Podcast
the Joshua Schall Audio Experience
Hosted by Joshua Schall · EN
Welcome to the Joshua Schall Audio Experience
On my podcast, you’ll hear episodes of my popular short-form Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) news segment "Consumed", a long-form CPG entrepreneurship interview segment "Formula For:", deeper dive segments "Deep Dish CPG", public speaking engagements, and any of my new and current thoughts that I record specifically for this audio experience!
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24episodes
Episodes
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$16M Applied Nutrition "Operations-First" Gamble To Conquer the U.S. Sports Nutrition Market
2w ago00:12:57Tap to summarizeIs this UK supplement company smart or crazy? For decades, the U.S. sports nutrition market has been a graveyard for ambitious British brands. They cross the Atlantic with huge UK market share, only to get crushed by the brutal realities of the American marketplace. But Applied Nutrition is throwing out the traditional expansion playbook. Instead of spending millions to acquire their own brand name trademark in the United States (forcing them to launch under the clunky moniker AN Supps) they are betting everything on operational excellence. In this content, I break down Applied Nutrition’s massive $16 million cash acquisition of Buffalo-based manufacturer Nutrablend Group. Also, I explore why building supply chain resilience matters more than flashy marketing, and how their genius "Trojan Horse" flavor partnerships with Mondelēz International (Sour Patch Kids & Swedish Fish) might just unlock success on Walmart shelves.Key Takeaways From This Video:Margin Fix: Shifting manufacturing to Upstate New York instantly eliminates transatlantic shipping costs and import duties.Retail Security: Localized production capacity gives them the operational resilience required by retail giants like Walmart.North American Revenue Catalyst: The Nutrablend facility is projected to contribute $30 million in third-party manufacturing revenue by FY2027.What do you think? Can Applied Nutrition officially conquer America without using their own brand name?
Transcribe →[MONDAY MINUTE] How the "Matcha Male" Ruined Your Morning Ritual
2w ago00:00:46Tap to summarizeAre you upset about that morning matcha ritual getting A LOT more expensive? Maybe blame all those performative males who are seemingly adopting emotionally sensitive progressive personas (such as drinking matcha and carrying tote bags) to attract women. Regardless, whether it's the matcha latte craze or the proliferation of packaged matcha products, supply can’t keep up with the unprecedented demand…as record heat and severe droughts in Japan throttled yields, while labor shortages further strain production. With no end in sight regarding these higher prices, maybe it’s time every “green goddess” denounces this current performativity example…so even the most dedicated "matcha men" switch back to chugging Monster Energy.
Transcribe →Why the Beverage Bubble is About to Pop | Carbonation Crisis Explained
3w ago00:11:45Tap to summarizeIs there a carbonation crisis bubbling up across the beverage industry? For decades, beverage executives stayed awake worrying about the war on sugar, anti-alcohol laws, and Gen Z trends. Today, the biggest liability might be the bubbles themselves. A massive shift in human biology and consumer habits is quietly threating the multibillion-dollar packaged beverage landscape:Surge in Gastrointestinal Distress: Roughly two-thirds of adults regularly suffer from distressing digestive symptoms like bloating and IBS. Their first medical directive? Cut the carbonation.GLP-1 Effect: Weight-loss medications chemically delay gastric emptying. When trapped carbon dioxide hits a slow-moving stomach, it causes intense pain, nausea, and reflux. GLP-1 households cut their spending on sugary, carbonated drinks by nearly 10% within just six months.The alcohol sector (particularly traditional beer) is facing an existential contraction. Meanwhile, non-alcoholic brands are rapidly launching defenses...Functionality: Rebranding fizz into a gut-health hero using prebiotic fibers (e.g., Olipop, Poppi).Going "Fizz-Free": Growing massive platforms with non-carbonated energy drinks (e.g., CELSIUS). Altering the Gas: Experimenting with nitrogenation for a creamy, stomach-friendly mouthfeel.What's next? Expect front-of-pack labeling to evolve. Standardized visual "fizz scales" and terms like “lightly effervescent” will soon become mainstream retail standards.The modern consumer’s biology has fundamentally changed. Executives who view digestive health and GLP-1 side effects as a passing trend are misjudging the market. The bubble hasn't popped yet, but it’s noticeably losing air!
Transcribe →[MONDAY MINUTE] Monster Energy Finally Takes Over the Fenway Park Green Monster!
3w ago00:00:47Tap to summarizeMonster Energy and the Boston Red Sox just pulled off the most iconic marketing partnership in sports history. And yes, I’m about to go all “Captain Obvious” here, since presumably some of y’all aren’t baseball fans. But the 37-foot-high left field wall at Fenway Park, home to the Boston Red Sox, is known as the Green Monster. And the classic OG color of Monster Energy drinks is green. Thus, plastering a Monster Energy logo on the Green Monster is probably too much (but also legendary). But speaking of “legends,” if I was Monster Energy…I’d steal this product strategy from the GHOST Energy sports marketing playbook. Regardless, should I “side quest” this? Enjoy a Monster energy drink while sitting in the Monster Seats right above the Monster Energy logo on the Green Monster.
Transcribe →MusclePharm Last Stand? My Kroger Rollout Warning! ⚠️ | FitLife Brands Q1 2026 Update
4w ago00:10:43Tap to summarizeBeyond the core revenue growth, the latest FitLife Brands (FTLF) Q1 2026 earnings report reveals critical operational pivots and emerging tailwinds that offer a more nuanced look at the company’s trajectory. While consolidated revenue skyrocketed 59% YoY to $25.3 million, the "real" story is found in the details of their recent acquisitions and shifting sales channels.Here's a snippet of the FTLF Q1 2026 highs and lows:🚀 Irwin Naturals Impact: Driven by the Irwin Naturals integration, wholesale now represents 56% of total revenue.📉 Legacy Softness: Legacy FitLife revenue (including MusclePharm and Mimi’s Rock) dropped 22% YoY.🛒 Amazon Hurdles: Mimi’s Rock is feeling the heat from Amazon algorithm changes, leading to sharp revenue declines.🏪 Retail Glimmer: MusclePharm is getting a "fighter’s chance" with a new launch in Kroger stores nationwide this June.But can the scale of the Irwin Naturals deal provide enough synergy and cost savings to offset the declines in the legacy brand portfolio? Or could the "sell-in" at Kroger for MusclePharm be more than just another temporary fix?
Transcribe →[MONDAY MINUTE] Forget AI: These Are the Only "Chips" Boosting Productivity!
May 1800:00:38Tap to summarizeEven though the U.S. energy drinks market is hitting new all-time highs daily…some consumers would rather snack than sip their next “caffeinated buzz.” Just when I thought I’ve seen everything, the energy revolution officially went crunchable…which means your snack break just got a massive upgrade. So, are you ready to blend the crunch and conductivity together? If so, I dare you to try Bangers Energy Chips…which contain the caffeine equivalent of two cups of coffee per small bag of potato chips. And all those silly tech people really thought our expected future productivity increase was going to come from a different type of chips.
Transcribe →Conor McGregor's New MAC Energy Drink: Genius or Disaster?
May 1300:13:11Tap to summarizeIs Conor McGregor’s new MAC Energy drink another stroke of beverage industry genius, or a desperate gamble? In this video, I break down the high-stakes CPG business strategy, advanced ingredient science, and massive marketing risks behind the July 2026 launch. Conor McGregor previously shocked the beverage industry with a historic $600 million exit for Proper No. Twelve. But as he trades his whiskey glass for an aluminum can, the rules of celebrity packaging goods have completely changed. Can he replicate his past success in a hyper-competitive U.S. energy drink market dominated by giants like Red Bull and Monster?I'll dive deep into:Proper No. Twelve Strategic Playbook: How authentic storytelling paired with heavy-hitting industry operators created a massive empire.Forged Irish Stout Headwinds: The harsh retail realities, supply debts, and financial losses McGregor faced in his second beverage venture.Product Science: Why MAC Energy is ditching the standard "caffeine-only" model to feature advanced premium nutraceuticals like Cognizin Citicoline, goBHB Ketones, and PurCaf natural caffeine.UFC 329 Marketing Stakes: Why his rumored July 11, 2026 return to the Octagon is the ultimate, high-stakes global billboard for this brand's entire survival.
Transcribe →[MONDAY MINUTE] Keurig Dr Pepper Billion 💰 Plastic Problem | "Barbie Strategy" & the KDP Sustainability Nightmare
May 1100:00:53Tap to summarizeIf you weren’t aware, there’s a growing “sustainability” threat brewing within the multibillion-dollar U.S. coffee segment coffee of Keurig Dr Pepper! And since I believe Batman doesn’t need caffeine to get through his dark nights, the Bat-Signal would likely prove ineffective at summoning the superhero. So, where does KDP turn next? Maybe Anthony DiSilvestro doesn’t look like your typical DC Comics superhero, but this man certainly knows the “business of plastic” via other famous fictional characters. It’s estimated around 80% of all toys end up in landfills, oceans, or incinerators…meaning the former CFO of Mattel should intimately understand how even a small plastic item can generate significant long-term sustainability issues.
Transcribe →Alani Nu Revenue Higher Than CELSIUS (AGAIN!) | Celsius Holdings 2026 Q1 Update
May 700:13:12Tap to summarizeHow long before Celsius Holdings swaps its corporate name to Alani Nu Holdings? But in all honesty, Celsius Holdings has come a long way from a single energy drink product launched more than two decades ago to a scaled platform with multiple billion-dollar beverage brand powerhouses. Although why does it feel like there’s still so much more that needs done? Celsius Holdings (NASDAQ: CELH) had quarterly revenue of $782.6 million, which was up 138% YoY. Excluding the Alani Nu acquisition-related financial impact, CELSIUS brand revenue increased 6% YoY. Alani Nu had quarterly revenue of $368.1 million. Rockstar Energy had quarterly revenue of $67 million. According to recent 13-week retail sales data, CELSIUS increased by 6% YoY...remaining the third-largest energy drink brand in the category with a dollar share of 9.9%. Alani Nu increased retail sales 100% YoY and is now the dominant fourth brand in the U.S. energy drinks market with dollar share of 9.0%. And Rockstar Energy retail sales decreased 13% YoY and is the 8th largest U.S. energy drink with dollar share of 2.0%. If we look at Celsius Holdings combined brand portfolio, it reached 21% of dollar share...ranking it third and trailing only Red Bull and the combined Monster Beverage portfolio. Things drastically shifted for CELSIUS because of the August 2022 distribution and investment deal with PepsiCo. Additionally, when Celsius Holdings took ownership of the Rockstar Energy brand last quarter, it designated them the PepsiCo strategic energy drink captain. Also, another major aspect of “Celsius Holdings and PepsiCo strengthening its long-term strategic partnership” was the transition of Alani Nu distribution into the PepsiCo DSD system starting December 2025. So then, in my latest first principles thinking content piece, I'll explore several key factors surrounding why the next 12-18 months will define the future of the Celsius Holdings brand portfolio.
Transcribe →Can Product Innovation Save Premier Protein? | BellRing Brands 2026 Q2 Update
May 600:16:32Tap to summarizeMore Competition. More Promotions. More Innovation. The Protein RTD market set-up is getting really interesting...just like I predicted two years earlier! BellRing Brands (NYSE: BRBR) is a portfolio that owns a collection of convenient nutrition brands like Premier Protein and Dymatize Nutrition, which was previously wholly-owned by Post Holdings. A fast-paced and busy lifestyle is pushing consumers to switch to quick and healthy meal options. This has resulted in above average categorical growth rates and increased household penetration of RTD protein shakes that promote active lifestyles. Additionally, powders are becoming more mainstream, and category proliferation has created an environment where more consumers are purchasing both every day and performance nutrition positioned protein products at grocery stores and mass retailers. Bellring Brands reported 2026 Q2 net sales of $598.7 million, which was up 1.8% YoY. Premier Protein (~85% of BellRing Brands total revenue) increased by 1.7% YoY, driven by strong volume growth but partially offset by an equally strong decrease in price/product mix. Dymatize Nutrition was down 1.9% YoY, driven by higher average net selling prices, with volumes impacted by elasticities due to inflation-driven price increases. Moreover, I provide deep dives into Premier Protein RTD protein shakes business activity, along with examining similar metrics surrounding the protein powders from Premier Protein and Dymatize Nutrition. But what did I say two years earlier about the RTD Protein market outlook? Higher protein input costs, more total distribution points, and more competitors...yep! But what I didn’t layout clearly enough by my “things should be fun to say the least” comment was how “a more pressured consumer” would create extra challenges in this operating environment. As a result, 27% of the Protein RTD category volumes were sold on price promotion…that’s up around 800 basis points YoY. But then, with BellRing Brands’ CEO announcing her retirement (effective 2026 fiscal year-end), you might remember from last quarter that I half-jokingly “applied for the position.” And I won’t go through my entire “three most-critical forward-looking strategic initiatives as the new CEO of BellRing Brands,” but I quickly wanted to provide a mixed bag update of new information including the launch of Premier Protein Ultimate and Premier Protein Soda.
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