Podcasts about ugly drinks

In our sixteenth episode of Honest Retail, we chat about the topics and headlines that are capturing our attention including: - MDS' latest raise - The fate of Ugly Drinks - Cracker Jill - Wellfare's mission Cameron McCarthy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronkennethmccarthy/ Taylor Foxman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-foxman/ Carlton Fowler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlton-fowler-63069478/

Welcome to Better-for-YOU. On this episode, Kristen sits down with former CEO of Ugly Drinks, Hugh Thomas, for an exclusive look into Hugh's decision to step away from Ugly. In this candid conversation, we talk about recognizing burnout, managing out of fear vs. love, and reclaiming your passion *after* burnout.Hugh's book recommendation: Reboot by Jerry Colonna

Back at the BevNET HQ and WCB (West Coast Branch) offices, Taste Radio's hosts reflected on the nine-day, three-event, four-competition extravaganza that was Brewbound Live, NOSH Live and BevNET Live. As part of their conversation, the hosts discussed the value of in-person networking, connecting with entrepreneurs for the first time after two years of virtual meetings and why some attendees were surprised by Ray's height. Later, the hosts chatted about the decision of a well-known entrepreneur to step down as CEO of his company and riffed on new products that came to market over the past month. Show notes: 0:38: Home Again, Ray ≠ Roy, The Most Beloved Person In Food & Bev – While happy to be home, Ray was confused as to why event attendees believe he looks like a certain character from the TV show “Ted Lasso.” The hosts praised and thanked Stephanie Haughey, a Whole Foods veteran who is known in the food and beverage community for championing and mentoring early-stage brands. They also celebrated the founders of ginger beverage brand Ginsation, True Scoops, a maker of DIY ice cream and Essential Candy, which markets hard candy infused with essential oils and spoke about why the industry applauded Ugly Drinks co-founder Hugh Thomas' decision to exit the company to focus on self-care. Brands in this episode: Natural Delights, True Scoops, Ginsation, Essential Candy, Nemi, Nana Joes, Waju, Funkytown Brewery, Kokada, Golden Rule, Hiyo, Super Coffee, Athletic Brewing Co., Poppi, Dokkebier, Ugly Drinks, Organifi

Ugly Drinks co-founder & CEO Hugh Thomas joins the pod to discuss Ugly Drinks! Plus, Sean reviews Ugly's Ginger Ale flavor. FOLLOW THE SELTZERCAST: http://twitter.com/seltzercast https://www.instagram.com/seltzer.cast/ https://twitter.com/Sean_POBrien https://www.instagram.com/seanpatrickobrien/ THIS PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY SUPERYAKI http://superyaki.com/ https://twitter.com/SuperYakiShop Narration provided by Tim Wells Art by Kyra Kaufer Music by Kevin MacLeod: Samba Isobel by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4316-samba-isobelLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Happy Alley by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3851-happy-alleyLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Poppers and Prosecco by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4231-poppers-and-proseccoLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

"We knew that Coca Cola and Pepsi wouldn't do it. And we could. This is what we stand for," says Orla Weir, Global Direct To Consumer and Brand Manager of Ugly Drinks on their unique brand. In this fascinating interview she explains  "We want to rebel against the fact that people are being given the sugary and sweetened products, but told they're all about something else… The ugly logo itself has this 'U' that's kind of shaped like a tongue. And for us that was always a bit like sticking your tongue out at the big dogs."  Join us as Orla talks more about maintaining her brand's distinctiveness, launching in the US, the ups and downs of crowd-sourcing new flavours, and what she would love to do if she had the luxury of a big marketing budget." 

"We knew that Coca Cola and Pepsi wouldn't do it. And we could. This is what we stand for," says Orla Weir, Global Direct To Consumer and Brand Manager of Ugly Drinks on their unique brand. In this fascinating interview she explains  "We want to rebel against the fact that people are being given the sugary and sweetened products, but told they're all about something else… The ugly logo itself has this 'U' that's kind of shaped like a tongue. And for us that was always a bit like sticking your tongue out at the big dogs."  Join us as Orla talks more about maintaining her brand's distinctiveness, launching in the US, the ups and downs of crowd-sourcing new flavours, and what she would love to do if she had the luxury of a big marketing budget."    +++++ Talk to us podcast@wearewaxon.com +++++ Leave us your review on iTunes. And please subscribe. +++++ www.wearewaxon.com 

In episode 341, we welcome our guest, Lyle Fitterer, portfolio manager for Baird Asset Management, where he runs a $1.8 billion municipal bond fund.     In today's episode, we're talking all things muni's. Lyle begins with an overview of the muni bond market and the benefit of tax-exempt income for investors. Then we hear how Lyle went on the offensive when the COVID drawdown occurred last year. Finally, we walk through some of the different factors affecting the muni market right now, including state and local budgets, expectations for higher taxes and an infrastructure bill, and interest rates.     Be sure to listen until the end to hear what sectors Lyle avoids within the muni space.     Please enjoy this episode with Baird Asset Management's Lyle Fitterer.     -----     Follow Meb on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube For detailed show notes, click here To learn more about our funds and follow us, subscribe to our mailing list or visit us at cambriainvestments.com     -----     Today's episode is sponsored by Ugly Drinks. Meet ugly sparkling water: the childhood tastes you love without the sugar, sweeteners or calories you don't. Beyond quenching your thirst, ugly celebrates the real, the raw, the imperfect - the ugly truth. As a special offer for listeners of the show, visit uglydrinks.com and use the code UGLYMEB to get 20% off your order.     Today's episode is sponsored by The Idea Farm. The Idea Farm gives you access to over $100,000 worth of investing research, the kind usually read by only the world's largest institutions, funds, and money managers. Join today and get access to quarterly CAPE ratios, an excel quant backtester and the entire research library.

In episode 336, we welcome our guest, Hugh Thomas, founder of Ugly Drinks, a beverage company that makes drinks with no sugar, no sweetener, and no calories and is trying to expose the ugly truth about big beverage.      In today's episode, we hear how Hugh fell in love with the beverage industry so much that he started a company to provide people with a healthy drink at an affordable price. What started with him walking around London to sell drinks one store at a time has now reached over 15,000 stores around the globe! Hugh shares the story of the brand and marketing with the ‘ugly' name, why there's such a need for a healthy drink in the market, and what it was like to embrace direct-to-consumer during COVID.      As a special offer for listeners of the show, visit uglydrinks.com and use the code UGLYMEB to get 20% off your order.      Please enjoy this episode with Ugly Drinks' Hugh Thomas.          -----     Follow Meb on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube For detailed show notes, click here To learn more about our products and follow us, subscribe to our mailing list or visit us at cambriainvestments.com.     -----     Today's episode is sponsored by The Idea Farm. The Idea Farm gives you access to over $100,000 worth of investing research, the kind usually read by only the world's largest institutions, funds, and money managers. Join today and get access to quarterly CAPE ratios, an excel quant backtester and the entire research library. 

Nick Bihm & Erin Rose O'Brien hosts of the podcast Moody's Pod join the Seltzercast to drink and discuss Ugly Drinks flavors Butterscotch, Dr. Ugly, and Fruit Punch. Be sure to listen to Moody's Pod at... https://anchor.fm/moodyspod Special thanks to Ugly Drinks for sending the Butterscotch flavor! https://uglydrinks.com/ FOLLOW THE SELTZERCAST: http://twitter.com/seltzercast https://www.instagram.com/seltzer.cast/ https://twitter.com/Sean_POBrien https://www.instagram.com/seanpatrickobrien/ THIS PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY SUPERYAKI http://superyaki.com/ https://twitter.com/SuperYakiStuff Narration provided by Tim Wells Art by Kyra Kaufer Music by Kevin MacLeod: Samba Isobel by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4316-samba-isobel License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Happy Alley by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3851-happy-alley License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Poppers and Prosecco by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4231-poppers-and-prosecco License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

“We got this idea of the ugly truth and built a brand around no fake marketing promises, no BS, no calories, no sugar, no sweeteners, you can just drink it ugly, have no guilt with it at all. It replaces that soda moment.”Hugh Thomas is the founder of Ugly Drinks, a challenger brand founded in 2015 in the UK, before launching in the US in 2018. Ugly is a hyper curious, super irreverent and rebellious new soda brand disrupting the market, taking on the sugary soda industry by making sparkling water accessible to all. “I felt that consumers often get blamed for being overweight. But really, it's the system and the food and drink products that have been shoved down our throats and marketed to us for 100 years that are really causing the problems.”In today's episode, Hugh chats about brand building, how to strike the right balance of rebelliousness and familiarity when you're building your challenger brand:“I think great branding is a balance of art and science. Ultimately, I think one of the reasons our brand stands out so much is because it's authentic and comes from the soul.”He also shares his biggest lessons learned from expanding Ugly in the US from the UK, and the importance of working on your mental health when you're creating a company that is looking to change global consumption of sugar. “We started selling in one shop [in the US], same as we did in the UK. And then we built from there. Now we're in 15,000. So it's like, just keep building.”On today's podcast: The systemic issues with sugar Ugly is about being authentic How to expand into US Why they've stayed lean Why you need to separate yourself as a founder from the brand Links: Eating The Big Fish Lights Out: Sleep Sugar And Survival

Nicholas Reichenbach is ready to take his passion public. Reichenbach is the founder and executive chairman of Flow Water, a premium brand of spring-sourced alkaline water known for its use of recycled carton packaging. Launched as a challenger to legacy brands such as Fiji and Evian, Flow has achieved remarkable retail and sales growth since its launch in 2015. Flow generated sales of $25 million in 2020 and the brand, which markets several varieties, including flavored and collagen-infused waters, is sold in 25,000 retailers across the United States and Canada, including Whole Foods Market, Safeway, Wegmans, Walmart and Vitamin Shoppe. Success has prompted an upcoming public stock offering that is expected to raise over $50 million in support of the company's goal to establish a new standard for premium water focused on taste and sustainability.  As part of an interview featured in this episode, Reichenbach spoke about the rationale for going public just six years after launching the company, his background and experience as music promoter and tech entrepreneur and how timing played into the decision to commercialize his family's spring and launch of Flow Water. He also discussed his prodigious ability to raise capital for the company, which has already brought in over $100 million in funding, how he's attracted a range of celebrities -- including actresses Gwyneth Paltrow and Halle Berry,  musician Shawn Mendes and NBA star Russell Westbrook -- to support the brand and how Flow's marketing strategy is getting consumers to trade up.   Show notes:  0:42: The Insiders Have It. Plus, We're Going, Going, Back, Back To Cali, Cali. -- The hosts discussed the evolution of BevNET/NOSH's subscription model, an “Ugly” guy's recent office visit and the big news that we'll be back to in-person events this December. They also chatted about several new products and early-stage brands, including better-for-you snacks, immunity-boosting juice shots, pea-based ice cream, non-alcoholic cocktail alternatives and a restaurant-inspired brand of pasta sauces. 17:08: Interview: Nicholas Reichenbach, Founder & Executive Chairman, Flow Water -- Reichenbach sat down with Taste Radio editor Ray Latif for a conversation that began with the entrepreneur's experience as a club promoter and later as the founder of a ringtone and mobile gaming company. He also explained what he learned about the beverage industry as an early distributor of Red Bull, how and why he landed on Flow as the name for his nascent water brand, why self production has been critical to the company's growth and how the company most effectively utilizes celebrity partners and investors. Later, he spoke about how Flow's packaging has enabled it to stand out on shelf and how he's incorporated lessons from other challenger brands into Flow's business strategy. Brands in this episode: Flow Water, Ugly Drinks, Clio Snacks, Chloe's, Honest Tea, PIN Energy, Bully Boy Distillers, Kuali, Ghia, Cocacao, Salvation Snackfoods, Amazi Foods, Littlemore Organics, SweetPea Ice Cream, Carbone Fine Food, Vive Organic, Casamara Club, Rao's, Fiji Water, Evian, Voss Water, Icelandic Glacial, Fuze, BodyArmor, Core Hydration

This week, we’re joined by Chris Fanucchi and Samantha Citro Alexander, the co-founders of Bitewell, a startup platform that aims to make healthy purchasing decisions easier via curated options for grocery and restaurant delivery.  Fanucchi is a serial entrepreneur who is also the co-founder of both plant-based protein beverage brand Koia and caffeinated sparkling water brand Limitless. He launched Bitewell in January 2020 and was joined by Alexander, a former marketing executive for Estee Lauder, in December. Merging shopping and food trends along with dietetics and a data-driven approach, the new venture is designed as a one-stop solution for consumers who want to improve their daily eating habits.  Within our conversation, Fanucchi and Alexander discussed the origins of Bitewell, how the concept has evolved since its inception and why it’s a data company at its core. They also spoke about Bitewell’s multi-pronged business model, why its competition isn’t easily defined and how the company works with emerging food and beverage brands. Show notes:  0:45: What The Fokk Is The Dairy Pride Act? - The hosts chatted about Mike’s visit to the Big Island and discussed the reintroduction of a federal bill that would dramatically restrict ways that plant-based dairy brands can market their products. They also spoke about an upcoming event on Clubhouse that will explore how three entrepreneurs landed placement of their brands in their dream retailers, urged early-stage founders to apply to the upcoming New Beverage Showdown 21 and Pitch Slam 10 competitions and spoke about several new products and notable marketing campaigns, including that of Siggi’s which is promoting its new low sugar line via a “fokking” clever message. 22:07: Interview: Chris Fanucchi & Samantha Citro Alexander, Co-Founders, Bitewell -- Taste Radio editor Ray Latif sat down with Fanucchi and Citro Alexander who discussed Bitewell’s Discovery Boxes, which are packed with an assortment of diet-specific products, how the concept was born out of Fanucchi’s personal experience with food and how they’ve simplified the company’s tagline and primary communication to consumers. They also spoke about building out the company’s initial team, the importance of locking in service and supplier partnerships, getting consumers to share personal information about their eating habits and lifestyles and why they view current competitors as future potential partners. Brands in this episode: Maui Brewing, Ola Brewing, Honolulu Beerworks, Big Island Booch, Sattva Vida, Siggi’s, Clio Snacks, Olipop, Poppi, Ugly Drinks, Essentia Water, GoodSport, Cure Hydration, Koia, Limitless, Health-Ade, Super Coffee

Dimitri Martin joins Seltzercast to drink and discuss Blue Raspberry Ugly! We discuss Dimitri's art, plus there's so much seltzer news!! Follow Dimitri at... https://www.instagram.com/dimitrimorgan_art/ https://www.instagram.com/dimitri_morgan/ https://twitter.com/Dimitrimorgan94 Check out Ugly Drinks at... https://uglydrinks.com/ FOLLOW THE SELTZERCAST: http://twitter.com/seltzercast https://www.instagram.com/seltzer.cast/ https://twitter.com/Sean_POBrien https://www.instagram.com/seanpatrickobrien/ THIS PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY SUPERYAKI http://superyaki.com/ https://twitter.com/SuperYakiShop Narration provided by Tim Wells Art by Kyra Kaufer Music by Kevin MacLeod: Samba Isobel by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4316-samba-isobelLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Happy Alley by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3851-happy-alleyLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Poppers and Prosecco by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4231-poppers-and-proseccoLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Today on the pod, we have Hugh Thomas the co-founder and CEO of Ugly Drinks! We've been dissecting Ugly's strategy for the past few weeks in DTC Newsletter - you can catch up on our blog ➡️. https://www.directtoconsumer.co/content Listen to the pod for:

“Brand exclusives and community go hand-in-hand for brands. You need a great offer to get customers in your community.” @jadesai94 #DTCPOD“Communities can be brand-owned or not brand-owned. It just depends on the bandwidth you have.” @jadesai94 #DTCPOD“If you decide to create a brand-owned community, build it where your audience is. Don’t just build it on Facebook because it’s Facebook.” @jadesai94 #DTCPOD“Communities can be a great source of product feedback. They can tell you what new products they want next too.” @jadesai94 #DTCPOD“Make sure to have a qualification process on how to decide when customers can enter your exclusive community.” @jadesai94 #DTCPODWe Speak About:[00:45] Driving community and how it relates to exclusives[01:30] Benefits to offer to your community[02:40] Brands that do a great job with exclusives and community[04:45] Brand-owned communities vs non-brand owned communities[05:05] Companies that have brand-owned communities[06:35] How to build brand-owned communities[08:55] Advantages of building communities[11:05] What you need to run a communityBrand communities - it’s time to start building one if you haven’tEverybody knows the power of community. So why is it that some brands don’t invest in it?Brand communities can be a powerful tool when done right. They can be great sources of feedback, recurring revenue, and even reduce support tickets.A good community feeds off of each other and acts like an extra employee and a super customer, spreading the word about your brand and buying up a lot of products.Communities can be either brand-owned or not brand-owned. There’s no right or wrong choice between the two. They are just different.To get people to buy into your community though, you might need to sweeten your offerStay tuned as we discuss where to build communities, what’s a brand-owned community, brands that are crushing community, and more.If you’d like to learn more about Trend and our influencer marketing platform for influencers and brands visit trend.io. You can also follow us for tips on growing your following and running successful campaigns on Instagram and LinkedIn.Mentioned Links:Great DTC brand communities: https://socialladderapp.com/2020/02/11/4-dtc-brand-communities-we-love/Steps to build online communities: https://www.bigcommerce.com/blog/online-communities/#7-steps-for-building-an-online-community

In #116, futurists learn from Hugh Thomas, CEO & Co-Founder of Ugly Drinks, a CPG drinks startup he founded in London in 2016 after a long stint working at major beverage companies. Hugh was sick of a world where big brands were marketing pure sugar concoctions and telling an aspirational story about consuming unhealthy products. To disrupt the status quo, Hugh launched Ugly Drinks, which aims to bring transparency to the beverage market through zero-sugar, zero-calorie carbonated drinks delivered DTC with buzzy, retro-styled packaging and gorgeous marketing. Since launching the company in the UK, Ugly has expanded into the U.S. and despite having a strong focus on DTC subscriptions, is available in retail locations! In this episode, Hugh discusses why he was crazy enough to launch the company, some of the wacky flavors he's thinking about like Pizza and Rain, and shares powerful lessons on the entrepreneurial journey. Don't miss this bubbly episode. A lucky Our Future listener is getting one free month of Ugly Drinks delivered to their doorstep. To be considered to win, repost this episode on your Instagram story and tag @ourfuturehq and @uglydrinks! Winners will be announced this week. Follow Hugh on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/uglyhugh/ Subscribe to Our Future Newsletter to join our community of young entrepreneurs at https://www.ourfuturehq.com/ Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/ourfuturehq/ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ourfuturehq

Denise Woodard, the founder and CEO of Partake Foods, is not shy about asking for advice. In an interview featured in this episode, she reflects on how guidance from other entrepreneurs has been a key part of her success in building a fast-growing packaged food brand. You might be surprised, however, that the counsel she most values comes from unsuccessful founders. “I think oftentimes when you’re company’s on a rocketship to success, it’s hard to remember the stuff that went wrong,” Woodard said. “But when you’ve lost your last dollar and put all your blood, sweat and tears into a company that didn’t work for whatever reason, you have really good advice about what not to do and what you wished you would have done.” A former executive with The Coca-Cola Co.’s Venturing and Emerging Brands (VEB) unit, Woodard founded Partake in 2016 after her infant daughter was diagnosed with severe food allergies. Frustrated with the lack of allergen-friendly food brands, she launched Partake with a line of cookies that are free from the eight major allergens, followed by a move into baking mixes. The brand, which sells its cookies at Target, Whole Foods and Sprouts stores nationwide, made waves in June of 2020 when it announced a $1 million seed round that was partly funded by Jay-Z’s Marcy Venture Partners. Seven months later, Partake closed on a $4.8 million Series A round that included industry luminary John Foraker and music icon Rihanna.  It took a lot of heavy lifting, sacrifice and hearing the word ‘no’ dozens of times to get Partake where it is today, and as part of our interview, Woodard spoke about how her experience working with entrepreneurs while at Coca-Cola impacted the planning for and development of Partake, as well as how a boom in allergen-friendly brands has affected the brand’s growth and why leaning into retailer programs that support Black and female-owned companies has been critical. She also discussed why Partake was self-funded at launch, how she went from raising $5,000-$10,000 at a time to multi-million dollar, celebrity-led funding rounds, how the tragedy and social unrest of 2020 impacted Partake and why she sings the praises of a leadership coach. Show notes:  0:36: Celebrate Green Juice! But Did You Forget About Everything Bagel Ice Cream? Join The Club. -- The hosts chatted about waves of greens and green juice, a new ice cream product with a unique flavor and what they are learning about social media app Clubhouse. They also discussed new packaged food and beverages to hit the office, including better-for-you noodles, a “big” candy bar brand and non-alcoholic craft beer. 23:22: Interview: Denise Woodard, Founder/CEO, Partake Foods -- Taste Radio editor Ray Latif spoke with Woodard about her prompt email replies, her background as an entrepreneur, her transition from a beverage executive to a founder of a food brand and how she’s saved at least $250,000 in retailer fees. She also discussed how she was able to differentiate Partake from a growing set of competitors in the allergen-free space, how she determined her capital needs for launching the brand, staying focused after hearing rejection from investors, why data was a key asset in the company’s Series A round and why she doesn’t separate personal and professional responses to issues of racism and inequality. Later she explained why entrepreneurs should ask for specific versus general advice about building a business and why she views her employees as her “boss.” Brands in this episode: Partake Foods, Suja, Evolution Fresh, Your Super, Organifi, Jeni’s, Coolhaus, Ben & Jerry’s, Foodstirs, Zesty Z, Ayoba Foods, Belgian Boys, Nona Lim, Om Som, Banza, Daytrip, BrewDog, Athletic Brewing Co., De La Calle, immi, Gigantic Bar, Ugly Drinks, Milky Way, Hershey’s, Honest Tea, Zico, Once Upon A Farm

Sean reviews four different Ugly Drinks flavors, including the Limited Edition Root Beer flavor! Special thanks to Ugly Drinks for providing this week's drinks. Follow them at: https://www.instagram.com/uglydrinks/ https://twitter.com/uglydrinks https://uglydrinks.com/ Thanks to Brandon Hart for making a special appearance. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram! FOLLOW THE SELTZERCAST: http://twitter.com/seltzercast https://www.instagram.com/seltzer.cast/ https://twitter.com/Sean_POBrien https://www.instagram.com/seanpatrickobrien/ THIS PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY SUPERYAKI http://superyaki.com/ https://twitter.com/SuperYakiStuff Narration provided by Tim Wells Art by Kyra Kaufer Music by Kevin MacLeod: Samba Isobel by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4316-samba-isobelLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Happy Alley by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3851-happy-alleyLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Poppers and Prosecco by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4231-poppers-and-proseccoLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Episode 50 got UGLY (Drinks that is). We were joined by Hugh Thomas, Co-Founder and CEO of Ugly Drinks (starts at 26:14). He shared with us what it took to start Ugly Drinks, how they aim to combat the American and UK sugar addiction, as well as a few of his favorite beers he's had here in the US. You can find Ugly Drinks in most grocery stores across the US, or get it shipped right to your door at UglyDrinks.com. Follow them on social media @uglydrinks and you can follow Hugh @uglyhugh. (Use promo code UGLYHUGH for a nice discount at checkout) Follow us on Instagram for the latest Ten Fifty Sips Episode @1056podcast and be sure to leave us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts

In season 2 episode 2, Simon talks to Hugh. Hugh Thomas is the NYC-based CEO and Founder of Ugly Drinks. Ugly is a flavored sparkling water brand, now available in over 15,000 stores globally and with offices in both the UK and US. Ugly believes in an omni-channel approach to business, and has built its business online as well as in traditional retail. Before starting Ugly, Hugh worked at Vita Coco in Europe, leading bra

In season 2 episode 2, Simon talks to Hugh. Hugh Thomas is the NYC-based CEO and Founder of Ugly Drinks. Ugly is a flavored sparkling water brand, now available in over 15,000 stores globally and with offices in both the UK and US. Ugly believes in an omni-channel approach to business, and has built its business online as well as in traditional retail. Before starting Ugly, Hugh worked at Vita Coco in Europe, leading bra

In season 2 episode 2, Simon talks to Hugh. Hugh Thomas is the NYC-based CEO and Founder of Ugly Drinks. Ugly is a flavored sparkling water brand, now available in over 15,000 stores globally and with offices in both the UK and US. Ugly believes in an omni-channel approach to business, and has built its business online as well as in traditional retail. Before starting Ugly, Hugh worked at Vita Coco in Europe, leading bra

Happy Holidays! It's the first ever Seltzercast holiday special! Sean gets an unexpected gift from Ugly Drinks, then pays a visit to an old friend. Crack open a fizzy beverage, sit by the warm fire, and enjoy the chaos that is A Seltzer Carol. Thank you to Ugly Drinks for sending drinks over! Look forward to the Ugly Drinks episode coming in 2021. Thanks to Brandon Hart for playing Count Carbonation. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram! Thanks to Zach from the Beck 2 Beck podcast for appearing as Tiny Sean. Follow him on Twitter and stream Beck 2 Beck! And thank you to Fesh & JZT from the horror movie podcast I Was Scared, Too! Follow them on Twitter and Instagram! FOLLOW THE SELTZERCAST: http://twitter.com/seltzercast https://www.instagram.com/seltzer.cast/ https://twitter.com/Sean_POBrien https://www.instagram.com/seanpatrickobrien/ THIS PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY SUPERYAKI http://superyaki.com/ https://twitter.com/SuperYakiStuff Narration provided by Tim Wells Art by Kyra Kaufer Music by Kevin MacLeod Click here to view a full list of music, and sound effects used in today's episode. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Paving your own lane doesn’t come easy. Especially in a crowded, competitive space.But that’s exactly what the team over at Ugly has done, and in this episode we have CEO and Co-Founder of Ugly Drinks, Hugh Thomas.They’re a great example of a brand being competitive and standing out in a crowded marketplace. We talk about how they came up with their unique name, give examples of other well known brands that started with a unique name, and go in-depth about Hugh’s vision for the company.Everyone wants to build a big, growing business, but true vision is much more intricate than that.Hugh talks about vision in a way that makes you think bigger.As we head into 2021, this is a great episode to get clear on your vision for yourself and your company.The 5-Minute Ecommerce Email Marketing HackStop leaving money on the table. Without great email marketing, you're missing out on 6-7 figures per year of revenue and profit.Download this checklist, go through it, and in less than 5 minutes you'll know exactly what you need to do to increase your email revenue.This is our secret sauce and we're giving it all away for free, no strings attached.Click here to download the checklist for free.Links:Q4Method.comWavebreakPrivate email list for ecommerce leadersUgly DrinksBook an intro callLearn more about WavebreakThis episode is sponsored by...Klaviyo — Over 10,000 innovative brands are growing their businesses by listening and understanding to cues from their customers--easily turning that information into valuable marketing messages used to build highly segmented, automated email campaigns, such as win back campaigns or abandoned cart emails and more.Justuno - The best tool for conversion rate optimization is Justuno. Justuno customers see a 135% lift in revenue in the first year of using the platform thanks to features like their AI-powered upsells and cross-sells, and advanced targeting rules for tailored promotions to high-intent traffic segments. Sign up for a free trial and get 20% off your first year by using code WAVEBREAK.

“Even if it’s just one or two degrees of innovation, being slightly innovative allows a brand to connect with people in a different, unique, and authentic way.” @goodwipes #DTCPOD“Any category that you go into is going to be competitive, whether that's online or in brick and mortar. Most likely, there will be something that exists that’s somewhat similar to what you are trying to achieve.” @goodwipes #DTCPOD“What made us most productive in our conversations with retailers was having a strong founder story and backing it up with market research and analytics.” @goodwipes #DTCPOD“Great brands need great operating teams. The brands that survive have great operating teams whether they make millions or thousands.” @goodwipes #DTCPOD“I see competition as a positive because it helps validate that the market exists.” @goodwipes #DTCPODWe Speak About:[01:05] About Sam[01:20] About Goodwipes[03:05] Why Sam and Charlie started Goodwipes[07:25] Sam and Charlie’s path to founding Goodwipes[08:55] How Sam and Charlie put together the money to start Goodwipes[10:20] How Goodwipes became a category leader[13:00] Sam’s thoughts on why we’re seeing a product reinvention revolution[16:05] Sam’s advice for getting your product in retail[19:10] What Sam thinks is possible for other brands looking to do product reinvention[21:10] How Sam is staying ahead of competitors[23:55] Sam’s advice for others trying to do product reinvention[25:50] Brands and people that Sam follows and looks up to[28:55] Sam’s advice for overcoming challenges[30:15] What’s next for GoodwipesHow to reinvent an existing product in a category that hasn’t seen much innovationSam Nebel, Founder of Goodwipes, joins the POD to talk about product reinvention. Sam knows a thing or two about product reinvention.His company, Goodwipes, sells disposable wipes.Even though disposable wipes have been around for a while, Sam and his Co-founder Charlie decided to take a stab at reinventing the space.No one was really innovating in disposable wipes so they decided to bring their wipes to the market as a high-quality, premium, and eco-friendly option.To bring a better product to the market, Sam and Charlie spent a good part of a year doing research and development.To reinvent a product category, you need more than a great founder storyThe part that put Sam and Charlie over the top was their attention to understanding the market. They had a fantastic founder story, but to convince retailers they needed more.Their understanding of the toilet paper market and how they could acquire customers was a big reason that retailers decided to supply their products.Sam and Charlie also had a great understanding of shoppers. They knew that many adults really didn’t want to shop for disposable wipes but were open to more brands that were value-driven.Goodwipes was able to capitalize on that market gap to grow.Even though Goodwipes had a first-mover advantage, they are constantly working to grow and maintain their share of the market.Stay tuned as Sam discusses his thoughts on product reinvention, whether there is still space to reinvent products, and how Goodwipes is staying ahead of competition.If you’d like to learn more about Trend and our influencer marketing platform for influencers and brands visit trend.io. You can also follow us for tips on growing your following and running successful campaigns on Instagram and LinkedIn.Mentioned Links:The Goodwipes website: https://goodwipes.com/Follow Goodwipes on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodwipes/Connect with Sam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-nebel-6417362b

Ugly Drinks describes its sugar-free sparkling water as not only refreshing tasty, but refreshingly honest. Hugh Thomas and his team are on a mission to shake up the drinks industry, exposing the 'ugly truth' behind mass-marketed, sugary drinks. - Join the Journey Further Book Club: http://bit.ly/2r4fBWR Get in touch: podcast@journeyfurther.com

On this episode, I advocate for more meme usage in your social media content strategy. I reference this article and it specifically highlights: Instagram seems to be embracing more raw, organic, and natural images on the platform. There are a few reasons behind this: As highly-polished photos have proliferated, the “Instagram aesthetic” has come to feel bland and cookie-cutter. We’ve spoken before about the red vs. blue ocean strategies, picking a strategy where there is less competition. Staged Instagram photos are achieving mass scale, and it’s harder to compete for attention. We’ve reached “peak perfection.” Ugly Drinks’ social media and community manager Brittany Zenner calls it “influencer saturation.” There can be too much of a good thing. AND Having seen memes pop up across social media before, we’ve found there to be a few defining characteristics of what makes this type of social media content so engaging. Memes are … Relatable. This is a core element of a successful meme. They summarize a widespread feeling that everyone can relate to. Witty. Memes are clever. They have a way of putting obvious things succinctly in a way that we hadn’t thought of before. Entertaining. With the combination of relatability and cleverness, memes can be an incredibly fun piece of content, like being in on an inside joke shared with thousands of others.

“The recovery rate for cart abandonment is almost 2.5x greater using texts than email.” @yotpo #DTCPOD“If you don’t have brand right, you’re going to be starting with a rocky foundation. Make sure to do this in-house and don’t outsource it.” @jjeremycai #DTCPOD“Having a clean list has helped us get really high open-rates. We automatically unsubscribe anyone who hasn’t engaged with an email in 120 days.” @nomadgoods #DTCPOD“Take things from culture that already exist and put them into your brand.” @DeeCharlemagne #DTCPOD“Every time we make another run of limited-edition cans we test something new in the process - content, email, new way of launching it.” @uglyhugh #DTCPODWe Speak About:[01:35] What we learned about SMS marketing from Yotpo[03:35] What we learned from Jeremy Cai, founder of Italic, on getting brand right[04:00] How NOMAD gets 70% open-rates on emails[06:00] How AVEC taught us to tell a better brand story[07:25] What learned from Ugly Drinks about how to test betterHere are 5 great tips for eCommerce and DTC from some of the smartest founders and marketersWe’re recapping five of our favorite tips from some of our most recent guests.These actionable tips are definitely worth their weight in gold.We have brought on a lot of great marketers and founders recently. As result, we have expanded our knowledge of eCommerce and DTC.They have shared great actionable tips that brands in eCommerce and direct to consumer can use right now to help grow their business.The tips span from SMS marketing to email marketing to brand storytelling and more.You will find some of the best tips in the quotes above. This recap also includes two tips from some of the guests featured in this episode.These tips are must-follows for brands. We highly recommend implementing all of the tips mentioned in the episode.If you’d like to learn more about Trend and our influencer marketing platform for influencers and brands visit trend.io. You can also follow us for tips on growing your following and running successful campaigns on Instagram and LinkedIn.

“You shouldn’t look at the competition you should create a brand that stands for what you stand for and what you want to disrupt.” @uglyhugh #DTCPOD“I always recommend taking a night to sleep on ideas that can have a big impact on your business. Your thinking might be different the next morning.” @uglyhugh #DTCPOD“If you put a product into a store you probably won’t hear back until 12 months whereas with DTC you can get feedback within 2 weeks.” @uglyhugh #DTCPOD“Every time we make another run of limited-edition cans we test something new in the process - content, email, new way of launching it.” @uglyhugh #DTCPOD“The beauty of being a first-time founder is you get to be scrappy, make things happen, and learn from your mistakes.” @uglyhugh #DTCPODWe Speak About:[01:10] About Ugly Drinks [02:50] How Hugh came up with the idea for Ugly Drinks[05:20] The story behind Ugly Drinks’ branding[07:15] How Ugly Drinks’ brand identity has evolved[09:45] About Ugly Drinks’ big investment into community marketing[12:35] How Ugly Drinks gathers community feedback[15:50] What Hugh had to change to expand into the US market[18:30] The scrappy things Hugh and his team did to be successful[21:30] Hugh’s mentors and influences[24:20] Hugh’s advice for other foundersA great brand isn’t built overnightHugh Thomas, CEO and Co-Founder of Ugly Drinks, joins the podcast to talk about his founder story.A little about Ugly Drinks - it’s a beverage brand that sells flavored sparkling water.Even though Ugly Drinks has only been around 2015, Hugh and his team have built an incredibly strong brand.Every detail from what the company stands for, the imagery, and even the community has been carefully crafted.The Ugly Drinks brand looks like a finished product but the “ugly” truth is, the brand is continuing to evolve.Ugly Drinks has already had three iterations of the brand already. The first was to raise capital, the second version was the refinement, and the third version was done as the product expanded.As the brand grows, Hugh and his team keep testing out new ideas and new flavors to continue refining and growing the brand.Even the strongest brands need a strong communityUgly Drinks has built a strong brand internally and externally.For Ugly Drinks, even product users have branded themselves. The most loyal fans describe themselves as part of the Ugly Mob or Ugly Squad.The Ugly Mob has been a key part of Ugly Drinks’ growth. By having a strong community, the beverage brand has been able to accelerate word of mouth.The Ugly Mob isn’t just great for word of mouth though. Hugh and his team have helped foster a sense of community from the internal team as well.They have a private Facebook group that is used to collect product feedback. They also often ask buyers to give their feedback.Loyal fans are even asked to share ideas for new flavors. The ideas end up driving the product roadmap for Ugly Drinks.Stay tuned as Hugh also discusses how long it took to develop the brand, what they learned from entering a new market, and some of the scrappy things they have done to be successful.If you’d like to learn more about Trend and our influencer marketing platform for influencers and brands visit trend.io. You can also follow us for tips on growing your following and running successful campaigns on Instagram and LinkedIn. Mentioned Links:The Ugly Drinks website: https://uglydrinks.com/The Ugly Drinks Twitter account: https://twitter.com/uglydrinksThe Ugly Drinks Tik Tok account: https://www.tiktok.com/@uglydrinksHugh’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/uglyhugh

The image in the logo of the Mojo Podcast is a vibrant butterfly - I love the image and the symbolism for a podcast about how we deal with, learn from and grow from change in our lives. And this week's episode is right on the money in this area. My guest this week is Mark Shayler and he talks to me about his own development and growth - his path to transcendence . Mark very openly and honestly points out the moments of deep introspection when he realised change wasn't just possible but vital to him. He describes himself as 'an introvert who hides in the spotlight'. We talk about big shifts in life, such as grieving potential, losing friends, building community, creating new things, his daily Qi Gong class on Instagram. We spend plenty of time talking about how he helps people present better (and he is a great presenter) when they are truly themselves up there on that scary stage. He says “don't be a character, be yourself - you can't forget your lines when you talk about your life” Other great quotes to look out for: "Comparison is the thief of happiness" "What is not transformed is transferred" Mark's consultancy, Ape, helps big companies think like small ones and small companies think like big ones. He works on innovation of products, services and business models; he works on sustainability and company purpose; and he coaches businesses and individuals. He has worked for Nike, Coca-Cola, Seedlip, Unilever, Hotpoint, Samsung, John Lewis, Fenwick, Bacardi, Diageo, Mars, Thorntons, 3M, Amazon, Panasonic and hundreds of funky little businesses like Propercorn, Teapigs, Hiut Denim, and Ugly Drinks. He is a Founding Partner of the Do Lectures and author of the books Do Distrupt: Change the status quo or become it (Do Books) and Do Present: How to give talk and be heard (Do Books).  He is a Founding partner of feel-good lockdown project www.reasonstobecheerful.co.uk Be sure to check out his Instagram for those daily Qi Gong classes @markshayler Do subscribe for new episodes, please leave a 5 star rating AND help the Mojo Podcast grow by leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts Thank you Richard x The Mojo Podcast Hosted by executive and business coach Richard Stokes from Ibiza @mojorichard on Instagram www.mojodevelopment.co.uk richard@mojodevelopment.co.uk #beyourself #beyou #identity #purpose #mission #presenting #qigong #markshayler #mojo #community #reasonstobecheerful 

Say hello to Meryl Singleton. She runs Small Fry, a digital studio focusing on the fun stuff on the internet. Besides having a great look and feel she has an impressive roster of clients: All Plants, Ugly Drinks, Edgard Cooper, Camden Brewery, Linda McCartney's, Moju, Pollen - the list goes on. In this episode we chat about her anti-agency stance, the benefits of starting client side and where the future of social is going? Not one to be missed. 

Thanks for joining us for the season finale of EmailGeeks at Home Drinking Coffee Season 2! This week we're joined by Hugh Thomas, CEO and Co-Founder of Ugly Drinks, to cap off a great season of unbreakable guests.  Feel free to grab a cup of coffee, tea, water, or whatever else floats your boat and join in on the fun! https://audiencepoint.com/blog/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/audiencepoint https://twitter.com/audiencepoint  If you need a high quality vessel for your beverage of choice, check out the official mug provider of EmailGeeks at Home Drinking Coffee, Two Ridges Pottery: http://tworidgespottery.com/shop 

Hugh Thomas is the Co-founder and CEO of Ugly Drinks, centered around New York & London in the UK. He attended the University of Warwick and was the Student Brand Manager for Unilever before moving to HJ Heinz where he worked in marketing. He later went on to Vita Coco in the UK and before co-founding Ugly Drinks. Hugh wanted to create a healthy, relevant, and affordable product that would replace sugary soda products. This led him to create Ugly Drinks, a sugar-free, sweetener-free, zero-calorie drink that’s nothing artificial and definitely affordable. In this encore show, G. Steven Cleere talks with Hugh Thomas of Ugly Drinks about the origin of his company, the tools and resources that are necessary for someone to be a successful entrepreneur, and why it’s important to give back to the community. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:  Why the name Ugly Drinks? How the Ugly Drinks company started The difference between retailing in the UK and the USA The target market of Ugly Drinks Tools & resources for success in entrepreneurship Hugh Thomas talks about giving back to the community through Girl up Hugh's experience at the Marketing Academy UK How Ugly Drinks is distributed and where you can find them Hugh's future plans for the company Hugh's advice to fellow entrepreneurs Subscribe and Listen on: iTunes Stitcher Resources Mentioned in this episode Ugly Drinks Girl Up The Marketing Academy Connect with Steve Kitchen2Shelf  About Me NexxtLevel Marketing Sponsor for this episode Our podcast was brought to you today by Kitchen2Shelf, the educational arm of NexxtLevel Brands. Kitchen to 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 to Shelf can help you learn what you need to know to grow. 

If you’re a regular BevNET reader, you might recognize Allison and Stephen Ellsworth, co-founders of prebiotic soda brand Poppi, who triumphed in BevNET’s New Beverage Showdown 12 competition. Or you might recall them from their 2018 appearance on the reality TV show “Shark Tank,” in which they received a $400,000 investment from beverage industry luminary Rohan Oza. In both appearances, the brand was known as Mother Beverage and positioned as a line of sparkling apple cider vinegar drinks. The “Shark Tank” deal elicited additional funding via CAVU Venture Partners, the private equity firm co-founded by Oza, an investment that contributed to the brand revamp. In an interview included in this episode, the Ellsworths spoke about their foray into the beverage industry and lessons learned from their first year in business, one that included the launch and eventual shuttering of a production facility, and how they navigated the revamp. They also discussed how consumer awareness about Poppi’s key ingredient has evolved over the years, and how they’ve maintained their independence and vision for the brand while aligned with influential and experienced strategic partners. Show notes:  0:38: The Answers You’re Looking For Might Be Here -- The episode hosts encouraged early-stage entrepreneurs to apply to the upcoming BevNET New Beverage Showdown 19 and NOSH Pitch Slam 8 competitions (deadline is May 29) and spoke about how content in BevNET and NOSH’s education platform can help brand owners make informed decisions about their businesses (access is free to subscribers). They also discussed the launch of a new brand of chickpea chips and our Virtually Live event, which will be held on June 23 and 24. 10:49: Allison & Stephen Ellsworth, Co-Founders, Poppi -- The Ellsworths spoke with Taste Radio editor Ray Latif about how they first encountered apple cider vinegar and their motivation to leave lucrative careers and launch a beverage brand. They also discussed a gradual shift in how consumers perceive apple cider vinegar, why operating a manufacturing facility provided important lessons on how to manage co-packer relationships, preparing for their appearance on “Shark Tank” and how to tactfully decline advice or recommendations from investors. Later, they explained why they hired a CEO in 2019 and why Stephen reassumed the role earlier this year and how they are navigating an expanding market for better-for-you soda. Brands in this episode: Poppi, Coconut Cartel, Revive Kombucha, Aqua ViTea Kombucha, Ugly Drinks, GT’s Kombucha, Humm Kombucha, Peacasa Snacks, Hu Kitchen

Food Founder Hugh Thomas shares how Ugly Drinks is disrupting the largest sectors of the beverage industry. Hear how they've managed becoming an international beverage brand, how they've deeply connect with consumers every step of the way and how purpose fuels everything they do.Check out Ugly Drinks hereThe Food Founders Podcast is brought to you by the F.A.B. Growth Academy. The F.A.B. Growth Academy is the online hub for driven food and beverage businesses who want training, support and community to help them grow their business. Join your fellow food founders inside the Academy here See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Joining us in this episode is Jessica Weiss Levison, founder and CEO of Peekaboo Organics, a maker of indulgent organic ice cream infused with “hidden” vegetables. Launched in 2018, Peekaboo drew immediate interest from several national retailers who saw value in the brand’s better-for-you positioning. The products, which include chocolate ice cream with hidden cauliflower and a strawberry variety made with carrots, are carried nationwide at Kroger, along with hundreds of Safeway, Whole Foods, and Target locations in select regions. In our conversation, Levison spoke about how she transitioned from a career in law to the ice cream business, addressed the often-asked question about why consumers needs vegetables in their dessert, why building a community around the brand is critical to its retail and funding strategies, and why winning over kids is not as challenging as she expected it to be. Also, a can’t miss discussion about how to avoid slotting fees. Show notes:  0:33: Investing In Immunity, Dr. Bunson Honeycraven & A Groundwork For Today -- The hosts encouraged listeners to tune in (and submit questions) to “Office Hours,” BevNET’s interactive livestream program that is produced on Tuesdays at 3 PM, and spoke about topics from a recent episode including immunity-focused innovation. They also riffed on a couple sparkling water products, why John and Mike could be in a remake of “The Muppet Show,” discussed an interesting update with a super-premium coffee brand and reminded folks about the benefits of subscribing to BevNET and NOSH. 13:08: Jessica Weiss Levison, Founder/CEO, Peekaboo Organics -- Levison spoke with Taste Radio editor Ray Latif about how getting fired from her job propelled her into entrepreneurship, lessons from her first foray into the ice cream business and the massive benefit from certifying her business as woman-owned. She also discussed her unconventional way of meeting a Target buyer, the challenges formulating Peekaboo products, initial reception to the brand, why a specific demographic “gets” the concept better than others and why she undertook a packaging revamp. Later, she shared her process for fundraising and the big difference between investors that offered capital and those that didn’t. Brands in this episode: Peekaboo Organics, Seasons Sparkling, LifeAid, Intent Brands, Ugly Drinks, Cure Hydration, Reese’s, Dr Pepper, Simply 7 Snacks, Groundwork Coffee, Halo Top

How is the crisis affecting working women in the US? We're with the Chief Strategy Officer of The Riveter. Plus: everything you ever wanted to know about distribution, supply chains and sparkling water sales with the co-founder of Ugly Drinks.

Today's guest is Hugh Thomas. Hugh is the CEO and co-founder of Ugly Drinks, a flavored sparkling water brand founded in the U.K. Hugh and his co-founder, Joe met while working for Vita Coco coconut water before deciding to start their own business, disrupting the soft drinks industry. In the podcast today, we discuss: How Hugh and Joe went from Googling how to build a business in their apartment in London, to having distribution in nearly 10,000 stores across Europe and the United States What makes a truly sticky consumer brand How Hugh defines success as a founder, and so much more Hugh was such a wonderful guest and I hope you enjoy the interview as much as I did. If you do enjoy the interview, please share the podcast and we'd really appreciate if you can leave us a review in Apple podcasts. It really does help. Without further ado, please enjoy my interview with Hugh Thomas. Find Ugly Drinks On Instagram On Twitter On TikTok www.uglydrinks.com Find Hugh On Instagram On Twitter Find April: On LinkedIn www.aprilwachtel.com

Prentice's Takeaways:Customers of challenger brands are agents of change.These customers are frustrated with the status quo, and Hugh and his team knew how to leverage this.At first, Ugly Drinks revealed the ugly truth about soda, then they used the platform to shine a light on gender inequality. The opportunity to engage with a fan-base who loathe the status quo is limitless. Show HighlightsSoda as we know it is deadCoconut water backgroundDisrupting the beverage game Challenging the status quo - ‘punk attitude' Zero sugar, sweeteners, calories, artificial flavorsFun marketingPurple cowAuthentic brandPositive rebel Greta ThunbergDigital marketingFeedback from consumers Company is young, consumers are youngUgly energy drinks Stand for more than selling a drinkConsumer rebellion Soda vs. Sparkling Water marketsDonating to charity ResourcesConnect with Hugh on TwitterConnect with Hugh on LinkedInUgly Drinks Website

It is hard to believe that 2019 is over, and we are already speeding into 2020. The past year has seen this podcast grow with so many great guests and stories. Throughout the year there have been a variety of professionals and entrepreneurs with valuable insights and advice.  Host G. Steven Cleere went back through the year's episodes and gathered together the responses from a specific question he asks every guest, and the result was a fascinating list of wisdom that must be heard. Listen in as G. Steven Cleere looks back at 2019 and what he has learned from the guests of the show. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:  [00:51] Welcome to 2020! [01:55] Jeff Freeman of Del Monte Fresh [02:40] Todd Hanna of Belay On Advisors [03:25] Hank Watt of Nature’s Wild Berry [04:17] Kiowa Saunders and  Ryan Fitzpatrick of Good Citizens [05:30] Greg Keller of Frontera Foods Inc. [06:16] Erica Liu Williams of Gr8Nola [06:50] Mark Samuel of IWON Organics  [07:25] John Corcoran of Rise25 Media [08:15] Joe Millea of IMPACT Brokerage  [09:00] Jessica Luengo of Naturally Clean Eats [09:45] Eric Quick of The Town Kitchen [10:15] Dave Hirschkop of Dave's Gourmet  [11:01] Hema Reddy of Crafty Counter [11:30] Joe Martinez of Healthy Meals Supreme [12:14] Kara Goldin of Hint Water [12:54] Stephanie Nash of Stephanie Nash Marketing [13:18] Matt Perry of The GoodCrisp Company  [14:18] Chris Fontenot of Our Life Foods/A Cajun Life [15:14] Lee Mokri of Byte Technology [15:44] Jim Simon of JiMMYBAR [16:38] Hugh Thomas of Ugly Drinks [17:22] Alex Bayer of Genius Juice [18:22] A big thank you to the guests and listeners so far Subscribe and Listen on: iTunes Connect with Steve Kitchen2Shelf  About Me NexxtLevel Marketing Sponsor for this episode Our podcast was brought to you today by Kitchen2Shelf, the educational arm of NexxtLevel Brands. Kitchen to 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 to Shelf can help you learn what you need to know to grow. 

Throughout season 1 of Playing for Keeps, we've talked a lot about the importance of upholding brand standards across different channel of communication. This can be really tricky for growing DTC businesses already- imagine doing it across two different markets simultaneously. This has been a huge focus for the Ugly Drinks team as they expand from the UK into the US. In this episode, Hugh Thomas, Co-Founder of Ugly, explains how his team is divided between markets, and how they bridge the two to create a brand that can speak globally AND locally. Glocally, if you will.

Hugh Thomas is the Co-founder & CEO of Ugly Drinks, centered around New York & London in the UK. He attended the University of Warwick and was the Student Brand Manager for Unilever before moving to HJ Heinz where he worked in marketing. He later went on to Vita Coco in the UK and before co-founding Ugly Drinks. Hugh wanted to create a healthy, relevant, and affordable product that would replace the sugary soda products. He ended up with Ugly Drinks, a sugar-free, sweetener-free, zero-calorie, nothing artificial, and affordable drink. In this episode, G. Steven Cleere is joined by Hugh Thomas to talk about the origin of his company Ugly Drinks, the tools & resources necessary for success in entrepreneurship, and giving back to the community.   Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:  [01:25] Why the name Ugly Drinks? [04:50] How the Ugly Drinks company was started [10:45] The difference between retailing in the UK and the USA [13:25] Ugly Drinks's target market [17:10] Tools & resources for success in entrepreneurship [22:50] Giving back to the community through Girl up [26:40] Hugh's experience at the Marketing Academy UK [28:25] Distribution of Ugly Drinks & where to buy them [29:55] Hugh's future plans for the company  [31:10] Hugh's advice to fellow entrepreneurs Subscribe and Listen on: iTunes Stitcher Resources Mentioned in this episode Ugly Drinks Girl Up The Marketing Academy Connect with Steve Kitchen2Shelf  About Me NexxtLevel Marketing Sponsor for this episode Our podcast was brought to you today by Kitchen2Shelf, the educational arm of NexxtLevel Brands. Kitchen to 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 to Shelf can help you learn what you need to know to grow. 

LISTEN AND RATE THIS EPISODE ON ITUNES HERE Welcome to Series 2 of Brand Growth Heroes! I’ve really enjoyed making the show and I do hope you enjoyed the first 10 episodes. If you did,...

In this episode, we’re joined by the founders of two innovative U.K.-based companies, cold brew coffee and oat milk brand Minor Figures and non-alcoholic brewery Infinite Session, who detailed their respective strategies for winning at home and abroad. Launched in 2014, Minor Figures is known for its super-premium beverages, pastel packaging and playful illustrations. The brand is widely available in the U.K. and has a significant foothold in Australia along with a small, but expanding, presence in the U.S. In our interview, co-founder Stuart Forsyth spoke about why he describes the package design as an “exercise in restraint,” and why Minor Figures takes a brand-first approach to marketing. He also discussed how the company is leveraging the U.S. coffee community to build awareness and distribution, and how it’s managing growth in three global markets. Later in the episode, we sit down with Chris Hannaway, the co-founder of Infinite Session, which was launched in 2018. The brand has won acclaim and built a loyal following in the U.K. for its full-flavored beer and lighthearted marketing. In our interview, Hannaway spoke about his background in non-alcoholic beverages and the creation of Infinite Session. He also explained why the products are designed to reach “flex sober” consumers and discussed the metrics for evaluating brand strategy. Show notes: 1:44: Investors Want to Meet You. But Check Your Breath. -- The episode’s hosts riffed on Ray’s Worcester accent, crunched on upcycled chips and discussed the usefulness of Purell and Listerine breath strips at BevNET Live and NOSH Live. They also spoke about effective ways to network with investors at the events and why early-stage entrepreneurs should engage with strategic incubators, including Coca-Cola’s Venturing & Emerging Brands and General Mills’ 301INC units. Later, BevNET reporter Brad Avery offered insight into the recently announced partnership between beer giant Molson Coors and beverage incubator L.A. Libations. 17:05: Interview: Stuart Forsyth, Co-Founder, Minor Figures -- Forsyth met with BevNET CMO Mike Schneider at the 2019 Bread & Jam Festival in London for a conversation about Minor Figures, including the brand’s inception and how the current iteration of its package design was conceived. He also discussed how the company communicates coffee terroir  to consumers and how the team determined the right time to expand into international markets. Later, he explained why he views the brand’s U.S. distribution strategy as “dangerous” and why it maintains a consistent product lineup across all markets. 36:24: Interview: Chris Hannaway, Co-Founder, Infinite Session -- Schneider also sat down with Hannaway at the Bread & Jam Festival where they discussed the genesis of Infinite Session, the brand pillars and growing consumer interest in non-alcoholic beer. They also spoke about the formulation of Infinite Session products, how they’ve iterated upon the packaging, the evolution of the NA beer market and the company’s plans to enter the U.S. Brands in this episode: Infinite Session, Minor Figures, Kor Shots, Hubba Bubba, Tic Tac, Big League Chew, Combos, Whoppers, Pimp Juice, Moxie, Cocaine Energy, In-N’-Out, Pulp Pantry, Olipop, Dixie Elixirs, Bottleshot Brew, Dalston’s, Ugly Drinks, Dash Water, The New Primal, Owl’s Brew, Wave Soda, Gloe, Clearly Kombucha, Keep Cup, Frosted Flakes, Heineken, Athletic Brewing, WellBeing Brewing,  Mikkeller, St. Peter’s, Brew Dog, Overly, Budweiser, Shock Top, John Smith’s, Boddingtons, Guinness

In this episode, we’re joined by Kelly Heekin and Ben Schmidt, the co-founders of premium hydration beverage brand Hoist, who discussed their strategy for mainstreaming a niche concept. Founded in 2009, Hoist was developed to be a more palatable version of Pedialyte, which in recent years has attracted a following among adults who use the products as rapid-hydration recovery drinks. Heekin and Schmidt said that while Hoist was ahead of its time, they were willing to be patient and wait for the market to catch up to the opportunity. “To be successful in this industry, you have to have the staying power and the ability to adapt,” Schmidt said. “It’s not going to be an overnight success, that’s for sure.” The co-founders explained how they incubated the brand for years in their backyard of Cincinnati, which allowed them to learn from mistakes before embarking on a national launch. That strategy is bearing fruit: Hoist is currently available in 10,000 retail locations across the U.S. As part of our interview, Heekin and Schmidt spoke about the genesis of Hoist and how they communicated their vision to stakeholders. They also explained why they haven’t taken any outside capital and how the brand has won placement and a loyal following at military retail stores. Show notes: 1:40: Martín, Maradona and Mad Tasty -- The hosts discussed a new documentary about legendary soccer player Diego Maradona, whether Mike’s blue sweater made him look more like Jason Seaver or Fred Rogers, and a canned negroni that everyone seemed to like. They also spoke about why some brands are using the word “hemp” in place of CBD, the rise of caffeinated sparkling waters, and how to meet everyone that you’d want to meet at BevNET Live.  15:55: Interview: Kelly Heekin and Ben Schmidt, Co-Founders, Hoist -- In an interview recorded at the 2019 National Association of Convenience Stores show, Heekin and Schmidt spoke with Taste Radio editor Ray Latif about how seeing Pedialyte consumed on NFL sidelines spurred the creation of Hoist, and the timing of the brand’s launch. They also discussed Hoist’s initial positioning as a hangover recovery drink and its eventual revamp and why most consumers don’t care about the science behind functionality. Later, they explained how they attracted two industry heavyweights to join their board, and how they built a strong presence at U.S. military bases. Brands in this episode: Tip Top Cocktails, Mad Tasty, Ugly Drinks, Sunshine Beverage Co., Hiball, Guru Energy, Hoist, Essentia, Pedialyte, Gatorade, Powerade, BodyArmor, Starbucks, Aquahydrate

The tagline for Ithaca Craft Hummus is simple and direct: “This Hummus Tastes Fresh.” For founder/president Chris Kirby, the mission to build a disruptive yet profitable brand is just as clear cut. Launched in 2013, Ithaca’s ultra fresh flavor -- derived from cold-pressed ingredients and non-thermal pasteurization -- has helped the brand build a consumer following and gain placement in thousands of retail stores across the country, including Wegmans, The Fresh Market and Publix. Throughout Ithaca’s development, Kirby has emphasized a scrappy approach to growth that’s based on strong relationships with his co-packer and retail partners. The result has been a lean, profitable operation that is now one of the fastest-growing hummus brands in the U.S..  In an interview included in this episode, Kirby spoke how he identified white space in the hummus category and what he learned during four years of operating his own production facility. He also urged entrepreneurs to be thoughtful about their retail relationships and deliberate about expenses, and discussed why he hires people that are highly self-sufficient. Show notes: 1:16: There’s Gold In This Discussion About U.K. Brands and “No-gronis” -- The hosts convened for a wide-ranging chat about John and Mike’s visit to London, where they attended the recently held Bread and Jam festival. Along with BevNET/NOSH brand specialist Melissa Traverse, they discussed the investment environment and sourcing challenges for U.K.-based food and beverage brands, and what it takes to go to market in the U.S. They also riffed on gold-plated Kit Kat bars, dessert hummus and John’s impressive grasp of soccer lingo. Finally, they spoke about the latest edition of BevNET Magazine, news and incentives related to BevNET Live and NOSH Live and what the future might hold for non-alcoholic cocktails.  18:15: Interview: Chris Kirby, Founder/President, Ithaca Craft Hummus -- Kirby sat down with Taste Radio editor Ray Latif at BevNET HQ, where he spoke about his background as a trained chef, the formulation of Ithaca hummus and why it initially benefited the brand to stay narrow and focused on velocity instead of store count. He also explained why producing the hummus in-house was the “most difficult four years” of his life, and how the experience was critical to the brand’s relationship with co-packer and equity partner LiDestri Foods. Later, he discussed Ithaca’s marketing and communication strategy, how the brand strives to “make it easy” for fans to become ambassadors, and how carefully crafted success stories have been key to landing placement at new retailers. Finally, Kirby spoke about why profitability “has always been a really important piece” of his business strategy and why he advises entrepreneurs to be “very intentional about what you’re spending and why.” Brands in this episode: Ithaca Craft Hummus, GT’s Kombucha, Delighted by Desserts, Tribe Hummus, Sabra, Joseph’s Hummus, Cedar’s, Kit Kat, Ugly Drinks, TaDah Foods, Kind Snacks, The Bitter Housewife, Bitters & Soda, Seedlip, White Claw, Everleaf Drinks, Three Spirit, Fix8 Kombucha

Hugh Thomas is Co-founder and CEO of Ugly Drinks, the bright, groovy, retro looking cans of delicious, sugar-free, flavored sparkling water that just arrived from the UK after a few years of super successful sales across the pond. On this episode of ITS, Hugh and Ali break down Channel Strategy and how Ugly is growing from a UK direct to consumer brand into the US and our stores. They talk innovation and brand, and all sorts of ITS topics.In the Sauce is powered by Simplecast.

On episode #163 I welcome the founders from two of Britain's brightest food and beverage challenger brands: Dan Broughton, co-founder of Dalston's Soda Co & Emily Fitch-Deeley, co-founder of Fitch Brew Co They are both part of a burgeoning scene. 10 years or so ago quality products weren’t as accessible. But since then there’s been a street food revolution, the evolution of gin, and the craft beer movement. Both believe in making something with higher-quality, natural ingredients, and therefore less of the sugar or artificial sweeteners relied upon to flavour mainstream products. The “Innocent and Fever-Tree effect”, has more recently led to a boom in investment in small, creative drinks companies and people have cottoned on to the fact that there is money to be made in small food and drink businesses if it’s done correctly. Regular listeners to this show will have heard me champion the likes of Ugly Drinks, Pip & Nut, Jimmy's Iced Coffee, Rejuvenation Water, and more recently, Nix & Kix and Double Dutch Drinks. Dan has nearly 20 years in the industry behind him, working for the likes of Cadbury's and Green & Black's whilst Emily has worked for Pernod and Brewdog. I got together with Dan and Emily to chat about: The shift in perception of the benefits of alcoholic v non-alcoholic drinks Sustainability Transparency The health-driven benefits of non-alcoholic drinks Where Gen Z & Millenials meet - and their choice of drinks Roller Hockey - and dislocated shoulders A massive thanks to all who entered our August contest to win a day out with myself and the team at Entrepreneur Summit 2019 in Bournemouth. You can still rate and review the show at anytime - something which I'm always eternally grateful for, and which always gets a shout-out from me. Entrepreneur Summit 2019 is the centrepiece of the year for everything Screw It, Just Do It, a chance for the online community to get together physically. To see and hear some of our interviewee's in the flesh, to ask their own questions - instead of just mine - and share a once-a-year experience together. I've outdone myself with the line-up, you can see it in full here. Back to today's show. I really enjoyed chatting with Dan and Emily about the challenges they face as challenger brands in the FMCG category and believe you will do so too. Let's StartUp!  

Joe is Co-Founder and MD of Ugly Drinks, a fruit flavoured sparkling water brand on a mission to shake up the drinks industry and provide people with a genuinely healthy and exciting alternative to overly sugary and sweetened drinks.

This episode will feature another podcast, the My Food Job Rocks podcast! Adam Yee is the host of the My Food Job Rocks podcast, a podcast about food science and technology. On this episode, he interviews Hugh Thomas, co-founder of Ugly Drinks. The episode title is EP. 105 – The Beauty in Branding Ugly, with Hugh Thomas, CEO and CoFounder at Ugly Drinks. Thank you Adam and Hugh for a great discussion! You can learn more about Adam's podcast at www.myfoodjobrocks.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/futurefoodshow/support

In this episode, we examine brand-building and retail strategies for center store grocery in interviews with the founders of two category-leading brands: Katlin Smith, the founder and CEO of fast-growing baking mix brand Simple Mills, and David Eben, the founder of Carrington Farms, a leading brand of organic seeds, grains and oils. Smith is the founder and CEO of Simple Mills, a brand of natural baking mixes, crackers and cookies, that she launched in 2013. Over the past six years, Simple Mills has become one of the leading natural brands in the spaces in which it plays. Its products are distributed in over 13,000 conventional and natural grocery stores including Whole Foods, Sprouts, Target, Kroger and Safeway. Smith was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Class of 2017 and based on what you’ll hear in our interview, it’s easy to understand why. Smith spoke about the origins of Simple Mills, how she assessed the opportunity for a better-for-you baking mix brand, what her first year was like and her definition of entrepreneurial commitment. Carrington Farms,  a leading brand of organic seeds and cooking ingredients, actually started out as a tea company. Founder and CEO David Eben discussed the brand’s evolution and how its portfolio has grown over the years. Entrepreneurs would be advised to take note of David’s advice on working with retail buyers and why it has been and continues to be a key part of the company’s business and innovation strategies. Show notes: 1:34: New Kids on the Block -- The hosts chatted about new team members at BevNET HQ including those in marketing, sales and with our NOSH vertical. They also riffed on a bunch of new products sent to the office this week and how some are advancing the categories that they participate in. 16:51: Interview: Katlin Smith, Founder/CEO, Simple Mills -- In an interview recorded at Natural Products Expo West 2019, Smith spoke with BevNET CMO Mike Schneider about her background in management consulting and how it played into the development of Simple Mills. She also discussed the day-to-day grind of her first year in business and how she stayed motivated, how she learned to most effectively present and communicate to investors, retailers and consumers and explained why leadership is about being "willing to change.” 34:09: Interview: David Eben, Founder/CEO, Carrington Farms -- Also recorded at Expo West 2019, Eben spoke with Taste Radio Editor/Producer Ray Latif about Carrington Farms’ evolution from a tea manufacturer to a stable brand for natural and organic ingredients. Eben also discussed the importance of retail buyer relationship, why product development is an “up and down” process that involves both suppliers and retailers, how a crispy quinoa puff was reborn as a crouton, and how to stay relevant with consumers. Finally, he spoke about the company’s charitable arm, Carrington Cares. Brands in this episode: Nick’s Sticks, Vital Proteins, Spudsy, Recipe 33, Pizootz, Ugly Drinks, Banzo Bites, Rachel’s Overnight Oats, Simple Mills, Carrington Farms

Madeline Haydon, the founder and CEO of non-dairy creamer brand Nutpods, isn’t fazed by the occasional negative review of her products. On the contrary, she welcomes all customer feedback, good or bad. It’s the follow up that matters. “You have to know you’re not going to get everyone and you have to be open to hearing what your customers really think about your product,” she said in an interview included in this episode. “We have very strict protocols with customer service because what I’m building is not just a brand; it’s an experience. And part of that experience is how you can turn someone who’s unhappy with your brand to say, ‘You know what? They have great customer service.’” That focus on high quality customer service has anchored nutpods’ thriving direct-to-consumer and ecommerce strategies and helped it become a top-selling brand on Amazon. As part of our interview, Haydon also discussed her foray into entrepreneurship and how she laid the groundwork for a successful online business via targeted outreach to consumers with specialized diets. Also in this episode: an interview with Nicole Cogan, the founder of Nobread, a popular social media brand focused on gluten-free lifestyles. In our conversation, Cogan spoke about her work with CPG brands, best practices for sponsored social campaigns and how influencer marketing has evolved in recent years. Show notes: 1:39: Fancy Food, Dry January & Sliced Ketchup -- The hosts discussed the upcoming 2019 Winter Fancy Food and Good Food Mercantile shows, which will be held in San Francisco. They also spoke about brands that are embracing “Dry January,” new episodes of our Elevator Talk series, which is featured on YouTube and Instagram TV, and a recent Chobani Incubator event in Boston. 16:42: Interview: Madeline Haydon, Founder/CEO, nutpods -- Haydon is the founder and CEO of nutpods, a fast-growing brand of alt-dairy, unsweetened creamers made from almonds and coconuts. Launched in 2015, nutpods has become a best-selling brand on Amazon and parlayed its online success into the grocery channel, where the products are sold in major grocery chains, including Publix, Kroger and Wegmans. In an interview with BevNET CMO Mike Schneider she discussed the attributes of great products, testing nutpods at retail before launching online, the benefits of selling direct-to-consumer, and why reviews and high quality customer service are critical for nutpods. 36:42: Interview: Nicole Cogan, Founder, Nobread -- Haydon noted the importance working with social influencers that are authentically aligned with a brand’s mission and marketing strategy. That’s also the perspective of Nicole Cogan, who’s the creator of gluten-free lifestyle brand Nobread. As of the publication of this podcast, Nobread has over 163,000 followers of its Instagram page, which is loaded with content promoting gluten-free recipes, products and brands. Cogan discussed her role as a social media influencer and how she establishes mutually beneficial relationships with CPG companies. Brands in this episode: Dry Soda, Ugly Drinks, Seedlip, Curious Elixirs, Slice of Sauce, Grain Elevator, Drink Simple, 6AM Health, Nuttin Ordinary, nutpods, Simple Mills, Enjoy Life Foods, Cocokind

Hugh Thomas and Joe Benn say the best insights and feedback about their brand come from an “Ugly Mob.” It may sound unseemly, but the mob is actually a group of loyal consumers of Ugly Drinks, a flavored sparkling water brand co-founded by Thomas and Benn. Based in the U.K., Ugly made its U.S. debut earlier this year via a direct-to-consumer platform and at independent retailers in metro New York. Despite differences in the British and American beverage markets, Thomas and Benn use a similar playbook for acquiring consumer insights in both countries, one rooted in a constant digital presence and interaction with its fans and customers. “We always have known that this is a digital brand and we think digital first and our consumer does as well,” Thomas said in an interview included in this episode. “In the U.K. we’ve developed a strong social media following with millennials and Gen Z consumers and we knew when we launched in the U.S. that was going to be something that occurred as well; that’s how the brand has developed, that’s how we speak, that’s who we are ultimately as a team.” Listen to our full interview with Thomas and Benn, who discussed growth planning for both the U.S. and U.K. markets and how feedback from the “Ugly Mob” has enabled to company to rapidly iterate and innovate Show notes: 1:33: FOMO? There’s Really No Need For That -- The hosts discussed recent additions to the BevNET Live Winter 2018 agenda, the conference’s list of registered attendees and why you should be wary of waiting to register for the event and the preceding NOSH Live show. They also riffed on Forbes’ annual “30 Under 30” list which includes Taste Radio alums, the DeCicco brothers, founders of Kitu Life, and Eugene Kang, the co-founder of Country Archer. 11:16: Interview: Hugh Thomas & Joe Benn, Co-Founders, Ugly Drinks --  We first featured Thomas and Benn way back in episode 31 of the flagship Taste Radio podcast. That was two years ago, and since then Ugly has undergone a major brand revamp, significantly expanded its retail presence in the U.K., and entered the U.S. market. In an interview with John Craven recorded in London, Thomas and Benn discussed changes in the brand and the U.K. beverage market, how their perspective of Ugly as a “digital brand” has shaped their overall business strategy, and why they are constantly tweaking the brand and products. Brands in this episode: Fiji Water, REBBL, Dry Soda, Ugly Drinks

This episode is all about Ugly Drinks, the UK’s first flavored sparkling water brand with no sugar, no sweetener and no calories. They’ve become a smash hit across the pond - today you can find them in 5000 UK stores - and this year they’ve been breaking into the states in a big way. Ugly is a bit of an “anti-brand” - but it’s not a “brand-less” product, not in the least. When everyone else is maybe going for this minimalist approach, Ugly has chosen a bold aesthetic. Ugly CEO and co-founder Hugh Thomas on the show this week joins us to talk about the origin story of the brand, plus their strategy for bringing the Ugly truth to the U.S. Links Ugly Connect with Hugh on LinkedIn Brand Builder is a co-production of SnackNation and ForceBrands.

After a stint of being a comedian, Sara Polon started to spiral downhill and it wasn’t until she decided to do a triathlon, that she started to move her life around. But how did she decide to feed herself? With her mother’s soups of course. And that’s kind of how Soupergirl started. With constantly changing innovative flavors such as Split Pea Mint and Mexican Black Bean Sweet Potato and speedy delivery service, Soupergirl is growing fast. Soupergirl has been featured in the press multiple times and has critical acclaims of the taste and health benefits of the Polon’s family soup. Rumor has it, they’ll be appearing on Shark Tank very very soon. Check the show notes for more details. Anyways, super insightful interview with Sara Polon. I learned a ton about passion, motivation, and high pressure processing. A quick note, we talk about Alexa during this interview and while editing, Alexa added 5 apples to my shopping cart… NEW Sponsor - FoodLabelPro.com Is your product packaging compliant with the new FDA rules?  The compliance deadline is January 1st, 2020. At FoodLabelPro.com we will upgrade your current panels for only $50. FoodLabelPro.com also provides package and claim reviews, laboratory analysis, shelf life testing, printer/graphics services, and menu analysis.   We are your one-stop shop for food packaging: FoodLabelpro.com. Sponsor - BAKERpedia This episode is brought to you by BAKERpedia – your one-stop, resource that answers all your questions on industry trends, ingredient information, food safety and more. It’s shared knowledge, freely available, always. BAKERpedia.com – we do all the thinking so you can focus on your business. Show Notes James Altucher – Comedic Journey We want Soupergirl to be happy, fun and approachable Washington Post Article about Soupergirl When someone asks what you do for a living, what do you tell them in a sentence or less?: I’m Soupergirl, I deliver whole food, vegan soup to the masses “Sara Polon is going to clean your colon” We rebranded the cleanse concept and put it as more on the meal If you eat four soups a day, you’ll eat less but you’ll feel more energized New and innovating flavors every week Beet Gaspatcho Peach Gazpacho We try to get traditional flavors and give them a twist Lay’s Do Us a Flavor Queso Chips Frieka Bulgar New flavors work when you pair something new to something old My mom cooked from scratch. We started this company because we saw how many things are low quality and had so many preservatives Why did you start Soupergirl?: After I stopped doing Comedy, I slowly slid to rock bottom. I signed up for a triathalon and paid attention on what I eat. Michael Pollan – Omnivore’s Dilemma We first started in the kitchen. I just invited people to my apartment. When we started delivering, we got press because we were authentic. We started catering, then selling to Costco, then ship How did you get a first customer?: We had a launch party. I asked 6 friends who didn’t know each other and they spread it their friends and it brought 100’s of people. The invite went viral and got forwarded to the press. Daily Candy – begged them to not get the scoop What is the hardest part of the business?: Growth is hard. You have to keep people interested, loyal and still have great quality What are ways to manage growth: Try to hire proactively. Some of the worst mistakes I’ve made was reactively hiring. For example, we hired a kid to deliver soup and he got a hit and run and didn’t tell anyone. What is the most important skillset you can have?: Leadership. You need to learn how to delegate. Do you have any books about leadership?: Actually. No. It’s more about people. How do you choose advice?: You have to be passionate about it. If you're not passionate about the business, the advice you take can destroy you. Passion will sort out the right advice Soupermeals Any stories about your soup?: One of our customers got her bloodwork done and the Soup meals gave her the best blood results Cancer treatments, harsh illnesses Parents use their soup for kid’s diets Food Trends and Technology: For trends, plant-based. For technology, clean meat High-pressure Processing (HPP) – Our gaspacho is HPP HPP increases shelf life from 10 days to 95 days HPP used in Hummus and things HPP can have your product explode your product The biggest challenge a food producer needs to face: If you have an idea and you want to cook something, there’s not a lot of shared kitchen spaces to try a product. There’s barely any guidance for this. You need a lot of physical assets that are hard to get. More people are getting sick in food because your food comes from everywhere Maker’s Space shuts down Cottage Industry Laws One thing in the food industry you’d like to know more about?: The future. Things are changing so rapidly. The tension between retail, farmer’s market, so much technology is going on. Trends will boom, but there are niches that will never go away Coconut Oil Who inspired you to get into food?: My mother and Michael Pollan What’s your favorite kitchen item?: Just a knife and a cutting board. I also use my Vitamix. However, to make soup, you just need a knife and cutting board Food Mills Why are you closed on Friday and Saturday?: I’m Jewish and we’re a kosher company so I have to follow the law. Sometimes it’s frustrating, but I’m glad that it forces me to have a vacation How many of your customers are orthodox jewish?: A lot of my customers are not orthodox and vegan. Most of my customers just love good food. How do you like working with your mother?: I’m really lucky. My mom is so energetic How do you make vegan challah?: We make a water challah. We get it from a kosher bakery Any advice to get into the food industry?: Life is short, do it! Regret is the worst feeling in the world. Start small, don’t invest too much until you’re ready. You get to the point: Do this, or do nothing else. Every time I’ve had a Where can we find you for advice?: Our website. Just send me a message. Twitter: @soupergirl Supergirl Like This Episode? Then You Might Like Hugh Thomas - Ugly Drinks: Also exploding in the US, Ugly Drinks is a snarky, CPG brand that is just fun and enjoyable. I learn a ton about marketing from Hugh and this would give you the best steps to start small. Lisa Tse - Sweet Mandarin: Lisa heads Sweet Mandarin, a very popular restaurant and sauce line in the UK. It seems like in the restaurant world, press is king.  

Pretty much everyone has heard of Pirate’s Booty, the ubiquitous puffed cheese snack known for its quirky branding and eat-the-whole-bag appeal. If you’re in the food and beverage business, you might have heard of Robert Ehrlich, the creator of Pirate’s Booty. But to know the name is not necessarily to know the man. Inventive, eccentric, fearless, creative, and above all fun, Ehrlich has been extremely successful as a food entrepreneur; the sale of Pirate’s Booty netted him over $70 million. Money, however, hasn’t changed his passion for new and innovative ways to disrupt the food business. Inthis episode of Taste Radio, Ehrlich discussed what he’s learned from the Pirate’s Booty days, his approach to brand and product ideation, and why he may be creating new snacks until he’s 99 years old. Also in this episode: a conversation with Jim, Jake and Jordan DeCicco, the brothers and founders of Sunniva Super Coffee, a brand of functional coffee drinks enhanced with MCT oil and protein. While the DeCicco brothers have only been in business for a couple years, their youthfulness in age (Jim, the oldest brother, is just 25) and experience hasn’t stopped them from getting off to a roaring start, highlighted by an appearance on “Shark Tank” earlier this year. The DeCiccos discussed the origins of Sunniva, swimming with the Sharks and how their networking prowess has resulted in a roster of remarkable relationships (including WeWork co-founder Adam Neumann and NFL legend Boomer Esiason). And in the latest edition of Elevator Talk, we’re joined by Breezy Griffith, the co-founder and CEO of Skinny Dipped, a young, fast-growing brand of chocolate-covered almonds. Show notes: 2:25: Network With Interesting Folks and Hire Them: The hosts riff on networking opportunities at the upcoming BevNET Live and NOSH Live Summer 2018 conferences, with 1,000 industry professionals expected to attend the events. They also chat about a recent Boston Magazine profile on Bill Creelman, the founder and CEO of surging sparkling water brand Spindrift, featuring context on the man, brand and category from BevNET CEO John Craven, who’s quoted extensively in article; the U.S. launch of U.K.-based brand and New Beverage Showdown 13 finalist Ugly Water; and BevNET’s affordable and effective job board. 10:15: Interview: Rob Ehrlich, Founder, Pirate’s Booty/Vegan’s Rob’s -- Recorded at Natural Products Expo West 2018, Ehrlich discussed his post-Pirate’s Booty business ventures, including Skinny Pop and Vegan Rob’s. He explained why he’s “always taking pitches,” constantly iterating and innovating with Vegan Rob’s by focusing on fast-moving trends and staying close to the ground by listening to feedback from “store employees, to consumers, to the kids to even the people on the line who make the products.” 29:24: Interview: The Brothers DeCicco, Founders, Sunniva Super Coffee -- We’ve heard many Taste Radio guests say that you can’t make it in the food and beverage business without hustle. Well, the word defines Jim, Jake and Jordan DeCicco, brothers and founders of Sunniva Super Coffee. In an interview recorded at BevNET HQ, they explained how their hard-charging approach to business and networking has resulted in the brand’s early success and an appearance on the ABC hit show “Shark Tank.” 54:04: Elevator Talk: Breezy Griffith, Co-Founder/CEO, Skinny Dipped -- Launched on a dining room table in Seattle, Skinny Dipped, a young, fast-growing brand of chocolate-covered almonds was co-founded by Breezy Griffith, who shared with us the vision and grand plans for the brand, all included in this edition of Elevator Talk. Brands in this episode: Madi, Spindrift, Ugly Drinks, Pirate’s Booty, Vegan Rob’s, Sunniva Super Coffee, Skinny Dipped

Disrupting the market, taking time over decisions and creating an opportunity from obstacles with Hugh, co-founder of Ugly Drinks, creators of 100% natural flavoured sparkling water. We sat down with Hugh, co-founder of Ugly Drinks – the sugar and sweetener free, flavoured sparkling water brand who are disrupting the drinks industry one can at a time! We talked to Hugh about the importance of taking time over decisions – especially when it comes to branding and design. We also spoke about recognising a shift in consumer behaviour and giving them the opportunity to make an informed choice about what they are drinking, nurturing a sustainable culture within the brand and working with other creative people and allowing their input to create something new and exciting. Oh…AND the imminent launch of Ugly in the US and the exciting developments this will bring. There is SO much wisdom in this episode, drawn from Hugh's incredible wealth of experience in the industry

"Our target consumer is 18-40 year olds who are beginning to read more and more about what they're eating and drinking. And maybe they're tired of what's happening in politics with fake news and alternative facts and not knowing what is true anymore. We have that strong tone of voice and what we're seeing is people get that and feel that. They're reading about nutrition and becoming fans of what we do and the movement we're trying to be a part of." I speak to Hugh Thomas, Co-founder of Ugly Drinks, a range of fruit flavoured sparkling waters with no sugar, sweeter, calories and no artificial ingredients.  Hugh and co-founder Joe Benn launched Ugly as a response to a soft drinks industry that they felt was overly sweetened and frustrated by the deceptive branding of many of them. Now many think sugary and sweetened drinks cause many of the issues associated with diabetes and obesity. Hugh and Joe decided to do something about it and create a healthy, affordable and fun alternative with Ugly Drinks where the beauty is all on the inside." Let's startup.

Sometimes you just browse the internet and you see a product that just is so noticeable that you have to take a look at it. This is Hugh Thomas’ company Ugly Drinks in a nutshell. A bright, light blue can with various bold flavors, and the U looks like a tongue, like it’s teasing you. Not only that, but Ugly Drink’s clever marketing campaign is eye catching and a bit tongue in cheek! Ugly Drinks was kind enough to give me some ads to show, which you can see on our website. Hugh posts regularly on linkedin promoting his company but does it in a way where I want to know more about his company. Success after success, funny ad after funny ad, I just loved the way his team is challenging the soft drink market! I had to have him on the show and I am so glad I did. Not only did I learn about the creativity in marketing and branding behind Ugly Drinks, but Hugh gave really clear, transparent advice to help the budding food entrepreneur excel to their level. So if you want to hear how to start and market a food company from the ground up, Hugh gives great tactical advice to do this! From choosing a manufacturer, to leaving your job, to getting into stores, and so much more. Soon to be launched in the United States around the time this podcast airs, keep an eye on these guys. Not because they’ll be dominating, I mean, they definitively might, but this company is just a fun, bright, brand, and I’m sure that if you follow them, they will take you for a wild ride *NEW* Sponsor - Bakerpedia This episode is brought to you by BAKERpedia – your one-stop, resource that answers all your questions on industry trends, ingredient information, food safety and more. It’s shared knowledge, freely available, always. BAKERpedia.com – we do all the thinking so you can focus on your business. Sponsor – FoodGrads If you are even just a little bit interested in a career in food & beverage, you should join FoodGrads.  It’s an interactive platform where you can hear about different careers, hear from your peers, have a voice and share your story as well as ask specific questions and get feedback from industry experts across the sector. You can create a profile, add your resume and search for co-op, internships and full time opportunities just for Food Grads. Employers can find you too, they can recruit you for jobs and projects they need help with to give you the relevant industry experience you need. Join FoodGrads today! Just go to Foodgrads.com Sponsor – ICON Foods So let me pose this question to you food developers and R and D colleagues out there in Podcast land. Have you even run into a situation where you have marketing breathing down your neck to accomplish the impossible? I’ll bet. This is where my friends at Icon Foods can play a roll. Their ReformulateU initiative is in place and ready to help you reformulate with Clean Label Sugar Reduction in mind. Icon’s CEO Thom King was on one of my podcasts a while back and he literally wrote the book on cutting out sugar. His book Guy Gone Keto comes out in late March. If you are looking to cut down on your added sugars in your formulas and want a reliable supply chain partner in clean label sweeteners and ingredients look no further than Icon Foods. www.iconfoods.com or give them a call at 310-455-9876 Question Summary When someone asks what you do for a living what do you tell in a sentence or less?: I try to build a rebellious healthy drink brand Ugly is a flavored sparkingling water with no artificial flavors. We stand for the ugly truth For example, we targeted Red Bull. Most sugary drinks have the same taglines. They talk about how it improves people’s lives but not their health. Have you gotten criticism on your aggressive ads?: No, people are very receptive. People should have choice and transparency How did you meet your cofounder?: Thomas and Joe met in a drink company. Thomas was in marketing, Joe was in sales. Originally had a still bottle drink but consumers wanted canned sparkling water. The first step was: how do we even make this? Called a lot of manufacturing facilities. A lot of people said “no” but eventually found one. How do you have people validate a food product?: Start small, make your own batches and go to farmer’s market. Once you see repeat basis, you have something. You can test on a farmer’s market or even online. How do you find a copacker?: To get a copacker to notice you, invest in a domain name and email, and a logo to show that you are legitimate. If they can’t help you, you have to follow up: “do you know anyone who can?”. This question helped a lot. The steps you took to get to where you are today: I finished university and started at Heinz brand management team. Then I joined a smaller startup as their first marketer and had to do everything. The brand grew massively (he met Rihanna!). I met my cofounder and left when the team had 60 people. What is the different in working in a big company versus small company?: I hated structure in a big company but I missed it in the small company. You should have a simple plan as too much structure will overbear you. For example: We aligned our team to do store demos and not big shows. This allowed us to focus and refine. As the team grows, you can improve structure. Doing store demos helped a ton with communicating the brand to people. How long did it take you to transition full time to Ugly?: Thomas and Joe came up with the idea in 2013. Thought it would take 2-3 months, took 18 months to start. 9-5 job and production fumbles, legal fees, etc caused some delays. Was there a concrete period where you had to quit?: You need a 3 month notice period. We had to talk to the CEO and he gave us his blessing. We did 3 month runway from leaving our jobs and getting into stores. How did you get into stores?: Joe had some connections, but sometimes you have to get into the trenches Why did people accept your project?: The UK wants to try new things. Our team is super energetic and have people give us a chance Lisa Tse I always thought London had terrible food: In the past, yes. In the last 4 years, the CPG industry has innovated in London. The supply chain got more interesting. Jamie Oliver also was a huge factor of making people more adventurous and health contious My Food Job Rocks: The best feeling is seeing someone with your product walking down the street with someone. What do you look for in your first couple of employee?: Passion matters more. IQ and EQ matters a ton. Lots of varying skill sets. What type of food trends and tehcnologies are exiting right now?: Online commerce. There will be a lot of food that will be sold online. Plant based protein will also be popular because it’s appealing to all eaters. It’s better for your body and better for the world. Cold brew coffee and kombucha is exploding in the UK What is the best social media space for food brands?: Instagram and Facebook. Your website needs to be set up to handle the user experience. Have them “go into the funnel” What is the biggest challenge the food industry has to face?: The food industry needs to understand how the digital world works What is one thing in the food industry you’d like to know more about?: Microbiology! It would help me sleep better at night. We are creating products, they need to be safe. Who inspired you to get into food?: I’ve always loved how brands affect people. I’m excited in how my brand gave impact. What type of brands do you admire?: Hippeas and RXBar What makes a great marketing campaign?: You have to understand the consumer and understand what that consumer’s like Romancing the Brand Favorite Quote: You’re the average of the 5 people that you spend the most time with Favorite Book: The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday Favorite Kitchen Item: Toaster Other books by Ryan Holiday’s Growth Hacker Marketing, Ego is the Enemy, Perennial Seller Favorite Meal: Surprised my mom for lunch at The River Café in London. Jaime Oliver learned to cook there. It’s the people you’re with that matters. Any advice for food entrepreneurs?: Be patient and don’t spend money. Also really think a lot about your brand and vision. Where can we find you?: email me at hugh@uglydrinks.com, @uglyhugh, at linkedin How about Ugly?: We’re launching in the US early 2018! You can find us anywhere. Talk to us at hello@uglydrinks.com. We want to pay it forward.

Want to find out how a rebellious entrepreneur thinks?Hugh Thomas and Joe Benn wanted to reveal the ugly truth behind soda brands' messages and disrupt the industry, by creating an affordable, carbonated drink full of authenticity, rebelliousness and fun! And they've done just that with Ugly Drinks. Within a few short years you can now find Ugly in more than 1500 stores in the UK and soon in America!Hugh and I talk about his rollercoaster journey so far as well as….What it takes to start a businessHow entrepreneurs thinkHow Hugh and his team are changing the world one drink at a timeWhere to start if you want to create a creative brandHow one failure has led to their successWhat being an entrepreneur is all aboutHow to overcome an obstacleHow to stay motivated and focusedAND MORE!Find the show notes here: https://adelaidegoodeve.com/2017/12/07/hugh-thomas/ (https://adelaidegoodeve.com/2017/12/07/hugh-thomas/)

Ugly Drinks is the soft drinks company disrupting the soda market with their refreshing cans of sparkling water with natural flavorings. Hear the startup story from founder Hugh Thomas and learn about the success and struggles encountered on the journey so far.

Sue Nelson was MIA this week – we're sure it was nothing to do with the wonderful weather that we've been enjoying this week. Thankfully we had Lucy Ellis to jump into the hotseat to join Guy Routledge. With the nice weather in mind, you may well have been enjoying a few evenings having a couple of beers, but what's your beer snack of choice? If it's not Soffle's Pitta Chips, then perhaps it should be. Sophie Harvey explained to us how the tasty snacks have taken off through visiting festivals and brewery tours – Lucy and Guy can testify to their great taste. Lucy has been busy this week, not only has she been presenting the show, she also caught up with Simon Cannell from the Baker's Bicycle. Together with Brady Last, they tasted some fantastic and fresh bread and puddings from a company cycling in the right direction. Next up, we had an Ugly guy called Joe Benn. Don't worry, we aren't being mean to him and it's no reflection on his appearance. Ugly Drinks are also hitting their busiest time of year with the mercury rising – they are developing completely unsweet flavoured water. Put that flavoured Volvic rubbish down.  

For this week’s episode of the BevNET podcast, we’ve crossed the Atlantic to explore a beverage market that’s outside of our usual coverage area: London. Joining the podcast are Hugh Thomas and Joe Benn of Ugly Drinks, which is a U.K.-based startup that produces unsweetened flavored sparkling water. Thomas and Benn, who met each other while helping to launch Vita Coco in the U.K., discuss, along with BevNET founder & CEO John Craven, their thoughts on a variety of topics, including beverage innovation in the U.K. health and wellness trends impacting their local marketing, and the thought process of going international with an emerging beverage brand. In addition, they give their thoughts on trends in the US from both the perspective of being avid BevNET readers and seeing firsthand the products that are making their way into the U.K. from the U.S.

Fraser Doherty speaks to Entrepreneurs Hugh Thomas and Joe Benn about how they turned their experience at Vita Coco into creating a brand of their own.