What does a retail tour of London reveal about consumer trends at home and abroad? From surprisingly familiar better-for-you candy to date-filled pastries finding new life as mainstream snacks, we sample the products, packaging and positioning catching our attention across the UK market. Along the way, we explore what U.S. and British brands can learn from each other about flavor, functional innovation and retail strategy — and why even a great product can get lost on the bottom shelf.
This episode also features an interview with James Clark, the founder of San Francisco-based craft distillery Brucato Spirits. James shares how he's building a California-born amaro brand rooted in local ingredients, radical transparency and sustainable growth – without chasing rapid expansion or an eventual exit.
Show notes:
0:20: London Bites. BFY Candy. Pick A Lane. Mo Matcha. Movin' On Up. So Fat. – The hosts sample emerging UK food and beverage brands, exploring trends in flavor, packaging, better-for-you positioning and product innovation. They begin with Yew Sparkling Water's yuzu grapefruit and pickle flavors, then try better-for-you candies Neat Sweets and Wild Thingz, noting the category's substantial retail presence. They also revisit True Dates and sample Datekind's individually wrapped, date-filled snack cakes, discussing how familiar product descriptions can make culturally rooted foods more accessible to mainstream consumers. The tasting continues with Marna's peach iced tea, prompting a discussion about how zero-sugar claims can create confusion around sweetness expectations. They praise Nudie's katsu curry cauliflower crisps and Mindfuel Flow's salted caramel mushroom latte, noting opportunities in flavorful better-for-you snacks and functional ready-to-drink beverages. They also sample Mano Massa's manchego, green olive and red bell pepper corn chips, suggesting the brand seek better shelf placement, and Kloudy's matcha lemonade, debating whether its lemon flavor justifies the name. Finally, the hosts try Fatso's thick Colombian chocolate bars with inventive inclusions and Serious Pig's truffle-flavored, high-protein snack, discussing distinctive formats and polarizing flavors.
27:53: James Clark, Co-Founder, Brucato Spirits – On location at Brucato's distillery in San Francisco's Mission District, James shares the origins of Brucato which was inspired by years lived in Italy and the flavors of Northern California. James explains how the company uses local ingredients, including California Blenheim apricots, to create distinctive spirits, while emphasizing ingredient transparency. James also discusses how consumer interest in ingredient sourcing informs the brand's marketing and innovation strategy, including limited-edition releases that showcase specific fruits and botanicals.
Brands in this episode: Brucato Spirits, TRIP, Olipop, Garage Beer, Mojo Mate, Guayaki, Yerba Madre, Momo Kombucha, Yew, Dash, LaCroix, Polar, Neat Sweets, Behave, Wild Thingz, Rotten, True Dates, Datekind, Bakefull, Hostess, Marna, Nudie, From the Ground Up, Mindfuel Flow, Four Sigmatic, Mano Massa, Fritos, Kloudy, Fatso, Serious Pig
