission and product attributes to mainstream consumers. He also addressed claims of Beyond Meat products as being overly processed, the evolution of Honest Tea as a Coca-Cola-owned brand and why he eats Pringles from time to time. Show notes:  0:42: Interview: Seth Goldman, Co-Founder, Honest Tea & Eat The Change; Chair Of The Board, Beyond Meat -- Goldman spoke with Taste Radio hosts Ray Latif, John Craven, Mike Schneider and Jacqui Brugliera for a wide-ranging conversation that began with a discussion about the impact of divisive rhetoric in the U.S., the genesis of Eat The Change and why he believes that “mushrooms are the ultimate ingredient.” He also spoke about the differences between the first year of Honest Tea and that of Eat The Change, how and when the latter will expand into new food categories and how the pandemic affected the timing of its launch. Later, Goldman explained why those that are critical of how Beyond Meat is produced “shouldn’t be eating pasta,” why he’s still in regular contact with the leadership team at Honest Tea despite having no official role with the brand and answered questions from the Clubhouse audience about new business opportunities that are drawing his attention, the potential for refrigerated snacks and his perspective on soy as a crop. Brands in this episode: Eat The Change, Beyond Meat, Honest Tea, Tip Top Cocktails, Epic Provisions, Krave Jerky, Earth & Star, New Gem Foods, Zico, Pringles, The Good Crisp

After more than 35 years in strategic sales, branding and marketing Jeremy’s senior management and graphic arts resume is a salute to the country’s most iconic brands. Think Apple, Chobani, Krave Jerky, Bob’s Red Mill and popchips. Prior to Launchpad, as co-founder of Level One, his relationships with buyers, marketers, strategists, venture capital firms and designers, presents enviable connections in the food industry. Jeremy was named to Forbes and Circle Up’s 2017 Top Catalysts Dealmakers and Influencers in the Consumer Industry.Connect with Jeremyhttps://launchpadgroupusa.com/Connect with Russ https://russjohns.com/https://thepiratesyndicate.com/https://nextstepnext.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/nextstepnext/Please subscribe to the #PirateBroadcast™ YouTube channel!!!Live Stream Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25iiAb3ldxQ

The opportunity, as Bill Shufelt explained, was hidden in plain sight.  Shufelt, the co-founder and CEO of non-alcoholic beer maker Athletic Brewing Co., believed that despite decades of stigma and ridicule for sober suds, modern consumers were ready and waiting for a better tasting and premium option. Following months of category research and market analysis, he launched Athletic Brewing Co. in 2017, which has emerged as the leading brand in a rapidly expanding market for non-alcoholic beer. Athletic has dominated the craft side of the category and holds a 54 percent share of the segment, which, according to Bill, is the fastest growing within non-alcoholic beer and grew over 300 percent in 2020.  In an interview featured in this episode, Shufelt, speaking from the company’s San Diego production facility which opened last year following a $17.5 million capital raise, discussed how a high-pressure career in finance led him to non-alcoholic beer, how he dealt with consistent rejection from beer industry professionals and how he landed his first investors. He also spoke about the yin and yang of his relationship with Athletic’s co-founder, John Walker, why he believes that “drama is so unproductive,” how he planned for and is managing explosive growth and how he evaluates strategic partnerships. Show notes:  0:42: Interview: Bill Shufelt, Co-Founder & CEO, Athletic Brewing Co. -- Shufelt spoke with Taste Radio editor Ray Latif for an expansive interview that began with his initial assessment of the non-alcoholic beer category, how his fast-paced lifestyle as a hedge fund executive introduced him to the category and how his calm, composed demeanor is reflected in the culture of Athletic Brewing Co. He also discussed the impact of health and wellness trends on the non-alcoholic beverage market, his methodology in measuring the potential for non-alcoholic beer, how a chance meeting at a BevNET Live event led to one of his first investors and the key to landing his most valuable distribution and retail partnerships. Later, Shufelt spoke about outgrowing Athletic’s initial production facility, his advice for forecasting demand, including why brand owners should avoid debt, how the brand’s personality has evolved since its launch and how major beer conglomerates have supported the company. Brands in this episode: Athletic Brewing Co., Stonyfield Farm, Honest Tea, Krave Jerky, Suja, Ballast Point

Tesla vs Porche, how is their creative process different? And what does that have to do with focus groups and getting a brand into COSTCO?In this episode, Jeremy Smith tells us about his incredible journey from briefly working with Steve Jobs in the 80s to helping brands get into COSTCO today.Learn from a creative professional who worked on some of the most iconic brands within the past 30 years!PLUSDiscover why Jeremy says that “Focus groups are a joke” and who inspired him to bet his entire career on that key insightJeremy reveals his super-successful creative process for developing a memorable brandLearn how a creative company can push back on big store requirements with the story of popchipsFind a new approach to developing your next campaign, product, or business - without focus groupsWho is Jeremy Smith?After more than 35 years in strategic sales, branding and marketing, Jeremy Smith's senior management and graphic arts resume is a salute to the country's most iconic brands.Think Apple, Chobani, Krave Jerky, Bob's Red Mill and popchips.Prior to Launchpad, as co-founder of Level One, his relationships with buyers, marketers, strategists, venture capital firms and designers, presents enviable connections in the food industry.Jeremy was named to Forbes and Circle Up's 2017 Top Catalysts Dealmakers and Influencers in the Consumer Industry.Connect with Jeremy by phone or email 925 329-6425 EXT 100 or jeremy@launchpadgroupusa.com.

NOSH writer Carol Ortenberg captured a written article with Neal Gottlieb about how he had to shut Three Twins Ice Cream down after 15 years of being in business and I found the article (which now behind a paywall) very reflective. So I got Neal on the show to talk about the really crunchy details about the direction of Three Twins Ice Cream. From its beginning in an ice cream shop, to raising money, to battling the brutal retail space. We talk about some really tactical stuff, but the ending is something that gives me a lot of hope. Not just for Neal, but for everyone. This episode is a bonus episode because it doesn’t follow our regular format. There’s no script on this one, just going through the journey and talking to some key points. For those in the food business, I think it’s extremely useful information. Information that might help you in your food business such as financing debt versus equity, manufacturing decisions, and figuring out the retail space. I just wanted to capture Neal’s lessons while it’s still fresh in his head, and he did an amazing job being transparent and honest about his experience with his food business. Show Notes NOSH article by Carol Ortenberg How did you start Three Twins I was once part of Finance for GAP Clothes Peace Corps Grew from a small ice cream shop to international brands Ice Cream is hugely competitive. Most organic brands come and go Even line extension organic ice cream disappeared Halo Top Effect – Big competitor took off and took a ton of shelf-space When we started, we had a small ice cream shop and did everything in house We built two factories: one in California and one in Wisconsin The decision between co-packing and manufacturing yourself: Copackers are unreliable. For example, a soy yogurt copacker shut down completely. We only found two organic ice cream companies. Oregon Ice Cream (had a contract to not sell ice cream) and one that already shut down. So it made more sense to manufacturing yourself How did you raise money?: Until the factory, friends and family round When you have a  good product, high growth, and a  charismatic founder, it can work out Should you get investment?: You probably have to. Our big mistake is that we focused too much on growth On raising, you can either raise equity or debt, the issue with debt is that it has to pay back first Convertible Note – most food companies do this so the investors mitigate risk Before the pandemic, people-focused all on growth Krave Jerky multiple 6x sale hyped up grocery Krave sold back to John Sebastiani The selling dynamic reflected a lot on the natural food sector. It’s easy for a big legacy company to buy out the competition even if the company isn’t doing well internally Use the money to either decrease overhead or increase margins What were the margin killers for Three Twins Ice Cream?: Organic cream is very expensive. At the top, vanilla was over $500 dollars/gallon Also, grocery discount structures and slotting fees really killed us Broker Fees What is your opinion on the retail cold chain?: It’s a necessary evil. UNFI probably makes a razor-thin margin How can you optimize the retail situation?: Offer something unique (your product) and optimize your margins On line extensions – How can you tell about cannibalization?: We launched two line connections such as bigger tubs and higher protein. Initially, these SKUs took our shelf-space which lead to less brand facing opportunities Advice for Food Entrepreneurs: Back up and figure out why your brand is special and that people will spend money on Find people who have recent food experience in your board of advisors It’s one thing to have smart people in your team, but you need relevant people How did you reflect on this event?: It’s actually refreshing to look forward again. I’ve been extremely lucky to have opportunities. The journey is the reward You can find Neal here Also: did you know Neal was in survivor?

We’re introducing something called the Pantry Podcasts, which is basically an analogy that these podcasts, like your pantry items, are practically timeless but eventually, you have to create something with them! Don’t think of this as year-old pasta, but rather that special bottle of bourbon you’ll open on special occasions or perhaps to reward yourself from surviving the tough period we’re all going through now. These interviews are timeless and get better with age. This was recorded a little bit less than a year ago back when I was planning another podcast but life changes and I just have been swarmed. During my time trying to make a new podcast, I had a ton of really amazing guests, but I didn’t have the capacity to make another, short-form podcasts. You’ll hear clapping in the background because I do this face to face at Food Funded, an amazing Entrepreneur and Investor Fair. I actually went to my first one to meet Paul and Joanna, the founders of Better Meat Co for the first time. The second time, I had a blast doing these interviews. The next one is on June 4th. I wonder what will happen again? Thank you, Cynthia Maxey, who is a super-connector of the food industry in the Bay Area, for introducing me to these amazing guests and letting me use her space to share these people’s stories. ---------------------------- Our first guest is Jon Sebastiani, I don’t think he needs any introduction. A pioneer of the natural food movement, he founded Krave Jerky, sold it to Hershey, and then started Sonoma Brands which has Smashmallow, Guayaki, and Dang Foods. Here you’ll learn how and why Sonoma invests in really cool brands. It’s more than just growth. Sonoma Brands Krave Jerky Why would a candy company want to be a Jerky Company? What was the hardest part of Krave?: the first 2.5 years of not knowing if we had something Was the growth of Krave gradual or exponential?: I was at the right place and the right time and the consumer was ready What do you look for in the companies you invest?: We want to understand the product fits into a need case. What food trends are exciting right now?: Actually everything. There are consumers who are always looking for premium products Why are you at Food Funded?: At Food Funded, I met some awesome people at the beginning and I want to give back What advice would you give someone who has an idea but is scared to share it?: Do a small MVP and see who buys it -----------------------  Will Rosenzweig is the Faculty Co-Chair at Berkeley Haas Center for Responsible Business Will has a great track record, just look at his resume. After founding the company, Republic of Tea, he then became a VP of Odwalla, holds a ton of leadership positions, and is just an all around good guy. Also, fun fact, I thought Will reminded me of Seth Godin and Seth Godin actually has a class about Food with Will! It’s called The Business of Food Workshop. Small world. I inherited a class by Alice Waters and Michael Pollen I also teach a social entrepreneur course on food innovation Berkeley Food Institute Transforming Food Systems Graduate Certificate Revolution Foods Republic of Tea – How an Idea Becomes a Business What do you teach your students?: We usually teach how to think and try to guide your moral compass Then we teach you how to become a systems thinker Edible Ed Class on youtube Edible School Yard Project Edible Education 101 How do you choose a problem?: Generally, the problem will find you and you will try and find a solution Design Thinking Toolkit Sam Kass Food investing has changed. You can raise money on an idea. Before you had to prove your worth What brings you to Food Funded?: I’m a big fan Regenerative Agriculture Mission Chinese Full Belly Farms Regenerative Agriculture is to restore the land and that’s through the soil What do you recommend for someone to start something?: Enroll a list of advisors You have to be credible You need passion, credibility and tenacity Prototype, test and iterate

Following a recent evolution in its branding, Dang Foods co-founder/CEO Vincent Kitirattragarn says his company is well-positioned to tap into what he believes is one of the most overlooked and influential demographics in the U.S.: Asian-Americans. Best known for its sweet and savory coconut chips, Dang Foods was launched in 2012 by Kitirattragarn and his brother Andrew . Since its debut, the company has expanded its product portfolio to include rice chips and a fast-growing line of keto-certified snack bars made with Asian-inspired flavors. The brand is represented in over 13,000 retail locations nationwide, including at Kroger, Target and Whole Foods, where its bars are the top-selling brand in its category, according to Dang. Earlier this year, the company repositioned itself as an “Asian-American snack brand,” a move that Kitirattragarn said will enhance sales and help it attract new consumers from a community that he described as “perfect when designing a brand.”  “It’s the highest income consumer, it’s the consumer with the highest levels of education, most likely to be organic eaters, most likely to be vegetarians, and nobody’s speaking to that consumer,” Kitirattragarn said in an interview included in this episode. “This positioning is something that we can fully, authentically own.” In our conversation, Kitirattragarn spoke further about the company’s origins and how Dang communicates its brand story across product lines. He also explained why he keeps a tight grip on the company’s innovation strategy and discussed its relationship with investment firm Sonoma Brands. Show notes:  2:00 Vincent Kitirattragarn, Co-Founder/CEO, Dang Foods -- Taste Radio editor Ray Latif spoke with Kitirattragarn about how college classmates spurred his foray into entrepreneurship, the history behind the name, the evolution in its branding and whether its current positioning could have existed when it first launched. He also discussed Dang’s product mix and why entrepreneurs have to be “excited by [their] own innovation,” why “category size is super important” in new product development, how investors were skeptical about his decision to launch a line of snack bars and how he proved them wrong. Later, he spoke about what Sonoma Brands and Krave Jerky founder Jon Sebastiani brings to the table as an investor, how his leadership style has changed over the years, building company culture through core values and his work with the JEDI Collaborative, a non-profit group that promotes diversity and equality within the CPG industry.  Brands in this episode: Dang Foods, Krave Jerky, Smashmallow

Jeremy Smith is the President of LaunchPad. He has spent more than 35 years in strategic sales, branding, and marketing. His senior management and graphic arts resume gives a salute to some of the country's most iconic brands including Apple, Chobani, Krave Jerky, Bob's Red Mill, and PopChips.  Prior to LaunchPad, Jeremy co-founded a company called Level One Marketing with his brother in 2006. His relationship with buyers, marketers, strategists, venture capital firms, and designers has created enviable connections within the food industry. He was named to the Forbes and Circle Up’s 2017 Top Catalysts Dealmakers and Influencers in the Consumer Industry.  [00:58] Steve introduces his guest, Jeremy Smith [02:14] Jeremy talks about the company that he started with his brother, Level One Marketing, and the early companies that they worked with as a brokerage firm [05:59] Jeremy goes into the sale of their company and how he learned that imagination and vision plays a big role in company culture [07:51] Jeremy details the beginnings of LaunchPad and what the company does for brands [13:31] Jeremy's reaction to Acosta’s filing of bankruptcy [15:52] Jeremy talks about the future of distribution models and what he thinks about consignment in the food and beverage industry  [21:20] Why it’s a good idea for new and emerging brands to get into Costco [23:38] Things that could be preventing small brands from getting into Costco and the risks that come with putting all your business into Costco [27:10] Why the right team and building momentum is crucial for a brand’s success [29:35] Why Jeremy pushes for brands he considers as disruptive, unique, and exclusive (DUE) to get into Costco [32:40] Steve talks about the importance for brands to be able to fit into the logistics business of the food industry [34:11] How Jeremy helps brands communicate their story that will resonate with consumers [39:42] Jeremy talks about his experience and takeaways from meeting and talking with Steve Jobs [44:18] The biggest challenge with using focus groups in building your product and your brand [46:54] Jeremy's advice to other entrepreneurs who are trying to develop emerging brands In this episode… Are you an emerging brand who’s trying to find your footing in the food industry? Do you know what to look out for and what you need to prepare in order to establish your brand in this highly competitive industry? Where do you start selling your products? Jeremy Smith, a huge proponent of small and emerging brands, encourages them to try to get into Costco and other brick and mortar stores to build on the brand name and get within the line of sight of their target consumers. While this comes with challenges and risks, it is an effective way of getting your products noticed by the right folks. In this episode, G. Steven Cleere talks to Jeremy about what he looks for in emerging brands that could be a telltale sign of success, why a great team and an effective communications strategy is crucial to a brand’s success, and how the right placement can help a brand take off. Stay tuned. Resources Mentioned in this episode Kitchen2Shelf Nexxt Level Marketing LaunchPad  Jeremy Smith on LinkedIn Subscribe and Listen on: iTunes Spotify Stitcher Google Play Sponsor for this episode... Our podcast today is sponsored by Kitchen2Shelf, the educational arm of NexxtLevel Brands. Kitchen-2-Shelf provides online and in-person courses and workshops for CPG entrepreneurs at any stage of growth.  Whether you're an early-stage startup, a local growing business, or if you want to just expand your distribution to a national level, Kitchen-2-Shelf can help you learn what you need to know to grow.

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Jon Sebastiani about how he built KRAVE and Sonoma Brands. Jon shares advice on brand marketing, building a team, and trusting your instincts as an entrepreneur. Jon Sebastiani founded Sonoma Brands, a specialist growth equity firm, in January 2016 and currently leads all aspects of the Firm's investment strategy and portfolio management. Prior to starting Sonoma Brands, Jon founded KRAVE Pure Foods, which he sold to the Hershey Company in 2015. Some Questions Kreig asks Jon: - How did you decide to start a beef jerky company? (13:10) - How long did it take you to see traction? (23:45) - What are some gritty things you did in the early days to get the KRAVE brand off the ground? (26:17) - How did you hire your first employee? (32:48) - What was the transition from running and operating KRAVE to Sonoma Brands? (43:34) - How do you view entrepreneurship? (49:29) - What do you look for when you meet an entrepreneur for the first time? (51:57) - What advice would you give your younger self? (56:31) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Jon's background and how he became an entrepreneur (4:28) - How Jon built KRAVE Jerky (17:04) - Tips for brand marketing (26:32) - Jon's thoughts on equity (38:07) - Only the paranoid survive (50:42) - Enjoy the journey of entrepreneurship (53:45) - The importance of true authenticity, charisma, and the ability to sell your vision (55:02) - Trust your instincts (58:51) Connect with Jon Sebastiani: Twitter Sonoma Brands KRAVE Also Mentioned on This Show... Jon's favorite quote: "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." ―Martin Luther King, Jr. Jon's book recommendation: Different by Youngme Moon

As the founder of Popchips, Keith Belling helped usher in a new era for healthy snacking. Twelve years after the brand’s launch, he’s attempting to do the same for rice with RightRice, Belling’s second food brand that debuted in February. In an interview included in this episode, Belling explained that RightRice is in many ways the culmination of an entrepreneurial career that’s spanned law, real estate, online publishing and consumer products. At every stage, Belling said, his passion to solve personal, unmet needs drove the launch of new business ventures. “There’s entrepreneurs that… finish one business and flick a switch and they’re onto the new one,” he said. “I’ve definitely never been that way. For me something has to start with a real passion, something that’s important to me and fills a need. That ends up mapping an opportunity in the market, and then it starts to get interesting.” As part of our conversation, discussed the origins of Popchips and RightRice and how lessons learned from building the former are being applied to the latter. He also spoke about the importance of branding and why he’s overinvested in package design, how celebrity investors like Ashton Kutcher supported the development of Popchips and the challenges of leveraging success. This episode is presented by ZoomEssence, the cool-tech powder flavor people. Show notes: 2:30: Interview: Keith Belling, Founder, Popchips/RightRice -- In an interview recorded via weblink, Belling spoke about why new business ventures have to start with passion, how he was (almost) ahead of the curve with healthy jerky, and the genesis of his new company, RightRice. He also discussed his background in law and real estate, how the concept of Popchips was formed and why the brand has sought to emulate vitaminwater, and why direct interaction with consumers yielded key lessons in the development of the brand. Belling also explained how Ashton Kutcher became Popchips’ “president of pop culture,” spoke about the evolution of influencer marketing and its impact on business planning for RightRice, and revealed how the two brands got their names. Brands in this episode: Popchips, RightRice, Fritos, Krave Jerky, vitaminwater

Over the course of his career, Ryan Lewendon, a partner with influential CPG law firm The Giannuzzi Group, has worked with hundreds of CPG brands, including Vitaminwater, Krave Jerky, Vita Coco and BodyArmor. His experience has provided him with a window into how successful entrepreneurs think and operate. In an interview included in this episode, Lewendon offered his perspective on the elements of a winning brand and what it takes to succeed. As part of our conversation, he discussed how to avoid some of the early mistakes that can haunt entrepreneurs down the line and the keys to effective networking, plus tips on considering the valuation of your company and working with celebrities. He also shared why he believes next year may be the wrong time to launch a food or beverage company. Also in this episode: BevNET’s Martín Caballero and Brad Avery take us inside the latest issue of BevNET Magazine, which includes feature stories on the coffee category, flavors and functional ingredients and the spirits industry. Show notes: 1:44: From NYC to Cabo to Expo West: The hosts chat about Ray’s recent visit to NYC, where he recorded several podcast interviews, including with Fever-Tree North America CEO Charles Gibb and Boxed co-founder/CEO Chieh Huang and made a visit to Recess IRL, an experiential pop-up shop launched by the CBD-infused sparkling water brand. Later on, John Craven spoke about his visit to BevNET’s San Diego office and meeting with a couple hard kombucha entrepreneurs. The hosts also encouraged attendees of the upcoming Natural Products Expo West 2019 to follow @bevnet, @noshdotcom and @bevnettasteradio for pics of new products and brands featured at the event. 15:09: Interview: Ryan Lewendon, Partner, The Giannuzzi Group -- Lewendon has been with the firm since its inception in 2010, and has helped hundreds of companies navigate growth at every stage of their development, and advised entrepreneurs from initial launch through to a multi-million dollar exit. In a wide-ranging interview recorded at The Giannuzzi Group office in Manhattan, Lewendon discussed his background in the food and beverage industry and why the firm’s “business model is to get fired every year.” He also offered his perspective on why networking is all about building relationships, the dangers of treating equity “as too much of a currency,” why there’s no magic formula for valuations of small companies, how to approach celebrities about getting involved with your brand and why he thinks that if you’re thinking about starting a food or beverage company, you should not wait till 2020. 43:11: Inside The Latest Issue of BevNET Magazine -- Published last week, the January/February 2019 issue of BevNET Magazine includes articles penned by BevNET’s Martín Caballero and Brad Avery, who shared insights and additional analysis about the content. Brands in this episode: Recess, Fever-Tree, Junshine, Novo Brazil, Boochcraft, Luna Bay Kombucha, RightRice, Banza, BodyArmor, Calidad Beer, Alfred Coffee & Tea, Once Upon a Farm, Foodstirs

Jon Sebastiani, the founder of Krave Jerky and Sonoma Brands, might want to invest in your company. Just make sure that you’re not chasing the latest hot trend. He’s really not into that. Sebastiani founded Sonoma Brands, a unique consumer product incubator and private equity firm, in 2015 following the sale of Krave Jerky to The Hershey Co. for $240 million. Earlier this year, Sonoma Brands launched a new $60 million fund and has in recent months deployed the capital to expand its holdings. The portfolio includes a mix of internally developed concepts, such as Smashmallow, Zupa Noma and Peckish, along with investments in high-growth brands like Guayaki, Dang Foods and, most recently, Vintage Wine Estates. In a conversation included in this episode, Sebastiani explained how Sonoma Brands eschews bleeding-edge concepts and trends in favor of opportunities to disrupt established categories through innovation and investment. “When you look at the line of products that we’ve created, including Krave, most of them aren’t highly complicated,” he said. “When you find that right sector or category and design a brand against it, it can become very obvious and generally we look at the size of the addressable market in a way to show true scalability. I don’t want to build a brand that can only live in natural/speciality [retailers].” Also, included in this episode: BevNET’s Ray Latif, Marty Caballero and Jon Landis discussed beverage-related news, trends and innovation in the convenience store channel as viewed at the recently completed 2018 NACS show. Show notes: 1:47: We’ve Got a Knack for NACS -- The hosts chat about news and new products in notable beverage categories, including coffee, bottled water, and kombucha, as seen through the lens of the 2018 NACS show, held Oct. 8-10 in Las Vegas. 14:41: Interview: Jon Sebastiani, Founder, Krave/Sonoma Brands -- In an interview recorded at Natural Products Expo East 2018, Sebastiani sat down with BevNET Managing Editor Ray Latif to discuss the business and investment strategy of Sonoma Brands, how the company’s portfolio is nurtured as a unit, how he’s promoting the Sonoma region as a hub for innovative brands and why he’s back in the wine business after vowing never to return. Brands in this episode: Forto Coffee, High Brew Coffee, Starbucks, La Colombe, Califia Farms, Coca-Cola, Far Coast Coffee, Illy Coffee, Dunkin, McCafe, SmartWater, Essentia, Core Hydration, San Pellegrino, Perrier, Topo Chico, Jarritos, Eternal Water, Qure Water, Sparkling Ice, Avitae, Water Joe, Nestle Waters, Brew Dr. Kombucha, Wonder Drink Kombucha, Koe Kombucha, GT’s Kombucha, Buchi, Peet’s, Revive Kombucha, KeVita, PepsiCo, White Castle, Impossible Foods, Krispy Kreme, Chester’s Chicken, Pixotine, Krave Jerky, Smashmallow, Zupa Noma, Jack Link’s, Oberto, Slim Jim, Chobani, Clif Bar, Peckish, Guayaki, Dang Foods, Hu Chocolate, Vintage Wine Estates

Sara learns to Hula in Kona. The current vibe on the Big Island The ITU grand finale A new minimum salary for women’s cycling Plus, training and swim lane etiquette. Kelly’s most recent newsletter: http://livefeisty.com/newsletter-ep-55-lets-talk-about-triathlon-etiquette/ **Support the podcast, use our sponsor codes** Get 20% off AssKickerInk activewear with the code ‘riding’ at www.asskickerink.com Get 20% off Krave Jerky with the code ‘riding’ at www.kravejerky.com

It would be fair to say that things are going well for Country Archer. But it wasn’t always that way. A maker of clean-label meat snacks, the brand’s flagship jerky line is the fastest growing in its category among natural retailers, and the company recently announced $10 million in new funding from its primary investor, Monogram Capital. Nevertheless, not too long ago, Country Archer faced rejection in the very retail channel in which it’s now the fastest growing; in fact, it had been written off as a “convenience store” product. Yet, tenacity, innovation and a little bit of luck go a long way. We spoke with Country Archer co-founder and CEO Eugene Kang about the brand’s development and growth through those tough earlier days, and how it stayed competitive amid the craze for Krave Jerky. We also discussed the incredible story behind Country Archer’s partnership with iconic Sriracha brand Huy Fong Foods and how it became a gamechanger for the company. Also in this episode: a conversation with BevNET assistant editor Marty Caballero on beverage-related trends and innovation from the recently held Natural Products Expo East 2018. Show notes: 2:02: Back On Top -- The hosts discussed the creation and launch of Taste Radio Insider, a show specifically focused on news, trends and insights in the food and beverage industries. They also chat about recent visits to BevNET HQ, including representatives from Rocket Fuel, Smart Cups and BRWD. 15:20: Interview: Eugene Kang, Co-Founder/CEO, Country Archer -- In this interview, recorded at Natural Products Expo East 2018, Kang spoke with BevNET CMO Mike Schneider about the origins of Country Archer and why he wanted the brand to be the “Sam Adams of jerky,” how the company approached a competitive environment for jerky, particularly during the development of Krave, and how its partnership with Huy Fong Sriracha became a major turning point for the brand and helped it to break into the natural channel. 34:49: Beverage Trendspotting at Expo East 2018 -- BevNET’s Ray Latif and Marty Caballero hash out some of the most notable drink trends from the annual trade show, including an uptick in carbonated teas and coffee, the infusion of plant-based milk into cold-brew products and a relatively quiet show for kombucha. Brands in this episode: Rocket Fuel Coffee Milk, Smart Cups, BRWD Energy Drink, Jose Gourmet, Country Archer, Krave, Sound Tea, Teavana, Bhakti, Cham Cold Brew, La Colombe, Chameleon Cold-Brew, Rise Brewing Co., Koia, Remedy Organics, Brew Dr. Kombucha, Humm Kombucha

This week: Stupid injury stories Tales from my Box Why is everyone in Kona already? Crazy speed records and a voicemail from Kelly’s mom. Kelly’s most recent newsletter- http://livefeisty.com/newsletter-ep-53-some-people-doing-cool-stuff/ **Support the podcast, use our sponsor codes** Get 20% off AssKickerInk activewear with the code ‘riding’ at www.asskickerink.com Get 20% off Krave Jerky with the code ‘riding’ at www.kravejerky.com

This week: "Tales from my Box" The women’s race at Ironman Wisconsin Do we need an elite amateur category in Ironman? The Kona slot allocation system Jan is out + a listener question about breaking up with your coach Email your "stupid injury" stories to sara@livefeisty.com Tell Kelly how much you like the newsletter - kellydomara@gmail.com Kelly’s most recent newsletter http://livefeisty.com/newsletter-ep-52-triathlon-categories-serena-and-surfings-prize-purses/ **Support the podcast, use our sponsor codes** Get 20% off AssKickerInk activewear with the code ‘riding’ atwww.asskickerink.com Get 20% off Krave Jerky with the code ‘riding’ atwww.kravejerky.com

Jon Sebastiani founded Krave Jerky in 2009, one of the fastest growing CPG brands in the industry.  He later sold it to Hershey's for $220 million in 2015. Jon is currently the founder and managing partner of Sonoma Brands which helps emerging brands achieve breakout growth. In this episode Jay and Jon had an energizing chat about the story of Krave Jerky and Sonoma Brands, balancing growth and delusion, listening to our instincts, business funding and investors, the best traits of leaders and so much more. Visit https://jayrooke.com/026-jon-sebastiani/ for resources and show notes. Check out my website: https://jayrooke.com/. Follow me on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TribeCreator/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayrooke/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JayRooke  

On Episode 31: Why Sara was in the woods with Taco Bell (and without sleep) How to spectate without knocking people down Climate change is real y'all And a swim/run training update Kelly's latest newsletter: http://livefeisty.com/newsletter-ep-46-squadgoals/ **Support the podcast, use our sponsor codes** Get 20% off AssKickerInk activewear with the code ‘riding’ at www.asskickerink.com Get 20% off Krave Jerky with the code ‘riding’ atwww.kravejerky.com

And we're back! Have you missed us?! On Episode 30: Ironman celebrates it's 40th year What the heck is swim/run? What have we been doing for 4 weeks? Kelly's latest newsletter: http://livefeisty.com/newsletter-ep-45-the-ironman-stories-we-tell/ **Support the podcast, use our sponsor codes** Get 20% off AssKickerInk activewear with the code ‘riding’ at www.asskickerink.com Get 20% off Krave Jerky with the code ‘riding’ atwww.kravejerky.com

This week we talk about: Our upcoming (short) podcast break How you know when you're cracking A swim/run update How do you keep up with ALL THE RACES Is triathlon a little too niche A new voicemail + a new poll of the week Read Kelly's newsletter at http://livefeisty.com/newsletter-ep-40-the-signs-youre-ironman-ready/ *Support the podcast, use our sponsor codes**Get 20% off AssKickerInk activewear with the code ‘riding’ atwww.asskickerink.comGet 20% off Krave Jerky with the code ‘riding’ atwww.kravejerky.com

On Episode 28: Our podcast has a new team member! Why are triathletes willing to pay more for coaching? Puberty - a "problem" for female runners? "Athleisure" - trend or cultural change? And a our favorite voicemailer is back! Kelly’s most recent newsletter - http://livefeisty.com/newsletter-ep-39-clothes-injuries-and-the-highest-paid-athletes/ **Support the podcast, use our sponsor codes** Get 20% off AssKickerInk activewear with the code ‘riding’ at www.asskickerink.com Get 20% off Krave Jerky with the code ‘riding’ at www.kravejerky.com

This week we dive into a topic that affects many women, but is rarely discussed - The Pelvic Floor. Alyssa and Haley are joined by specialist Julie Guthrie PT, DPT, OCS. Julie walks us through what a pelvic floor is, the symptoms that might indicate a pelvic floor weakness as well as what we should be paying attention too and how to find help in your area. Plus, race recaps and a mailbag question about overcoming jet lag. Erin’s piece, Coming Out - Second Chances and Self Discovery http://livefeisty.com/coming-out-second-chances-and-self-discovery/ Julie Guthrie's Clinic - https://www.synergiept.com/ **Krave Jerky’s contest details** Our podcast partner Krave Jerky is hosting a ‘Find your fit’ contest from now through June 2018. All you need to do is post a selfie while working out, and you can win $300 in gift cards from Flywheel, Classpass, Gaiam Yoga, and of course Krave product. Use #kravebetter and #sweepstakeentry Only available to US resident 18 years or older. Also use #livefeisty so we can see your entry too!

The fabulous Steph Corker is back in the hosting seat this week with Haley. First up, Maurya Couvares, head coach of the NCAA women’s triathlon team at Wagner College in Staten Island, NY. Maurya shares what led her to take this new position and the challenges of starting a new program from scratch. Looking for your next gig? Check out her graduate assistant coach position open now! https://ncaamarket.ncaa.org/jobs/10954332/triathlon-graduate-assistant-coach Then, Steph and Haley talk to pro triathlete and 70.3 Champion Rachel McBride about Ironman South Africa, traveling to races, and preparing for hot climates. Rachel shares her tips for nutrition and pacing, her goals for the upcoming season and getting your run session done regardless of where you are. **Krave Jerky’s contest details** Our podcast partner Krave Jerky is hosting a ‘Find your fit’ contest from now through June 2018. All you need to do is post a selfie while working out, and you can win $300 in gift cards from Flywheel, Classpass, Gaiam Yoga, and of course Krave product. Use #kravebetter and #sweepstakeentry Only available to US resident 18 years or older. Also use #livefeisty so we can see your entry too! **Support the podcast, use our DISCOUNT CODES** Coffee Method: Try the new FEISTY BLEND: Subscribe or Single Order Code- IRONWOMEN = FREE bag of coffee w 3 month subscription | Code- IRONWOMEN20 = 20% off single purchase Krave Jerky: Code- IRONWOMEN =20% off F2C Nutrition: Code- IRONWOMEN =15% off Sound Probiotics: Code – IRONWOMEN = 10% off Smashfest Queen: Code- IRONWOMEN = $10 off shipping Rudy Project: Code- IRONWOMEN = 30% off OR, go direct to our secret url – bit.ly/rudy-ironwomen

This week - Entrepreneur life, the insanity that was the Boston Marathon, two voicemails, and what’s up with women’s specific gear? Stay tuned after the credits because Kelly and Sara are going to figure out how you can break a bone while cycling. Kelly’s most recent newsletter: http://livefeisty.com/newsletter-ep-31-training-camp-boston-retirements/ **Krave Jerky’s contest details** Our podcast partner Krave Jerky is hosting a ‘Find your Fit’ contest from now through June 2018. All you need to do is post a selfie while working out, and you can win $300 in gift cards from Flywheel, Classpass, Gaiam Yoga, and of course Krave product. To enter post your photo with the hashtags #kravebetter and #sweepstakeentry Use #livefeisty too so we can see your entry! (Only available to US resident 18 years or older.) **Support the podcast, use our sponsor codes** Get 20% off AssKickerInk activewear with the code ‘riding’ at www.asskickerink.com Get 20% off Krave Jerky with the code ‘riding’ at www.kravejerky.com

Haley welcomes guest co-host Steph Corker for a chat with Liz West, Vixxen-in-Chief of Vixxen Racing, an elite women's development team based in Boulder, CO. Liz talks about why she feels we need women's triathlon teams, her goals for the team, and her Project Feisty and Find Your Feisty initiatives. Then, Haley talks to pro triathlete Frankie Sanjana about how she went from elite rower to triathlon, battled back from multiple surgeries and her thoughts on gender equality in triathlon. Steph stays up all night to watch the women's race (or not) in South Africa and The IronWomen team heads to Ironman Texas to do LIVE coverage of the women's race. **Krave Jerky’s contest details** Our podcast partner Krave Jerky is hosting a ‘Find your Fit’ contest from now through June 2018. All you need to do is post a selfie while working out, and you can win $300 in gift cards from Flywheel, Classpass, Gaiam Yoga, and of course Krave product. To enter post your photo with the hashtags #kravebetter and #sweepstakeentry Use #livefeisty too so we can see your entry! (Only available to US resident 18 years or older.)

This week - Kelly & Sara talk Commonwealth Games, Ironman 70.3 Oceanside and Galveston. The Live Feisty crew is headed to Ironman Texas to do LIVE coverage AND.... another voicemail from Kelly’s mom! Plus, a strong field at the Boston Marathon and their new transgender policy. After the credits, get Sara's thoughts on the similarities between transgender athletes today and when women first started racing in Boston. Kelly’s most recent newsletter: http://livefeisty.com/newsletter-ep-30-races-and-more-races/ **Support the podcast, use our sponsor codes** Get 20% off AssKickerInk activewear with the code ‘riding’ at www.asskickerink.com Get 20% off Krave Jerky with the code ‘riding’ at www.kravejerky.com

This week, Kelly & Sara talk about how to deal with internet trolls and do an Olympic post mortem. Do medal counts matter to our sporting culture? And why oh why are women's events still shorter than the men's events? Parents! Your kids (probably) don’t need to specialize early in a sport to become an Olympian. Sara gives Kelly some Canadian tips for her first 50k ultra race in bad weather. And stay tuned after the credits to hear what’s plaguing our youth today. Kelly’s most recent newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/f15096f91224/if-we-were-riding-ep-23?e=e2d7e7dd37 **Support the podcast, use our sponsor codes** -Get 20% off AssKickerInk activewear with the code 'riding' at www.asskickerink.com -Get 20% off Krave Jerky with the code 'riding' at www.kravejerky.com

This week, Kelly goes down a deep hole with the Canadian ice dancing team and their "secret baby." Event-naming, "Ladies'" or "Women’s"? Shaun White’s sexual harassment lawsuit and why are female athletes required to be camera ready at all times? Also, Sara and Kelly say nipples and boobs a lot. Kelly’s most recent newsletter- https://mailchi.mp/f15096f91224/if-we-were-riding-ep-23?e=e2d7e7dd37 **Support the podcast, use our sponsor codes** -Get 20% off AssKickerInk activewear with the code 'riding' at www.asskickerink.com -Get 20% off Krave Jerky with the code 'riding' at www.kravejerky.com

Alyssa and Haley share two inspiring stories this week. First, how the gutsy Grace Thek collapsed metres from the finish line at Geelong 70.3 while leading the race in her first attempt at the distance. Then, we celebrate Black History Month with Bernard Lyles. Hear how he got into the sport and how he has helped thousands of inner city kids through triathlon since 1992. Learn more about Bernard's group here- www.tri-masters.org. February contest! Enter to win the Protein Power Pack, which contains: Krave Jerky sampler box - Choice of Whey Pure Energy or Vegan Pure Energy from F2C Nutrition To enter: follow IronWomen on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook, then share an IronWomen post, and tag 3 of your friends and encourage them to listen, follow, like, and subscribe! **Support the podcast, use our DISCOUNT CODES** HealthIQ- Get your free quote today at www.healthiq.com/iron or mention the promo code IRON when you talk to a Health IQ agent Krave Jerky- www.kravejerky.com, Code- ironwomen = 20% off F2C Nutrition- www.f2cnutrition.com, Code- ironwomen =15% off Coffee Method – www.coffeemethod.com, Code- ironwomen = FREE bag of coffee w 3 month subscription, Code- ironwomen20 = 20% off single purchase Sound Probiotics- www.soundprobiotics.com, Code – ironwomen = 10% off Smashfest Queen- www.smashfestqueen.com, Code- ironwomen = FREE shipping Rudy Project- www.e-rudy.com, Code- ironwomen OR, go direct to our secret url – bit.ly/rudy-ironwomen

The Winter Olympics: Kelly and Sara talk about their fave characters (spoiler alert!) Chloe Kim & Adam Rippon, the irony of Vice President Mike Pence’s political statement, North Korean cheerleaders, and how DO you get tickets? Stay tuned after the credits to find out if Kelly has changed her mind on Gwen Jorgensen. Kelly writes about why she loves the Olympics - http://livefeisty.com/whyiloveolympics/ **Support the podcast, use our sponsor codes** -Get 20% off AssKickerInk activewear with the code 'riding' at www.asskickerink.com -Get 20% off Krave Jerky with the code 'riding' at www.kravejerky.com

This week, multiple 70.3 winner Jeanni Seymour shares some of the challenges and sacrifices she faced moving from South Africa to the US at the age of 20, her stellar 2017 season, relationship dynamics and her tips for traveling abroad for races. Plus, Alyssa shares the ins and outs of ear cleaning and why she thinks she would beat Haley in biathlon. Haley gave a speech, and more answers to your mailbag questions! February contest! Enter to win the Protein Power Pack, which contains: Krave Jerky sampler box - Choice of Whey Pure Energy or Vegan Pure Energy from F2C Nutrition To enter: follow IronWomen on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook, then share an IronWomen post, and tag 3 of your friends and encourage them to listen, follow, like, and subscribe! **Support the podcast, use our DISCOUNT CODES** HealthIQ- Get your free quote today at www.healthiq.com/iron or mention the promo code IRON when you talk to a Health IQ agent Krave Jerky- www.kravejerky.com, Code- ironwomen = 20% off F2C Nutrition- www.f2cnutrition.com, Code- ironwomen =15% off Coffee Method – www.coffeemethod.com, Code- ironwomen = FREE bag of coffee w 3 month subscription, Code- ironwomen20 = 20% off single purchase Sound Probiotics- www.soundprobiotics.com, Code – ironwomen = 10% off Smashfest Queen- www.smashfestqueen.com, Code- ironwomen = FREE shipping Rudy Project- www.e-rudy.com, Code- ironwomen OR, go direct to our secret url – bit.ly/rudy-ironwomen

The Olympics have started, so watch the volleyball. Erm what? Exactly. A mental trick for endurance athletes based on facts, numbers and studies. Plus, the 'podium girls' debate, should they stay or should they go? And stay tuned after the credits to find out who Kelly thinks should hand out medals. Kelly’s most recent newsletter- https://mailchi.mp/e4cf779aead5/if-we-were-riding-ep-21?e=[UNIQID] **Support the podcast, use our sponsor codes** -Get 20% off AssKickerInk activewear with the code 'riding' at www.asskickerink.com -Get 20% off Krave Jerky with the code 'riding' at www.kravejerky.com

Alyssa and Haley talk to 2x 70.3 Champ Kelsey Withrow about her stellar 2017 season, how she got into triathlon, and how she bounced back from a serious accident. We announce our January contest winner and what’s on tap for our February contest. Plus Alyssa's epic tales from her ultra run WIN, some people retire, some people run fast and others eat cupcakes. February contest: Enter to win the Protein Power Pack, which contains -Krave Jerky sampler box -choice of Whey Pure Energy or Vegan Pure Energy from F2C Nutrition To enter: follow IronWomen on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook, then share an IronWomen post, and tag 3 of your friends and encourage them to listen, follow, like, and subscribe! **Support the podcast, use our DISCOUNT CODES** HealthIQ- Get your free quote today at www.healthiq.com/iron or mention the promo code IRON when you talk to a Health IQ agent Krave Jerky- www.kravejerky.com, Code- ironwomen = 20% off F2C Nutrition- www.f2cnutrition.com, Code- ironwomen =15% off Coffee Method – www.coffeemethod.com, Code- ironwomen = FREE bag of coffee w 3 month subscription, Code- ironwomen20 = 20% off single purchase Sound Probiotics- www.soundprobiotics.com, Code – ironwomen = 10% off Smashfest Queen- www.smashfestqueen.com, Code- ironwomen = FREE shipping Rudy Project- www.e-rudy.com, Code- ironwomen OR, go direct to our secret url – bit.ly/rudy-ironwomen

This week - How you might be revealing military secrets on Strava. Kelly gets the full male locker room perspective on the U.S. gymnastics team doctor sexual abuse trial. We discuss the new initiatives coming out of the Triathlon Business International conference. Sara shares what she was up to in Arizona, and road rage, is it getting worse? Stay turned after the credits for Kelly’s public service announcement. Our most recent newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/b15e50f4bcfb/if-we-were-riding-ep-20?e=[UNIQID] Lectie Altman’s gofundme page: https://www.gofundme.com/lectie-altman-fund **Support the podcast, use our sponsor codes** -Get 20% off AssKickerInk activewear with the code 'riding' at www.asskickerink.com -Get 20% off Krave Jerky with the code 'riding' at www.kravejerky.com

On the podcast: All of last week's triathlon doping stories, including the kerfuffel surrounding the bronze medalist from the Rio Olympics. And, the physical and mental secrets/not secrets to success. Sara survives a Tsunami (warning) and Kelly's trip to Bermuda goes sideways. Plus... a little, maybe big, Ironman gossip after the final credits. Official statement from the ITU regarding Henri Schoeman: https://www.triathlon.org/news/article/statement_regarding_mr._henri_schoeman Our most recent newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/074e515eda56/if-we-were-riding-ep-19 Fancy Bear’s leaked IOC & WADA emails: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/10/sports/olympics/russian-hackers-emails-doping.html **Support the podcast, use our sponsor codes** -Get 20% off AssKickerInk activewear with the code 'riding' at www.asskickerink.com -Get 20% off Krave Jerky with the code 'riding' at www.kravejerky.com

Money. Who were the big earners in triathlon in 2017? And more importantly, could Lucy Charles take down Josh Amberger and Andy Potts in a 400m swim race? Plus, Kelly and Sara explain why American women die in child birth more often than other developed countries.(Thank you Serena.) And stay tuned after the credits to hear Sara’s AssKicker of the week. Our most recent newsletter - http://mailchi.mp/ce8992a10b2c/if-we-were-riding-ep-18?e=e2d7e7dd37 The USAT prize money list - https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Triathlon/Elite/Prize-Money-Leaders **Support the podcast, use our sponsor codes** -Get 20% off AssKickerInk activewear with the code 'riding' at www.asskickerink.com -Get 20% off Krave Jerky with the code 'riding' at www.kravejerky.com

Can Kelly keep up with a world champion? Will Sara go to TBI? What is Slowtwitch, and what's going on over there? What women and Millennials really want from triathlon and how you might be breaking the law on social media. The Slowtwitch article we talk about - http://www.slowtwitch.com/Opinion/Is_Triathlon_Up_or_Down_for_2018__6704.html **Support the podcast, use our sponsor codes** -Get 20% off AssKickerInk activewear with the code 'riding' at www.asskickerink.com -Get 20% off Krave Jerky with the code 'riding' at www.kravejerky.com

The secret, non-secret of time management, stick to your goals and make this a great year and Kelly & Sara's predictions for triathlon performances and industry in 2018. **Support the podcast, use our sponsor codes** -Get 20% off AssKickerInk activewear with the code 'riding' at www.asskickerink.com -Get 20% off Krave Jerky with the code 'riding' at www.kravejerky.com

Last show of the year! Kelly and Sara sit down to reflect on 2017 and what they are looking forward to in 2018. Hear about triathlon's best performances & athletes, and the biggest stories of 2017. Keep listening until the end to hear a quote from the "Asskicker of the Year". **Support the podcast, use our sponsor codes** -Get 20% off AssKickerInk activewear with the code 'riding' at www.asskickerink.com -Get 20% off Krave Jerky with the code 'riding' at www.kravejerky.com

Training squads, make triathlon fun again, AND LOTS OF THOUGHTS about the new pro qualifying system. Plus, an observation about Rudolf and his *ahem* her friends. **Support the podcast, use our sponsor codes** -Get 20% off AssKickerInk activewear with the code 'riding' at www.asskickerink.com -Get 20% off Krave Jerky with the code 'riding' at www.kravejerky.com

Earlier this month the Taste Radio team met with GT Dave, the founder of best-selling kombucha brand GT’s Kombucha. In an interview recorded for this episode, Dave discussed the origins of GT’s, a brand he created 22 years ago and its pioneering role in the fast-growing and high-profile kombucha category. Recorded at the company’s headquarters in Los Angeles, Dave explained his belief that most "successful businesses come from a pure place" and stressed that brands should attempt to connect with consumers on a personal, intimate level. He also discussed why the company is constantly innovating and attempting to improve. “Complacency is a part of human nature, but I believe it’s also a version of corporate cancer,” he said. “As soon as you feel like you’re coasting, you’ve done enough or you’re great is when you start fail.” Also included in this episode: a conversation with SnackNation founder and CEO Sean Kelly, who discussed the company’s approach to optimizing office culture through better-for-you snacks and aspirational brands. In the latest edition of Elevator Talk, we spoke with Lilly Wunsch is the co-founder and COO of 4th & Heart, a maker of ghee-based foods. This episode is presented by Sovereign Flavors. Show notes: 1:20: We’re Loko About These Four Things: The hosts chat about their current crushes in food and beverage, including alcoholic seltzers, Sunday night meal prep, innovative cocktail ingredients and new kombucha offerings at Trader Joe’s. 12:00: Interview: GT Dave, Founder/CEO, GT’s Living Foods -- Dave discussed explained how the brand and company have evolved over the past two decades while remaining independent and staying true to its core values. 43:02: Interview: Sean Kelly, Founder/CEO, SnackNation -- SnackNation is a company that delivers boxes of healthy snacks to business across the U.S. In our conversation, Kelly explains the company’s mission to create happier, healthier and more productive people. He also discusses the company’s efforts to be known for thought leadership and why he believes a company’s core purpose is not birthed, it’s “discovered.” 1:02:09: Elevator Talk: Lilly Wunsch, Co-Founder/COO, 4th & Heart -- Lilly Wunsch is the co-founder and COO of 4th & Heart, a maker of ghee-based oils, butters and spreads. We met Lilly at Expo East 2017 and discussed the company’s mission to “modernize ancient pantry staples.” Brands in the episode: Good Wolf Kefir, Vermont Village, Hudson Standard. Drink Maple, GT’s Kombucha, Health-Ade Kombucha, Revive Kombucha, Capital Kombucha, Brew Dr. Kombucha, Nauti Seltzer, White Claw Seltzer, Clif Bars, Krave Jerky, Skinny Pop For sponsorship opportunities, feedback and suggestions, contact podcast@bevnet.com.

Jon was the Founder and CEO of Krave Pure Foods, a gourmet jerky company.  The company became one of the fastest growing food brands in the country and was acquired by The Hershey Company for around $220 million in 2015. Today he is the CEO of Sonoma Brands, an investor and incubator for new branded food startups. Jon lives in Sonoma, California.    Some interesting insights from this episode:  Learn how he reinvented the entire jerky category and broadened its appeal.  The most important litmus test as to whether a new product will succeed is simply whether it makes sense to you. If it's a problem you can personally relate to, that's a good start.  The lean startup method isn't just for technology companies but consumer packaged goods businesses as well.  Learn how he brought a new product to the market for just $10,000.  His experience in the ultra-competitive wine industry gave him a “PhD” in branding.  While serendipity plays a role, there is a playbook that allows new brands to come to life.  Excellence is an aspiration that you never quite reach. It's a mindset.           

This week’s episode of Taste Radio features a wide-ranging conversation with Krave Jerky and Sonoma Brands founder Jon Sebastiani. Recorded at the 2017 Summer Fancy Food Show, Sebastiani delved into his background in the food and beverage industry as an heir to a legacy wine family and talked about what spurred him to strike out on his own with Krave. He reflected on the meteoric growth of the meat snack brand, which launched in 2009 and was acquired by The Hershey Co. in 2015 for $240 million, and how he used the proceeds to create Sonoma Brands, a CPG incubator and venture fund that develops and partners with innovative food and beverage brands. Also included in the episode: an interview with veteran marketing executive Greg Fleishman, who is the CEO and co-founder of boutique marketing firm Purely Righteous Brands. Having worked with a range of innovative brands in his 20-year career, including Fuze, Bear Naked, Kashi and Suja, Fleishman opined on why successful entrepreneurs always have a “hunger and humility to learn.” He also discussed why consumers are becoming more attuned to sustainable farming practices and “food justice” and shared his perspective on the potential for cannabis-based CPG products. And in the latest edition of Elevator Talk, we speak with Julie Ndjee, co-founder/EVP of Neilly's Foods, an upstart maker and distributor of healthy and natural cuisine featuring flavors of Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America. Show Notes: 0:44: Intro to the episode and hosts Ray Latif, John Craven, Jon Landis and Mike Schneider, who chat about which drinks and snacks in the office attract the most interest and why and which ones get the cold shoulder. Mike talks about the appeal of trying new brands and line extensions while Jon offers his take on the elements of effective packaging and branding. John explains why approachability and easily understood beverages often win in the office and Ray discusses the advantage of nutritious, low-calorie and low-sugar formulations. 8:36: Interview -- Ray and John sit down with Jon Sebastiani, the founder of Krave Jerky and founder and CEO of CPG incubator and venture fund of Sonoma Brands. Sebastiani talks about working as part of his family’s wine business and decision to launch Krave; the emergence of premium meat snacks and what’s next for the category; how Sonoma’s team of former operators offers a competitive edge/advantage to other venture capital funds. 37:42: Interview -- John speaks with Greg Fleishman, a 20-year marketing executive who is currently the co-founder and CEO of Purely Righteous Brands LLC, which is a boutique consultancy dedicated to fostering the growth of "green space" health food & beverage companies. 1:01:35: Elevator Talk -- Meet Julie Ndjee, the co-founder and EVP of Neilly's, a maker and distributor of healthy and natural cuisine from around the world. Brands in this episode: Krave Jerky, Zupa Noma, Dang Foods, SmashMallow, Fuze, Bear Naked, Kashi, Temple Turmeric, Suja, Foodstirs, Sambazon, Neilly’s For sponsorship opportunities, feedback and suggestions contact podcast@bevnet.com.

Jeremy Smith is fed up with the food brokerage industry. There are a shortage of great food brokers. And grocery buyers have noticed. That's why he is back in the game. He previously sold his food brokerage, Level One, and is back with an innovative Food Brokerage and Consultancy: LaunchPad. Over his career in food, design and advertising, Jeremy has worked with iconic brands. Think Chobani, Apple, 5Hour Energy, popchips, EVOL Foods, Promax, Pure Foods, Krave Jerky and Bob's Red Mill. His relationships with buyers and marketers, strategists and designers presents enviable connections in the food industry. Jeremy sheds all kind of golden advice: How to sell to Costco Becoming multi-talented - design, advertising, copywriting, business strategy, etc. What he learned from Steve Jobs On selling his brokerage to Advantage Sales and Marketing The lack of great food brokers in 2017 Questions that you should ask a food broker What makes Chobani special? The "Secret Sauce" of Chobani Helping Chobani thrive at Costco How much does a food broker charge a food brand? Why founders shouldn't stay on after an acquisition “Im scared of losing Whole Foods business if I go to Costco” Various Costco tips and insights (pack size, behavior etc.) Some top emerging food brands to look out for

In this edition of the BevNET Podcast, we’re joined by prominent food and beverage attorney Nick Giannuzzi. The founder and managing partner of the The Giannuzzi Group, he has for over a decade provided legal representation to hundreds of small to mid-sized CPG companies and been involved in the biggest M&A deals in the space, including the sale of vitaminwater to The Coca-Cola Co., Krave Jerky to The Hershey Co. and KeVita to PepsiCo. Our conversation with Giannuzzi includes his take on how has the landscape for M&A in food and beverage has evolved in recent years, how he advises clients on being disciplined in their growth strategies and how entrepreneurs best align themselves with investors that share similar values and goals. Giannuzzi also discussed the current climate for investment (entrepreneurs would be wise to conduct a heat check, he noted) and competition for clients within the legal community. Also included in this podcast: a check-in with Honest Tea co-founder Seth Goldman on the brand recent revamp of its Honest Sport line and talking points on the Bai and KeVita deals, and a quick chat with Josh Wand, the founder of food and beverage staffing and recruiting agency Force Brands.

Over the past several years, the beef jerky category has been on fire with investments from big money players and major acquisitions, and today, we’re talking with Steele Meisinger, te brand manager for one of the companies that started it all: Krave Jerky. After being acquired by Hershey in 2015, Krave has been growing like crazy, and it’s allowed them to do some amazing things in the marketing department. And you’re gonna get to hear about a few of those things from Steele herself. On today’s episode, you’ll learn: Where to start when approaching a truly 360 degree campaign How to integrate native advertising into your marketing strategy What it was like working with Michael Phelps as an Olympic sponsor And much more…

I remind my students that I’m teaching them a methodology they can use the rest of their careers, not running an incubator. Every once in awhile a team ignores my advice and builds a company worth hundreds of millions of dollars.