The Feed

Chris Clark is the co-founder of Locale, a sustainable and high protein weekly meal delivery startup designed for longevity. In this episode, we’ll talk about Locale’s approach to nutrition, how it leverages peer reviewed research to curate recipes, and its unique use of glass containers.Sign up for HNGRY TrendsGet 30% off of Locale with code: HNGRY30

On this episode of The Feed, I sat down with Amira Khatib of Bluestein Ventures and Marc Wulfraat of MWPVL for a special conversation about the future of Amazon’s grocery business. In this episode, we dive into the company’s latest test concept that seeks to combine the Whole Foods shopping experience with the convenience of 12k household essential items to consolidate trips while competing with larger big-box retailers.Sign up for the HNGRY newsletter

On today’s episode of The Feed, I sat down with Eli Feldman of Shybird and Ivan Romero of Kintow for a special conversation about the future of AI agents in the restaurant industry. In this episode, we dive into why there’s been a sudden explosion of AI startups in food, what the best use cases are for this technology, and the landscape of large incumbents and smaller companies attacking the problem from both ends.

Mott Smith is the Co-Owner & CEO of Amped Kitchens, a commercial kitchen landlord in Los Angeles and Chicago that is home to large and small brands alike. In this episode we’ll talk about the ghost and commercial kitchen landscape, how they compare to other asset classes, and key drivers of success for emerging CPG businesses.Join the HNGRY Trends community to tune in live

Whitney Pegden is the General Manager of Blue Apron at Wonder. In this episode we chat about how Blue Apron has evolved from meal kits towards new categories like “Assemble and Bake” meals, the various synergies unlocked with parent company Wonder, and the future of personalization.

Sagar Mehta is the Chief Technology Officer of OpenTable, a leading online restaurant reservations platform with over 60k venues worldwide. In this episode, we chat about the current restaurant reservations landscape, how the marketplace is uniquely leveraging generative AI, and the new types of products it’s building to help restaurants grow within their four walls.Subscribe to the HNGRY newsletter

Randall Hom is the Co-Founder of Hostie, an AI-based customer experience platform that centralizes a restaurant’s calls, texts, and emails into a single system. In this episode, we’ll talk about how Hostie is saving restaurants countless hours in redundant phone calls, how it integrates with reservation and POS companies to automate 80% of inquiries, and the impact of AI on the restaurant workforce.Subscribe to the HNGRY newsletterCheck out Hostie

This is a special edition of HNGRY Live, conversations with the paid HNGRY Trends community. Last week, the group came together for an hour-long discussion about personalizing menu data to individuals' dietary and allergy profiles, and eventually our nutritional needs.Join in on future live discussions by becoming a paid HNGRY Trends memberCheck out Foodini

Jonathan Wolf is the Co-Founder & CEO of ZOE, a personalized nutrition platform running the world’s largest nutritional study through its app and clinical trials. In this episode, we’ll chat about how ZOE applies machine learning to health data to predict what we should eat, the power of the gut microbiome, and ZOE’s new strategy to tap into a wider audience of participants.Subscribe to HNGRY TrendsJoin ZOE

This is a special edition of HNGRY Live, conversations with the paid HNGRY Trends community. Last week, the group came together for an hour long discussion about DoorDash's latest acquisitions of UK-based Deliveroo for its international expansion and SevenRooms for its 1p commerce platform.Join in on future live discussions by becoming a paid HNGRY Trends member.Learn more & join HNGRY Trends

Young Stowe is the Co-Founder & CEO of Unified Ferments, a beverage company leveraging fermentation to express the world’s best teas. In this episode, we’ll talk about how Unified Ferments is combining culinary wisdom of age-old tea production and fermentation, its parallels to fine wine, and the rise of non-alcoholic beverages in retail and foodservice.Subscribe to the HNGRY NewsletterUnified Ferments

Tom Shea is the co-founder & CEO of Adgile Media Group, an out of home media startup transforming how consumer brands advertise on moving trucks. In this episode, we’ll talk about Adgile’s innovative use of geofencing, how it attributes offline ad impressions, and the future impact of AI on growth marketing.Subscribe to the HNGRY newsletterAdgile Media Group website

Delanie Thurlow is an account executive leading US sales at Grounded Packaging, a sustainable packaging design and consulting firm helping CPG brands meet their environmental goals. In this episode, we’ll talk about the current state of recycling and composting, the nuances of different packaging approaches, and the future of the circular economy.Subscribe to the HNGRY NewsletterGrounded Packaging website

Kasia Bednarz is the Co-Founder & CEO of FARE, a Chicago-based fast casual that prides itself on seasonal, wholesome ingredients without sacrificing on comfort or taste. In this episode, we’ll talk about FARE’s new expansion strategy, how it leverages technology inside and outside the kitchen, and how it’s uniquely positioned from its salad peers.

Taylor Sewell is the Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer of Hippie Water, a low-dose THC-infused social tonic. In this episode we’ll talk about how functional beverages like Hippie Water pose a threat to traditional beverage alcohol, how hemp-derived THC extraction opens up a massive market into foodservice and retail, and behavior shifts these beverages are starting to create.Use code HNGRY20 for 20% off of Hippie WaterSubscribe to the HNGRY Newsletter

Vivien Sin is the Co-Founder & CEO of The Third Place, a software platform empowering independent hospitality businesses to layer new recurring revenue streams on top of their four walls. In this episode, we discuss the current state of subscriptions and memberships of platforms like Table22 and Dorsia, and how restaurants can tap into these activities to cover their fixed costs.⁠To join future live events and participate in Q&A, become a paid member.⁠Join HNGRY

Ayesha Abuelhiga is the Founder & CEO of Mason Dixie Foods, a scratch made frozen breakfast brand centered around biscuit sandwiches. In this episode, we’ll talk about the whitespace for better-for-you brands to disrupt the frozen aisle, the innovations in high-speed ovens for foodservice, and the future of nutrition and convenience.Sign up for the HNGRY Newsletter

This is a special episode of HNGRY Live, conversations with members of the HNGRY Trends community that analyze industry news in real-time. We discuss live the current state of third and first-party restaurant catering and its massive whitespace.⁠To join future live events and participate in Q&A, become a paid member.Join HNGRY

Aaron Gatti is the Founder & CEO of BRAMI, a next-gen pasta and snacking brand that leverages the power of Italian lupini beans. In this episode, we’ll talk about the war against pasta, how our mass industrialized food system has contributed to this stigma, and the future of stealth health products that provide nutritional and taste upgrades to age-old categories like pasta.Subscribe to the HNGRY newsletter

This is a special episode of HNGRY Live, conversations with members of the HNGRY Trends community that analyze industry news in real-time. We discuss the current landscape of D2C meal players like CookUnity, Wonder, and Blue Apron, the recent M&A activity, and analyze business models.⁠To join future live events and participate in Q&A, become a paid member here.

This is a special episode of HNGRY Live, conversations with members of the HNGRY Trends community that analyze industry news in real-time. We discuss Brandon's latest trip to KFC's new chicken tender concept Saucy and what it means for the QSR chain.To join future live events and participate in Q&A, become a paid member here.

Avi Goren is the co-founder & CEO of Marqii, an online platform that helps local businesses like restaurants, bars, and cafes manage their listings and reviews across a multitude of platforms. In this episode, we’ll talk about the importance of platforms like Google and Yelp, how Marqii is leveraging AI for its reviews, and the future of digital hospitality.

Max Barbier is the Co-Founder & CEO of Timeleft, an app That helps connect strangers in cities across the world over weekly dinners. In this episode, we’ll talk about the growing loneliness problem, how Timeleft leverages technology to pair diners, and how our society can create hybrid online and offline experiences that optimize for our sense of belonging.

Heidi Diestel, fourth-generation family farmer at Diestel Turkey Ranch, a regenerative organic Turkey Farm based in Northern California. In this episode, we talk about what it means to apply regenerative farming practices to poultry, the application of technology, and how policy can better align incentives between farmers, consumers’ health, and the environment. Subscribe to the HNGRY newsletter Diestel Family Ranch

Eli Feldman is the Partner & Co-Founder of Shy Bird, a two-unit fine casual rotisserie concept in Boston. In this episode, we chat about Shy Bird’s exciting co-working program, how restaurants can reframe themselves to capitalize on higher margin revenue streams, and the promise of AI to uncover and execute new ideas inside and outside their four walls. Subscribe to Eli's Newsletter Subscribe to the HNGRY Newsletter

Alice Cheng is the Founder & CEO of Culinary Agents, a job marketplace, applicant tracking system, and career resource for the hospitality industry. In this episode, we’ll chat about its latest site for career insights and salary data, how technology can help with career development, and what the industry can do to attract higher talent. Subscribe to the HNGRY newsletter

Missy Bradley is the Chief Revenue Officer and Co-Founder at Caliper Holdings. In this episode, we’ll talk about its water soluble cannabis powder that can be used in foods and beverages, the various legal hurdles in the category, and the new types of cannabinoids that the company is bringing to market. Sign up for the HNGRY newsletter

Nick Wiseman is the Co-Founder & CEO of Little Sesame, a next-generation hummus brand born out of the eponymous Washington DC restaurant. In this episode, we’ll talk about the advantages of leveraging restaurants as a CPG test kitchen, how to build a differentiated brand, and the complexities of scaling and manufacturing. Subscribe to the HNGRY newsletter

Jose Alonso is the Co-Founder & CEO of Caldo, a robotic restaurant assistant helping with kitchen prep. In this episode, we’ll talk about Jose’s culinary background, how restaurants prep today, and the opportunity to improve COGS and labor efficiency with automated portioning. Sign up for the HNGRY newsletter

Drew Arentowitz is the Co-Founder & CEO of 50/50 Foods, the parent company behind the BOTH Burger made with a blend of 50% meat and 50% veggies. In this episode, we talk about how water scarcity could create price shocks in conventional meat, the rise of flexitarians, and the promise of the burgeoning blended meat category as a pragmatic solution to our health and climate needs.

Neil Thompson, Chief Strategy Officer at NextGen Kitchens, a software platform powering on and off premise digital transactions for multi-brand foodservice operators. In this episode, we’ll cover Neil’s 30-year career at brands like Tim Hortons and HMSHost, the complexities of multi-brand food halls, and how his technology is helping landlords and operators create frictionless guest experiences.

John Thorp is the Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Aerflo, a refillable, on-demand CO2 water bottle that aims to become a circular platform for sparkling beverages. In this episode, we’ll talk about the sustainability issues for single-use beverages, Aerflo’s fully circular system, and its potential beyond seltzer water.

Johann Moonesinghe is the Co-Founder & CEO of inKind, a marketplace that provides restaurateurs with non-dilutive financing and unlocks deals for local diners. In this episode, we’ll talk about why restaurant funding is broken, inKind’s unique approach to capital, and its recent venture into restaurant M&A.

Ofek Ron is the Co-Founder & CEO of Oshi, an Israel-based startup creating fish fillets using only plants. In this episode, we’ll talk about the sustainability and health challenges of traditional fish farming, the benefits of Oshi’s clean ingredient label, and its proprietary technology used to recreate layers of whole-cut salmon.

Cristina Berta Jones is the Director of Marketing & Growth at Picnic, an affordable and sustainable online grocer operating in the Netherlands, Germany, and France with over €1.3 billion in capital. In this episode we’ll talk about why profitability in online grocery is so difficult, the unique differentiators in Picnic’s tightly optimized model, and the future of the weekly online grocery shop.

Ville Lehto is the Co-Founder and Head of Product at Huuva, a Helsinki-based ghost kitchen startup that brings together the best local restaurants under one roof into a single order. In this episode, we’ll talk about the success Huuva is seeing in the European delivery market, the unique software it’s built, and analyze some of the larger American players with similar models.

Alex Sambvani is the Co-Founder & CEO of Slang.ai, a startup that helps full-service restaurant operators automate their inbound phone calls using AI. In this episode, we’ll talk about what separates Slang from traditional IVR systems, the myriad of inquiries it can handle for guests, and a litmus test for what makes a valuable AI startup.

Amos Golan is the founder & CEO of Chunk Foods, a startup that makes plant-based, whole cut meat products like steak and brisket. In this episode, we’ll talk about the plant-based predecessors to Chunk, how the startup is leveraging solid-state fermentation to create a clean label, and broader consumer trends within flexitarian and plant-based diets.

Maya Sapir-Mir is the Co-Founder & CEO of PoLoPo, a Israel-based startup pioneering a new method of molecular farming to grow egg proteins in potatoes. In this episode, we’ll talk about how Polopo leverages CRISPR to express proteins within potatoes, how molecular farming works, and the end-to-end supply chain that helps it compete against traditional agriculture.

Matt Smolin is the Co-Founder & CEO of Hang, an interactive omnichannel loyalty platform used by brands like Roam Burgers, Boba Guys, and Budweiser. In this episode we’ll talk about the lack of personalization in today’s loyalty ecosystem, how Hang is leveraging minigames to unlock 50% greater spend for its restaurants, and the importance of omnichannel loyalty.

Phil Mikhaylov is the Co-Founder & CEO of Unicorn, a modern auction platform for spirits and wine enthusiasts. In this episode, we’ll talk about the market for liquid collectibles, how the platform offers custodial services for buyers and sellers, and the data it is uncovering within the alcohol industry.

Abhinav Kapur is the Co-Founder & CEO of Bikky, a customer data analytics platform that helps multi-unit restaurants understand the frequency and lifetime value of their guests. In this episode, we’ll talk about how Bikky is threading the needle between various data silos, how it helps operators understand guest retention, and the future of personalized loyalty.

Nathan Myhrvold is the author of The Modernist Cuisine, an esteemed cookbook series that examines the art and science of cooking for highly curious chefs and enthusiasts. In this episode we’ll chat about Nathan’s transition from CTO at Microsoft to French culinary school, how he thinks about food science, and the cutting edge of bread making.

Sami Inkinen is the Co-Founder & CEO of Virta Health, a digital clinic that reverses type 2 diabetes through nutrition. In this episode, we’ll talk about the broken incentives of the American healthcare system, the efficacy of Virta’s program for treating diabetes and promoting weight loss, and the future of healthy eating.

John Rabiner and Mike Sanuti are the co-founders of Prime Site, an end-to-end construction and advisory firm that leverages data and insights for retailers. In this episode we’ll analyze real estate strategies of fast-growing salad and beverage concepts, talk about omnichannel fulfillment, and analyze grocery retail expansion across dollar, convenience, and smaller-footprint formats.

Francisco Martin-Rayo is the Co-Founder & CEO of Helios, an AI platform that aggregates billions of data points to predict the climate, economic, and political risks facing global commodities. In this episode, we’ll chat about how some of the largest food players and commodity traders are leveraging Helios’ platform, the various tradeoffs we need to be considering in agribusiness, and technological solutions that can help create a more resilient food system over the long haul.

Ali Wing is the CEO of Oobli, a biotech startup that manufactures “sweet proteins” that reduce the amount of added sugar in foods and beverages by 75-90%. In this episode we’ll talk about the science behind these trickster sugars, Oobli’s two-pronged go-to-market strategy, and the metabolic health crisis in America.

Matt Wampler is the Co-Founder & CEO of ClearCOGS, an AI-based demand forecasting platform that helps restaurants move beyond guesswork. In this episode, we’ll talk about how the platform helps drive profitability for customers like Goop Kitchen, how it builds its predictive models on back-of-house and POS data, and the potential for AI across the entire restaurant customer journey.

Matt Tucker is the SVP and Head of Tock, a comprehensive restaurant reservation platform focused on revenue management through offerings like events, experiences, off-premise, and more. In this episode, we’ll talk about what sets Tock apart from the competition, how it has evolved beyond fine dining, and the future P&L of restaurants.

Christine Schindler is the Co-Founder & CEO of PathSpot, a health & safety operating system for restaurants and food manufacturers. In this episode, we talk about PathSpot’s proprietary handwashing compliance hardware, how it serves as the system of record for standard operating procedures, and the power of its data to help prevent foodborne illness before it happens.