Taste Radio BevNET Inc.

Emma Chamberlain isn’t jaded by the ebb and flow of beverage entrepreneurship. Not yet, anyway.
On the contrary, the 22-year-old, who rose to fame as a YouTube creator and has since become one of the most prominent influencers in the world, says that she revels in the daily lessons learned from building her coffee brand, Chamberlain Coffee. 
Founded in 2020, Chamberlain Coffee sells whole beans, matcha and instant coffee direct-to-consumer and also markets ready-to-drink dairy-free lattes that are carried by Whole Foods, Albertsons, Walmart and Target. 
We sat down with Emma and Chamberlain Coffee CEO Christopher Gallant at the 2024 Beverage Forum, held last week in Manhattan Beach, California, for a conversation about the brand’s development and growth strategy, why its identity is anchored by love and modernity, and how collaborations with other brands is determined by a set of “filters.”
This episode also features a conversation with Buster Houston, the vice president of national merchandising for supermarket giant Albertsons. Buster offers a deep dive into Albertsons’ merchandising strategy and the “four p’s” that dictate decision-making; how packaging impacts shelf placement and, in turn, generates trial; why slotting fees aren’t as cut and dry as they may seem and how early-stage brands can start a conversation with the retailer.  
Show notes:
0:35: Interview: Emma Chamberlain, Founder & Chris Gallant, CEO, Chamberlain Coffee – Ray makes Emma blush before she and Chris discuss Chamberlain Coffee’s progress at Whole Foods, how the brand is generating velocity at the retailer and how they are attempting to cultivate love for the brand among Emma’s followers. They also talk about how product mix enables them to reach a broader audience, creating a coffee company for modern consumers, convincing Starbucks consumers to try Chamberlain Coffee and why Emma is constantly fascinated by the beverage industry.
14:03: Interview: Buster Houston, VP National Merchandising, Albertsons – Buster riffs on his first name before discussing the complexity and key elements of a successful merchandising strategy. He also talks about the evolution of package design and how it applies to esoteric beverages, what might compel Albertsons to take a flier on a new or innovative brand, the art and science of merchandising, and how the company uses internal and external data to make merchandising decisions. He also explains how brands can “graduate” out of the natural sections of its stores, the reason that he describes slotting fees as part of a partnership with Albertsons and why he encourages founders to email him.
Brands in this episode: Chamberlain Coffee, Starbucks

When the world’s largest retailer launches a private label brand of better-for-you and affordable food and beverage staples, it stands to reason that their customers will benefit. But how will Walmart's new bettergoods brand impact its existing CPG suppliers? The Taste Radio crew weighs in.
Show notes:
0:35: A Terrifying Chameleon. Tipping Protocol. BevNET Gandalf. It’s Yeah. – On location at The Beverage Forum in Manhattan Beach, California, Ray and John share a few highlights from the event, including notable interviews recorded from our makeshift Taste Radio studio. Jacqui and Ray briefly recap Naturally San Diego’s third annual Pitch Slam and how a costumed person scared the living daylights of the competition’s host. Jacqui shares a secret about her shopping habits, the hosts collectively opine on Walmart’s latest opus and Mike is urged to bathe… in lemongrass curry.
Brands in this episode: Loli’s, BAM, Mesa De Vida, Sipwell, Madly Hadley, Chamberlain Coffee, The Free Spirits Co., Banza, Siete Foods, Califia Farms, Honest Kids, Just Ice Tea, Red Boat, Mizu Lab

A bold and carefree woman. A living embodiment of human adventure. A confident explorer known to travel the world atop a moose. Archer Roose, the fictional character that Marian Leitner created to represent her wine brand in name and label design, is all of those things.
One could say the same (except for the moose part) about Elizabeth Banks, the Hollywood multi-hyphenate known for acting roles in the films “The Hunger Games” and “Love & Mercy” and as the director of comedies “Pitch Perfect 2” and “Cocaine Bear.”
Aligned in personality and passion for wine, Elizabeth and Archer Roose formally partnered in May 2021, when she joined the company as a co-owner and Chief Creative Officer. Her arrival came seven years after Marian and husband David Waldman launched Archer Roose, a brand developed to “deliver a better, luxurious glass of wine in a conveniently portable, sensibly portioned, and environmentally conscious package.”
Archer Roose markets six varieties of wine, including Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, Pinot Grigio and a Bubbly Rosé, each packaged in 250 mL cans and sold individually and in four-packs. The brand is represented in thousands of bars, restaurants and retailers across the U.S., including Target, Sprouts and Total Wine & More. Archer Roose is also the exclusive wine brand on JetBlue flights and in March partnered with Regal Cinemas to bring its Bubbly and Malbec cans into over 100 theaters nationwide.
We recently sat down with Elizabeth and Marian for a conversation about the origins of their relationship and how they built rapport, trust and set expectations for each other;, how they incorporate a sense of adventure, breaking rules and relatable humor into Archer Roose’ marketing strategy; and why entering Target meant being about to swing at a pitch they could hit.
Show notes:
0:35: Elizabeth Banks & Marian Leitner, Co-Owners, Archer Roose – Taste Radio editor Ray Latif and Elizabeth share their love for game show “Press Your Luck,” the reboot of which she hosts, before he compares the relationship between Archer Roose’s co-owners to the film “Fight Club.” Marian explains her desire to create a philosophy around a whimsical logo, how Elizabeth’s vision board helped her identify Archer Roose as a brand that “checked tons of boxes” for her and the importance of optimizing the drinking and pouring experiences. They also discuss Archer Roose’s steampunk aesthetic, how Elizabeth’s college thesis aligned with the brand concept and how doing the dishes at Marian’s house helped cement their friendship. Later, Marian explains how the Archer Roose attempts to incorporate Elizabeth’s personality and humor into its advertising, why they ask their lawyers for forgiveness for some content, the notion that there’s “nothing worse in business than not being able to deliver on your word,” and how they are attempting to change a consistently challenging industry dynamic.
Brands in this episode: Archer Roose, Smartwater, Hendrick’s Gin

In this feature of our sister show BevNET and Nosh's Community Call, seasoned angel investors Nicole Bruno and Gefen Skolnick, alongside Ruth Berhane-Williams, founder of Eritea, who is actively exploring the angel investment landscape. Hear tips for identifying angel investors, understanding their preferences, and nurturing successful partnerships.

Call it the millennial/Gen Z effect. A retro aesthetic is the defining characteristic of modern package design as new brands incorporate the vibe and culture of decades past into product labels. But has the trend made it more challenging for emerging brands to stand out?
Show notes:
0:35: Surfing With Turtles. Zen & Coffee. Exceptional Bounce. Broadway Hell. RoWater. — Mike recalls a reptilian adventure from his vacation, John notes Mexico’s war on sugar and his subsistence on ceviche, Ray’s pre-podcast meal is bereft of functional benefits and Jacqui reads from Urban Dictionary before a whiskey sampling of the rarest variety. With BevNET Live right around the corner, the hosts urge listeners to take advantage of an early registration discount, Jacqui talks about tickets for a hot theater show, Mike marvels at MISE and wonders about whether a famous “Shark” has a new water brand. The hosts rib Ray for his love of laserdiscs and collectively discuss virtues and challenges of modern package design.
Brands in this episode: Tecate, Om Mushroom, La Crema, Justin, Trashy Chips, Graza, Tēthos Wine, Wineo, Not Beer, Budweiser, Liquid Death, Nature’s Garden, Kace Tea, Healtea, RxBar, Celsius

Venture capital firm BFG Partners invested in Mid-Day Squares when the brand’s founders were still hand crafting their functional chocolate bars in a Montreal apartment. BFG managing partners Tom Spier and Dayton Miller described their decision as “a leap of faith.”
On the surface, it may seem like BFG, which has a track record of investing in high-growth companies, as a somewhat surprising move. But Tom and Dayton note that their evaluation of Mid-Day Squares was – as with every business they fund – based on four key criteria: people, product, brand and strategy.
Established in 2014, BFG is focused on investments in better-for-you and sustainable brands seeking seed through Series B rounds of capital. The firm recently announced the activation of its third fund, which according to a February press release, has commitments “already approaching 70%” of its $125 million target size. Fund III follows ones valued at $54 million and $108 million, respectively. 
BFG’s portfolio includes stakes in several food and beverage companies, including OLIPOP, Mid-Day Squares, Barnana, Athletic Greens, Caulipower and Graza. Successful exits include Chameleon Cold Brew, which was bought by Nestle in 2017, and Birch Benders, acquired by Sovos Brands in 2020.
We sat down with Tom and Dayton at Expo West 2024 for an expansive conversation that dives deep into BFG’s investment strategy and includes their evaluation of fast-growing categories, how they assess gross margin in the near- and long-term lifecycle of a brand and what a polished pitch says about a founder.
Show notes:
0:35: Tom Spier & Dayton Miller, Managing Partners, BFG Partners – Tom and Dayton reflect on the five years since their last appearance on Taste Radio, how they identify differentiated package design and why great taste is at the heart of a sustainable business. They also discuss mainstream opportunities for ethnic foods, how the founders of Mid-Day Squares got the attention of BFG via a cold Linkedin message, how they evaluated the potential for better-for-you soda before investing in Olipop and how they assess hype-fueled brands. Later, they explain their enthusiasm for some refrigerated and frozen brands despite supply chain and other challenges associated with the categories, what founders should include in their initial outreach and follow up, and engage in a rapid-ish fire word association about kids’ foods, dairy, candy/confection, beverage alcohol, plant-based meat, ultra-processed foods and cereal.
Brands in this episode: Coyotas, Evol Foods, Fly By Jing, Mid-Day Squares, Obi, Olipop, SmartSweets, Oats Overnight