Ray Latif
Managing Producer and Editor at BevNET Magazine
Managing Producer and Editor at Taste Radio
Editor/producer at @BevNET & @TasteRadio podcast. Host of BevNET/ @NOSHdotcom’s Elevator Talk. Healthy eating & drinking… mostly. All posts are my own.
Articles
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6 days ago |
bevnet.com | Ray Latif
Ignite20 isn’t just cutting checks. The new $7 million venture capital fund and hybrid accelerator is lighting a fire under the next wave of CPG innovators. Launched in February 2025, Ignite20 was born out of the Redwood Ventures Group and is also backed by early-stage VC firm Santatera Capital and food distributor RPM Food.
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1 week ago |
bevnet.com | Ray Latif
Is 2025 the year of the acquisition? The hosts highlight two more headline-grabbing deals announced over the past week: Hershey’s $750M purchase of BFY snack maker LesserEvil and the sale of watermelon water brand Mela to King Juice. We also speak with Jesse Bongiovi, who alongside rockstar father Jon Bon Jovi, co-founded Hampton Water Wine, a rosé brand that’s taken the industry by storm. 0:45: In Memoriam. NY → Texas. New With Nom. Congrats CC. Ray, The Fresh Cartoon. Sober Informed. Bert & Ernie.
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1 week ago |
tasteradio.com | Ray Latif
Is 2025 the year of the acquisition? The hosts highlight two more headline-grabbing deals announced over the past week: Hershey’s $750M purchase of BFY snack maker LesserEvil and the sale of watermelon water brand Mela to King Juice. We also speak with Jesse Bongiovi, who alongside rockstar father Jon Bon Jovi, co-founded Hampton Water Wine, a rosé brand that’s taken the industry by storm. 0:45: In Memoriam. NY → Texas. New With Nom. Congrats CC. Ray, The Fresh Cartoon. Sober Informed. Bert & Ernie.
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1 week ago |
bevnet.com | Ray Latif
Even after 15 years and a majority sale – reportedly valued at over $650 million – of the company he founded, Bill Creelman remains convinced that Spindrift is just at the beginning of a “real” revolution. Since launching Spindrift in 2010, Bill has built the brand into a powerhouse, generating nearly $300 million in annual retail sales, according to Nielsen IQ. Spindrift is known for its sparkling water made with real fruit juice and purees, with no added sugars or added flavors.
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2 weeks ago |
bevnet.com | Ray Latif
0:45: Tax Day/TR Meetup. $100 In Your Pocket. Fonzie’s Shark. Not Your Father’s Ice Cream. Easy-ish Rice & Beans. . Oh, and BevNET Live Summer 2025 is right around the corner; . Ray samples an unusual minty drink and hates on April Fool’s Day CPG pranks. John shares his two cents on Groupon, before Mike shares the origins of a sharky saying. Jacqui highlights “breast milk ice cream” (yes, that’s how it’s described) and a line of easy to prepare rice mixes inspired by Latin cuisine.
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Thanks, Virginia! @tasteradio
Day 16: New To The U.S. Food & Beverage Industry? Listen To This Podcast: Taste Radio from @BevNET, hosted by editor/host @bevtrayde. https://t.co/tVPTexTAFO
Did anyone benefit from the Graza/Brightland controversy? What's fueling San Diego's vibrant CPG community? Did @omsom's rave outshine the Met Gala? Questions are answered in the latest episode of @tasteradio... https://t.co/Ai5g0FKhZb
This. And, much more from an intriguing @tasteradio interview with @thecoconutcult co-founder Noah Simon-Waddell and CEO Ari Raz here: https://t.co/QgNh2qcdNf https://t.co/QXcOOLbDk2
