The Pour Decisions Podcast

The Secret Behind WAFC’s 68-Year Partnership with USC Marshall

What does it take to build the next generation of leaders in the food and beverage industry? In this episode of Pour Decisions Podcast, host Dino Sarti, Co-Founder at LA Libations, sits down with Tim Blakesly, Assistant Dean of Executive Education at USC Marshall School of Business, to discuss leadership development, servant leadership, the WAFC Food Industry Management Program, and how AI is reshaping both business and higher education. Tim shares lessons from his journey through Kinko's, consulting, and USC Marshall, while highlighting why leadership, curiosity, and lifelong learning remain more important than ever.

The Secret Route to Market Most Beverage Founders Overlook

etting into retail is one of the biggest challenges for emerging brands. So how do you actually scale from zero cases sold to national distribution? In this episode of Pour Decisions, Dino Sarti sits down with Mike Ridenour, Vice President of Industry Relations at UNFI, to discuss the realities of grocery distribution, innovation, retailer relationships, and how emerging brands can build a successful route to market. Mike shares lessons from nearly four decades in the industry, including his time at Kraft Foods, working alongside UNFI CEO Sandy Douglas, and helping build programs that make it easier for small brands to reach retail shelves. Whether you're a founder, retailer, supplier, or industry professional, this conversation offers a rare look inside one of the most influential companies in food and beverage distribution.

The Pretzelized Story: How One Pretzel Changed Everything

What happens when two snack industry veterans sit down at dinner, fight over a pretzel, and accidentally create a category-defining brand? In this episode of Pour Decisions Podcast, Dino Sarti sits down with Samuel Kestenbaum, CEO and Co-Founder of Pretzelized, to discuss his journey from Hayne Celestial to building multiple successful snack brands and launching one of the fastest-growing new snack products in the country. Samuel shares how Pretzelized was born from a simple idea, the risks of buying manufacturing equipment before having a business, how he landed Kroger with homemade samples from his kitchen, and why execution matters more than innovation alone. If you're building a CPG brand, working in retail, or simply fascinated by entrepreneurship, this episode is packed with practical lessons and incredible stories.

How Emerging Brands Actually Get Into Grocery Stores | Imane Sabeh

Getting on shelf is only the beginning. Staying there is the real challenge. In this episode of Pour Decisions Podcast, Dino Sarti sits down with Imane Sabeh, entrepreneur and emerging brand consultant, to discuss what it really takes to launch, scale, and succeed in retail. From creating "case one" distribution opportunities to building promotional calendars, motivating DSD teams, and identifying the next wave of beverage innovation, Imane shares practical insights that founders can immediately apply to their businesses. They also dive into emerging ingredient trends, retailer expectations, distribution strategies, and the categories poised for growth in the coming years.

How Sebastian Dreher Finds Beverage Unicorns Before Anyone Else | Döhler Ventures

What separates the beverage brands that raise capital from the thousands that never get funded? In this episode of Pour Decisions Podcast, host Dino Sarti, Co-Founder at LA Libations, sits down with Sebastian Dreher, Managing Director of Döhler Ventures, to discuss what investors are really looking for, how corporate venture investing differs from traditional VC, and the emerging categories shaping the future of food and beverage. Sebastian shares lessons from investments in brands like OLIPOP, Recess, Vive Organic, Leisure Hydration, Bizzy Coffee, and more while breaking down how founders can position themselves to attract investment in today's challenging fundraising environment.

Inside Niagara Bottling: From Private Label to Beverage Innovation

What does it take for a beverage brand to earn a spot with one of the biggest manufacturers in the industry? In this episode of Pour Decisions, Danny Stepper sits down with Patrice Coudray-Rubin, Senior Manager of Beverage Development at Niagara Bottling, to discuss beverage innovation, private label growth, retailer trends, functional ingredients, and the future of hydration. Patrice shares her journey from food scientist to beverage development leader, her experience at PepsiCo's Naked Emerging Brands, and how Niagara evaluates emerging beverage brands. The conversation also explores the impact of GLP-1 medications, the rise of protein and creatine, functional ingredients, and where the next wave of beverage innovation is headed.

The Secret Behind America’s Most Innovative Produce Company

What does it take to build one of the most influential produce companies in America? In this episode of the Pour Decisions Podcast, Dino Sarti sits down with Steve Rodriguez, National Sales Manager, and Jody Okamoto, National Director of Sales at Melissa’s World Variety Produce, to discuss how Melissa’s transformed from a specialty produce company into a national leader supplying retailers, foodservice operators, and professional sports venues across the country. From introducing consumers to dragon fruit and finger limes to helping create the Cotton Candy Grape phenomenon, Steve and Jody share how Melissa’s identifies emerging food trends, educates retailers, and brings unique culinary experiences to shoppers nationwide. If you're interested in retail, grocery, food innovation, supply chain strategy, or building a family-owned business, this episode is packed with insights.

35 Years Married. 35 Years Working Together. Here's How They Did It

What does it take to build a successful business with your spouse, grow it for over a decade, and eventually become part of one of the largest sales agencies in the country? In this episode of Pour Decisions Podcast, Dino Sarti, Co-Founder at LA Libations, sits down with Subriana Pierce, SVP of Sales at CA Fortune, and Allen Pierce, Sales Development Manager for New Business Development at CA Fortune. The conversation covers their journey from grocery retail and merchandising to building Navigator Sales & Marketing, the acquisition by CA Fortune, and the creation of initiatives like Next on Shelf that are helping emerging brands connect directly with retailers. They also discuss retail innovation, emerging consumer trends, founder-led brands, and why the future of CPG belongs to those willing to innovate.

How Retailers Really Lose Millions: Jennifer Beasley Explains the Shelf Availability Problem

What happens behind the scenes when a product disappears from the shelf? In this episode of Pour Decisions, Dino Sarti sits down with Jennifer Beasley of Retail Insight to explore the operational side of grocery retail—the data, technology, and decision-making that determine whether products stay in stock, promotions succeed, and customers leave satisfied. Jennifer shares her journey from studying food science to spending more than 25 years helping retailers improve on-shelf availability and operational excellence. The conversation covers everything from shrink and inventory management to Amazon's growing influence in grocery and the future impact of AI on retail operations. Whether you're a retailer, supplier, emerging brand, or simply fascinated by how grocery works behind the scenes, this episode offers a rare look into the systems powering the industry.

How Langer’s Juice Survived 65 Years of Beverage Trends | Bruce Langer

Langer’s Juice has been a staple in the beverage industry for more than six decades—but how does a family-owned juice company continue to thrive in an era dominated by functional beverages, dirty sodas, and non-alcoholic innovation? In this episode of Pour Decisions, hosts Dino Sarti and Danny Stepper, Co-Founders at LA Libations, sit down with Bruce Langer, President of Langer Juice Company, to discuss the company’s incredible journey from fresh-squeezed carrot juice in 1960 to becoming one of the most recognized juice brands in America. Bruce shares lessons from growing a multi-generational family business, navigating changing consumer preferences, investing in cutting-edge manufacturing technology, and expanding into emerging categories like non-alcoholic cocktails and dirty sodas. Whether you're a beverage founder, retailer, manufacturer, or industry enthusiast, this episode is packed with insights on innovation, resilience, and what it takes to stay relevant for over 65 years.