Predicting The Turn W/ Dave Knox

From humble beginnings in a kitchen, Coconut Cult has become a pioneering brand in the world of functional foods. I sat down with the Coconut Cult leadership team including founder Noah Simon-Waddell and CEO Ari Raz to learn more about their journey. We discussed the challenges and opportunities of self-manufacturing, how they have fostered community engagement, and the plans for an upcoming brand refresh.

BODYARMOR has been disrupting the world of sports hydration since 2011. Founded by Mike Repole, the brand has witnessed a meteoric rise in the sports nutrition industry through game-changing innovation. Federico Muyshondt, CEO of BODYARMOR, took over leadership of the brand shortly after its acquisition by Coca-Cola. I sat down with Muyshondt to discuss their strategic focus on authenticity, the brand’s expansion into new categories and global markets, and their quest to live up to the Mamba Mentality that Kobe Bryant infused into the brand since its beginning as an early investor back in 2013.

Catalina Crunch has carved out a niche with its innovative approach to low-carb, high-fiber foods. Founded by Krishna Kaliannan, whose personal journey with type one diabetes sparked the creation of Catalina Crunch, the company has rapidly evolved from a passion project to a thriving business. I sat down with Kaliannan to learn more about the brand's trajectory, from its humble beginnings in cereal to its strategic expansion into new product categories and retail channels.

Cabinet Health is on a mission to reduce single-use plastic from healthcare. In just a few short years, they have found like-minded partners in major companies such as Target, CVS and McKesson. I sat down with Co-Founder and President Russell Gong to discuss the origins of the company and Cabinet Health's commitment to pioneering the next generation of sustainable healthcare products and services.    

In the competitive landscape of the food industry, Red's has emerged as a beacon of innovation and quality in the frozen food sector. Founded by Mike Adair, Red's journey from homemade burritos to a beloved frozen food brand spans over 15 years of perseverance and dedication. I sat down with Adair to reflect on the company's humble beginnings, the evolution of its product portfolio, and the strategic decisions that have propelled Red's to success in an ever-changing market.

In a culinary landscape marked by innovation and a blending of cultures, MìLà, a modern Chinese food company, stands out as a beacon of success. From its humble beginnings as a restaurant in 2018 to its triumphant foray into the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) realm, MìLà's unique approach, guided by quality, accessibility, and a third-culture perspective, has captured the hearts and palates of a diverse and expanding audience. I sat down with Jen Liao, Co-Founder and President of MìLà to learn more about how these formerrestaurant owners pivoted during COVID to turn one of their favorite dishes into a frozen food success story.

In the ever-evolving landscape of spirits, The Pathfinder Hemp and Root emerges as a groundbreaking non-alcoholic alternative, not merely mimicking traditional spirits but carving its own niche with a unique blend of bitterness, sweetness, and complexity. I sat down with Co-founder Chris Abbott to learn more about their journey through the inspiration, challenges, and strategic decisions that led to the creation and successful launch of this distinctive spirit.

Unlike many of her peers in Venture Capital and Private Equity, Melissa Facchina comes from a background in Operations with a focus on food and beverages. Today, Facchina is the Co-Managing Partner of Siddhi Capital, which was born from a joint venture between her operating firm, Siddhi Ops, and the family office of her co-founding partners Steven and Brian Finn.  I sat down with Facchina for a comprehensive look into the complexities of CPG investing, offering practical advice and strategic considerations for entrepreneurs navigating this dynamic landscape.

DEUX has the lofty goal to offer a healthier alternative to iconic food brands like Nestle.  I sat down with Sabeena Ladha, founder of DEUX, a better-for-you snack brand of edible cookie dough,donut holes and dessert spreads, to share her journey from extensive experience in big CPG, McKinsey, and venture capital to disrupting the consumer category.  We discussed her strategic approach to product innovation, marketing, and navigating various retail channels that has shaken up the refrigerated baked goods section in grocery stores.

Soley is the fastest-growing natural fruit snack brand in the US and their unique approach saves 1.6 million pounds of fruit per year. I sat down with Solely's founder, Simon Sacal, to discuss this extraordinary journey from attempting a fat-free potato chip to pioneering a unique and sustainable vertical supply chain for disruptive fruit-based products. Sacal reflects on the challenges, successes, and future innovations of Solely, emphasizing the brand's commitment to long-term growth and providing wholesome, clean alternatives in the food industry.

Over the past five years, the collectibles world of sport and trading cards has seen a massive resurgence as a new generation of collectors have discovered the “Hobby”. This growth has led to innovative new business models like Loupe with box breaking and Goldin with auctions. But perhaps the biggest beneficiary has been Professional Sports Authenticator, better known as PSA, which authenticates and grades collectibles. I sat down with PSA President Ryan Hoge to discuss the hobby’s growth, how PSA has evolved in recent years, and how his background as a Technology Product Leader has helped him in his role.

Coming out of the global pandemic, consumers have increasingly been searching for non-alcoholic alternatives. Hop Water has been one of the fastest growing categories, with sales up nearly 200% in the past year. The market leader in this space is HOP WTR, a sparkling hop water crafted with a proprietary blend of stress-busting hops, adaptogens (ashwagandha) and nootropics (L-Theanine). I sat down with Jordan Bass, CEO and Co-Founder of HOP WTR, to learn about his entrepreneurial journey and where the category will be headed in the years to come.

Inspired by their own morning routines, Hannah Mendoza and Roger Coppola co-founded Clevr Blends. As pioneers in the better-for-you coffee category, Hannah and Roger have reshaped classic cafe-style drinks like Matcha, Chai, and Coffee lattes, and infused them with adaptogens, functional mushrooms, and better-than-barista ingredients. Along the way, they have been named one of Oprah's Favorite Things two years in a row and brought in notable celebrity investors. I sat down with Hannah to learn more about her journey as an entrepreneur, what inspired Clevr, and how the challenges of a CPG entrepreneur have changed in recent years.

Jason Wright set out to create a first-of-its kind nutrient-dense protein chip for nutrition-conscious snackers. As the founder of WILDE, he’s done just that by using chicken breast, egg whites and bone broth in a familiar chip format. I sat down with Jason to learn more about his journey with WILDE, why he chose to manufacture in his own facility in Kentucky, and what is next for the business.

In the world of business, many acquisitions fail to live up to lofty growth expectations. But with Rao’s, Sovos Brands has created a playbook of what works, growing the brand over 9x since acquiring it in 2017. I sat down with Yuri Hermida, the Chief Growth Officer of Sovos Brands, to discuss the company's journey to building Rao’s into a billion-dollar brand, the importance of maintaining an unwavering commitment to quality, and how they are driving awareness and household penetration.

Before the founders of Magic Spoon tackled the cereal aisle, their first startup was a line of protein bars using cricket protein called Exo. While the business was eventually sold, it taught them the importance of product-market fit and the difficulty of building a category from scratch. I sat down with Gabi Lewis, co-founder of Magic Spoon to discuss his journey as a CPG entrepreneur, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and why Magic Spoon had to raise nearly $100 million to bring change to the breakfast cereal aisle.

Over the past few years, TRUFF has partnered with brands ranging from Hidden Valley Ranch and Taco Bell to Super Mario Brothers and Warren Lotas.  Despite the diversity of these partnerships, all have a common authenticity that unifies them.  I sat down with co-founder Nick Ajluni to talk about their journey building the brand and why they have made partnerships a central part of their brand building.

Since launching on the campus of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, Mad Rabbit has changed the game in the tattoo aftercare market. They are doing so by bringing change to an industry that is thousands of years old but one that has been largely resistant to innovation until recently. I sat down with Oliver Zak, co-founder of Mad Rabbit, to talk about their journey, community-driven product development process and unique retail strategy that allows them to take a different approach to brand building.

Over a decade ago, Charlotte’s Web created the CBD category and despite a roller coaster in the market, they remain the category leader today. As the category leader, they view it as their job to educate the industry and the general public on the benefits of CBD.  In pursuit of this mission, at the end of 2022, Charlotte's Web became the first “Official CBD of Major League Baseball.”  I sat down with co-founder and COO Jared Stanley, to discuss this partnership, the market as a whole. Since our interview, the FDA has concluded that a new regulatory pathway for CBD is needed and said they are prepared to work with Congress on this matter. Charlotte’s Web has been pushing for regulation for years and believes regulation from the FDA is vital to the continued growth and acceptance of CBD. We deep dive on all this and more. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many restaurants across the country encountered a situation that they never imagined. But thanks to the CookUnity, chefs were able to turn to a new platform to get their recipes and food onto kitchen tables across the country.  And for many of them, they have found a new source of revenue that allows them to reach more people than they ever thought possible. I sat down with Mateo Marietti, CEO & Founder of CookUnity, to learn more about what inspired him to launch CookUnity, how they attracted chefs to the platform, and why they decided to rebrand recently.