The Pour Decisions Podcast

Why Albertsons Doesn't Trust AI Blindly (And You Shouldn't Either)

What happens when one of America's largest grocery retailers combines nearly 40 years of operational experience with cutting-edge data and AI? In this episode of Pour Decisions, Dino Sarti sits down with Chris Cowgill, Group Vice President of Business Intelligence at Albertsons Companies, to discuss how data, analytics, AI, and operational discipline are transforming grocery retail. Chris shares his remarkable journey from courtesy clerk in 1986 to leading one of the industry's most sophisticated business intelligence organizations. The conversation explores how Albertsons manages billions of rows of data, where AI is creating value (and where it's creating problems), why scalable technology matters more than shiny tools, and what retailers can learn about balancing innovation with execution.

What Retail Leaders Look For When Choosing Future Executives

What does it take to go from bagging groceries at 16 years old to leading one of America's most iconic retail chains? In this episode of Pour Decisions, Dino Sarti sits down with Todd Kammeyer, President of Fred Meyer Stores, to discuss his 34-year journey through the grocery industry, the evolution of one-stop shopping, leadership development, the USC Food Industry Management Program, and how Fred Meyer continues to thrive as one of the most unique retail banners in North America. Todd shares lessons from working his way up through Smith's Food & Drug, navigating major industry mergers, leading teams across multiple states, and balancing local customer needs while operating within one of the nation's largest grocery organizations.

What Beverage Founders Get Wrong About Distribution

How does a Japanese tea company become a household name in America?
In this episode of Pour Decisions, host Dino Sarti sits down with Rob Smith, Chief Sales Officer, North America at ITO EN, to discuss his remarkable career journey through some of the biggest names in beverage and what it takes to grow an iconic global brand in the U.S.
Rob shares lessons from Anheuser-Busch, Keurig Dr Pepper, and the broker world before diving into ITO EN's expansion strategy, the challenges of beverage distribution, Japanese business culture, and where the tea category is headed next.

Why Capri Sun Entered the Electrolyte Drink Market - Kraft Heinz Executives

What does it take to modernize one of the most iconic beverage brands in the world? In this episode of the Pour Decisions Podcast, Dan Weisbach sits down with Reed, Ashley, and Jason from Kraft Heinz to break down how Capri Sun is evolving beyond nostalgia and into the future of functional beverages. From the launch of Capri Sun bottles to the new Capri Sun Hydrate with electrolytes, the team shares how they’re thinking about convenience, retail expansion, evolving consumer habits, and the untapped opportunity in kids hydration. The conversation dives into how legacy brands can stay culturally relevant while still protecting the core equities consumers know and love.

Ryan Garcia Reveals the REAL Reason He Backed MAC Energy

In this episode of the Pour Decisions Podcast, Dino Sarti sits down with professional boxer and WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia to talk about his partnership with MAC Energy alongside Conor McGregor, the science behind ketone-based energy drinks, and what fuels him through 8-hour training days. Ryan opens up about life as an elite athlete, balancing performance and recovery, building businesses outside the ring, and preparing for his upcoming fight against Conor Benn. From boxing to branding, this conversation dives into the mindset behind building a championship career both inside and outside the ring. 

The Hidden Deduction Problem Costing Brands Millions | Revya AI

Most brands are focused on driving sales. Very few are focused on recovering the revenue they’re already owed. In this episode of the Pour Decisions Podcast, Dino Sarti sits down with Komal Devjani, founder of Revya AI, to discuss how AI is transforming financial operations for emerging CPG brands. Revya AI helps brands identify invalid distributor deductions, automate invoice validation, dispute discrepancies, and recover lost revenue from major distributors like UNFI and KeHE. The conversation explores how AI is creating operational advantages for smaller brands that historically only large companies with massive finance teams could access. Komal also breaks down how Revya goes beyond deductions into promotion lift analysis, revenue forecasting, and smarter financial planning for growing brands. If you’re building in beverage or CPG, this is a practical conversation about where AI is delivering real business impact today.

From Mexican Street Drink to Modern Soda Brand: The De La Calle Story

In this episode of the Pour Decisions Podcast, Dan Weisbach sits down with Alex Matthews, Founder of De La Calle and creative agency Loaf, to discuss the origins of tepache, the rise of modern Mexican soda, and how De La Calle carved out a unique space in the evolving beverage landscape.
Alex shares how authentic Mexican culture inspired the brand, why De La Calle pivoted away from kombucha positioning, and how the company strategically evolved to compete in the growing modern soda category. The conversation also dives into branding, retail strategy, shelf stable distribution, and building a culturally driven consumer brand.

The Secret Behind Cirkul’s 150+ Flavors and Massive DTC Growth

What happens when two Dartmouth football players try dumping sports drink powder into a water bottle… and accidentally create one of the most disruptive hydration brands in beverage? In this episode of the Pour Decisions Podcast, Dino Sarti sits down with Garrett Waggoner and Andy Gay, Co-Founders of Cirkul, to break down how they built a category-defining hydration platform that’s generated over $1 billion in sales in just a few years. From vertical manufacturing and proprietary technology to TikTok virality, Walmart expansion, and the launch of Cirkul’s new soda platform, this conversation dives deep into what it really takes to innovate in beverage today. The episode covers: How Cirkul was created in a Dartmouth locker room Why they vertically integrated manufacturing The power of DTC and community-led growth Building 150+ flavors and a loyal customer base Launching into Walmart and scaling retail Why “better-for-you” beverage is a spectrum The future of personalized hydration and soda.

The THC Beverage Boom Is Here — But Congress Could Shut It Down

THC beverages are becoming one of the fastest-growing categories in modern CPG — and Cann is at the center of it. In this episode of the Pour Decisions Podcast, Dino Sarti sits down with Jake Bullock, Co-Founder & CEO of Cann, to discuss how the brand pioneered the microdose THC beverage movement and why consumers are increasingly replacing alcohol with cannabis-infused drinks. Jake shares his unconventional path from investment banking and private equity into CPG, why Cann focused on low-dose “sessionable” products instead of high-potency cannabis, and how the brand built an experience that feels more social, approachable, and consistent than traditional edibles. The conversation also dives into the regulatory fight currently threatening the hemp beverage industry, why alcohol distributors are embracing THC drinks, and what the future of cannabis beverages could look like across retail, bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues. If you’re interested in the future of beverages, alcohol alternatives, retail disruption, cannabis regulation, or emerging consumer behavior trends, this episode is packed with insights.

The Future of Grocery Retail with Ralphs President Kendra Doyel

What does it take to win at one of the largest grocery retailers in the country? In this episode of the Pour Decisions Podcast, Dino Sarti and Danny Stepper sit down with Kendra Doyel, President of Ralphs, to discuss retail innovation, emerging brands, consumer trends, and the evolving grocery landscape. Kendra shares her incredible career journey from pharmacist to leading one of Kroger’s most important banners, while also giving founders valuable insight into how brands can successfully partner with retailers like Ralphs. The conversation dives into: What consumers are prioritizing right now How Ralphs approaches innovation and local brands What emerging founders need to know about Kroger Why value means more than just price The importance of mentorship and leadership development The impact of the Western Association of Food Chains (WFC) The future of grocery retail and rapid industry change Plus, Danny reveals a new beverage packaging innovation that immediately caught the attention of major retailers.