Target is expanding its food and beverage footprint with new store concepts and larger grocery sections – potentially creating more space for emerging brands. In this episode, the hosts discuss what it means for startups and also spotlight notable trends and brands from Expo West. We also revisit interviews from our Miami meetup, including a conversation with angel investor Spencer Slaine on what he looks for in early-stage brands.

Show notes:

0:20: Expo Energy. IRL All Year. Nom News. Bullseye, Babe. Mez & The Gang. Citrus Boost. – The hosts recap the energy and standout trends from Expo West and preview upcoming industry events, including BevNET Live and Taste Radio meetups. Melissa highlights a Nombase Podcast episode that features insights from investors who launched their own CPG brand and revealed how they think about pricing, ingredients, and growth. The hosts also discuss Target's expanding focus on food and beverage and how founders can take advantage, highlight a major funding round for protein bar brand Mezcla and reflect on brands born during the COVID era. They sample several new products, including espresso sodas, probiotic mouthwash (yep) and cocoa-flavored bone broth.

32:27: Interviews from Taste Radio's Miami Meetup – We kick things off with Spencer Slaine, a founding member of The Angel Group, who explains how the early-stage investment network helps early-stage CPG brands bridge the funding gap with both capital and operator expertise. He is followed by Little Saints founder and CEO Megan Klein who shares how her functional, non-alcoholic cocktail brand was born out of a personal shift toward moderation and has become an anchor in the fast-growing adult non-alcoholic beverage category. Rounding out the discussion is AB InBev's Conrad Barrett who talks about PerfectDraft, a countertop system designed to bring bar-quality draft beer into the home, highlighting how consumer feedback and AI-driven insights are shaping its growth.

Brands in this episode: Little Saints, PerfectDraft, Stella Artois, Guinness, Athletic Brewing, Lucky Energy, Kate Farms, Trip, Mingle Mocktails, Cadooz, Mezcla, Poppi, Fishwife, B.T.R. Nation, Unite Foods, Folkland, Farmwell, Painterland Sisters, One Degree Organics, Moozy, Singing Pastures, Esspo, Manhattan Special, Basicase, Pikora, PWR UP, Good & Gather

Target's Bigger Grocery Play & Angel Investors On What's Next