CPG Week by BevNET & Nosh Nosh

In this episode:
This week, the podcast team digs into the growing trend among major retailers to invest in new modern white label programs. The CPG Week crew discusses why retail chains from CVS to Walmart to Grocery Outlet are launching expanded private label programs and what these next-generation brands might mean for consumers and independent CPG businesses.
Later, the group dives back into the GLP-1 diet trend after the news that Nestlé is set to launch Vital Pursuit, a 12-SKU line of frozen meals specifically positioned toward semaglutide drug users and consumers looking to manage their weight.
Show Highlights:
0:30 - After sharing his pre- and post-half marathon food and drinks from this past weekend, senior reporter Lukas Southard finds out that Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous has been known to imbibe some interesting alcoholic beverages over the years running 25 marathons.
2:30 - The team dives into the recent slew of private label brands that have been launching this year with senior reporter Brad Avery explaining the new line that was announced by CVS.
4:10 - Monica shares what we know so far about Walmart’s new store brand bettergoods and how it aligns with other mass retailers moves in the category.
6:15 - The team discusses what this says about the changing formula for private label strategy in major retailers and how this exemplifies what has happened in grocery post-pandemic.
11:20 - Lukas goes through what we know so far about Nestlé’s expected Q4 release of a GLP-1 positioned frozen meal line. The group talks about how this is not the first – and likely not  the last – weight management brand to come out of the “Ozempic Era.” 
About the CPG Week
CPG Week is the podcast that explores the latest happenings in the consumer packaged goods industry. Join our seasoned reporting team as they dish out the week’s stories in quick, easy-to-digest episodes. Catch up on the top headlines of the week, dive into exclusive insights with the BevNET and Nosh teams, and set yourself up to make more informed business decisions. Tune in to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the dynamic world of packaged food and beverage.
New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to podcast@nosh.com.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

In this episode:
What did the CPG Week team think of Netflix’s “Unfrosted” movie? The group dives into Jerry Seinfeld’s Pop-Tarts biopic and why it is a (partially) accurate portrayal of the R&D process of creating a CPG food product. Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous shares some of the latest snack trends as related to the Sweets & Snacks Expo happening this week. Senior reporter Lukas Southard goes on to unpack the unfolding cocoa pricing crisis and what that means for chocolate producers. Finally, senior reporter Brad Avery talks about the latest update from Foxtrot’s sudden dissolution and what happened at the asset auction.
Show Highlights:
1:40 - Monica takes the temperature of Brad and Lukas’ opinions of Netflix’s “Unfrosted” movie. They discuss their personal takes on the comedy centered on Pop-Tarts and discuss how the CPG industry is interpreting its representation of the R&D process in packaged food.
7:00 - In light of the Sweets & Snacks Expo happening this week, Monica talks about the latest trends in the categories released by the National Confectioners Association in conjunction with the food show.
8:10 - What’s happening with cocoa pricing, and how that might impact chocolate producer margins as waning supply continues to push pricing up? Lukas explains what has happened in the last six months and how food tech innovation might be a growing solution to the problem.
12:05 - Brad updates the team on the latest from the abrupt closure of Foxtrot including what happened at the asset auction for both Foxtrot and Dom’s Kitchen & Market.
About the CPG Week
CPG Week is the podcast that explores the latest happenings in the consumer packaged goods industry. Join our seasoned reporting team as they dish out the week’s stories in quick, easy-to-digest episodes. Catch up on the top headlines of the week, dive into exclusive insights with the BevNET and Nosh teams, and set yourself up to make more informed business decisions. Tune in to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the dynamic world of packaged food and beverage.
New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to podcast@nosh.com.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

In this episode:
In a first for the CPG Week podcast, the team records all in-person. The group kicks off the roundtable discussing senior reporter Lukas Southard’s reporting on ketone beverages. The Nosh and BevNET team go on to talk about mergers, acquisitions and restructuring by first exploring the news of Bolthouse Farms splitting its agriculture segment from its CPG business.
Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous walks the team through the newest acquisition for snack maker Our Home and why scaling production capacity appears to be the focus for CPG brands presently. Senior reporter Brad Avery talks about the merger between two snack bar makers. The group finishes up the episode talking about the OWYN acquisition and another protein company’s new ownership.
Show Highlights:
0:40 - How do you celebrate the first CPG Week episode recorded in-person? Toast some ketone-enhanced beverages and debate the evolution of this niche category of functional drinks.
3:20 - It might seem obvious to restructure a company’s agriculture business from its CPG juice and salad dressing segments, so why did it take Bolthouse Farms over 10 years to do it? Senior reporter Lukas Southard explains the history and strategy behind the move.
7:30 - Our Home has added even more manufacturing muscle to its network with another new acquisition. What does this say about the better-for-you snack brand’s long-term ambitions?
10:00 - Brad explains the recent merger of two protein bar co-manufacturers and how it relates to The Simply Good Foods new addition to its portfolio. Monica relates it to the acquisition of legacy sausage maker Klement’s by Amylu Foods.
 
About the CPG Week
CPG Week is the podcast that explores the latest happenings in the consumer packaged goods industry. Join our seasoned reporting team as they dish out the week’s stories in quick, easy-to-digest episodes. Catch up on the top headlines of the week, dive into exclusive insights with the BevNET and Nosh teams, and set yourself up to make more informed business decisions. Tune in to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the dynamic world of packaged food and beverage.
New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to podcast@nosh.com.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

In this episode:
In this episode, the CPG Week team is joined by BevNET and Nosh Editor-in-Chief Jeff Klineman, who shares some insights from his trip with senior reporter Brad Avery to the Beverage Forum conference in Los Angeles this week. The two discuss celebrity beverage brands, why industry stakeholders are high on next-generation drinks and how big companies are diversifying.
The group moves on to discuss how the recent news that marijuana is expected to be rescheduled by the Department of Justice could impact the cannabis industry. Later, Jeff explains what is happening at CPG credit provider Ampla and how it is impacting brands large and small.
Show Highlights:
0:35 - Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous kicks off the show asking if the team would live in a Skittles-inspired micro-apartment for a year.
2:00 - Brad and Jeff share their insights on what happened at Beverage Forum this week highlighting how celebrity culture is evolving in drinks and “lessons learned” from one big producer-distributor.
6:00 - Senior reporter Lukas Southard explains the latest news out of the federal government that marijuana will be downgraded to a Schedule III drug. The team debates what this could mean for the cannabis industry in terms of regulation and opportunity.
13:15 - Jeff shares his most recent story on the troubling signals coming out of fintech consumer brand lender Ampla and his thoughts on the repercussions throughout the CPG world.

About the CPG Week
CPG Week is the podcast that explores the latest happenings in the consumer packaged goods industry. Join our seasoned reporting team as they dish out the week’s stories in quick, easy-to-digest episodes. Catch up on the top headlines of the week, dive into exclusive insights with the BevNET and Nosh teams, and set yourself up to make more informed business decisions. Tune in to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the dynamic world of packaged food and beverage.
New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to podcast@nosh.com.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

In this episode:
The CPG Week team dives into the sudden closure of Foxtrot and Dom’s Kitchen & Market stores. The group digs into this developing story, discussing possible factors of why Outfox Hospitality failed and ceased operations so quickly. The Nosh and BevNET editorial team unpacks what they know so far, what this means for the brands that sprung out of Foxtrot and Dom’s into wider distribution and hypothesizes on how this will be felt throughout the CPG world.
Later, reporter Adrianne DeLuca explains a new development in the Kroger-Albertsons merger plan and how all this grocery news relates to an uncertain future for retailers.
Show Highlights:
0:30 - Nosh managing editor Monica Watrous and senior reporter Brad Avery talk about Croc-Tail Party, the newly released Pringles-Crocs shoe collection.
1:40 - What happened at Outfox Hospitality, the umbrella organization that manages the Foxtrot and Dom’s Kitchen & Market grocery chains? Senior reporter Lukas Southard explains what developed early this week and what we know so far.
4:45 - What does this mean for CPG brands that have relied on retailers like Foxtrot to break into larger distribution? The team explains how these “next-generation” grocery chains are integral to emerging food and beverage companies gaining brand recognition among consumers.
8:45 - In other retail news, Kroger and Albertsons announced a new divestiture plan in its potential multi-billion dollar merger. Reporter Adrianne DeLuca updates the group on what was proposed and why this might still not be enough to satisfy the Federal Trade Commission’s concerns.
10:15 - Adrianne goes on to explain why this all relates back to a Jefferies webinar she reported on that covered the rocky future ahead for grocery retail.
 
About the CPG Week
CPG Week is the podcast that explores the latest happenings in the consumer packaged goods industry. Join our seasoned reporting team as they dish out the week’s stories in quick, easy-to-digest episodes. Catch up on the top headlines of the week, dive into exclusive insights with the BevNET and Nosh teams, and set yourself up to make more informed business decisions. Tune in to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the dynamic world of packaged food and beverage.
New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to podcast@nosh.com.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

In this episode:
In this episode, the CPG Week team starts with an update from Momofuku’s chili crunch trademark dispute. The conversation focuses on what has transpired, the implications for Chang’s appeal to consumers and how this is representative of what it takes for a CPG brand to hold a trademark. The group moves on to talk about why canned water is positioned as a beer alternative for live events and how the Liquid Death-effect is bringing new brands to the category. Later, BevNET Editor-in-Chief Jeff Klineman talks about his recent story covering new CPG private equity firm Forward Consumer Partners and its acquisition of a premium cracker brand.
Show Highlights:
1:00 - Senior reporter Lukas Southard kicks off the podcast with an update about the headline-grabbing trademark dispute coming from David Chang’s Momofuku brand. The team unpacks what the recent developments say about public perception of celebrity chefs and how to navigate competition in a culturally significant category.
7:45 - The group discusses the growing trend of canned water marketing as a beer alternative and if this branding approach can draw consumer demand in on-premise locations like bars and live music venues.
12:40 - What drew new CPG private equity firm Forward Consumer Partners to buy artisanal cracker maker Firehook Bakery as its first acquisition? Editor-in-Chief Jeff Klineman explains why the pedigree of Forward Consumer Partners leadership might foretell the future of the cracker brand.
About the CPG Week
CPG Week is the podcast that explores the latest happenings in the consumer packaged goods industry. Join our seasoned reporting team as they dish out the week’s stories in quick, easy-to-digest episodes. Catch up on the top headlines of the week, dive into exclusive insights with the BevNET and Nosh teams, and set yourself up to make more informed business decisions. Tune in to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the dynamic world of packaged food and beverage.
New episodes are released every week. Send us comments and suggestions anytime to podcast@nosh.com.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts