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Taste RadioAuthor: BevNET Inc.
The top podcast for anyone building a business in food or beverage, BevNETs Taste Radio features interviews with the leaders and rising stars of our fast-evolving industry. The shows also include discussion on emerging trends, innovation and news of the week from our regular cadre of hosts from the BevNET and NOSH teams. Tell us what you think at ask@tasteradio.com. You can also email us if you are interested in Taste Radio sponsorship opportunities. And if you like the podcast, share it with a colleague, will ya? Language: en Genres: Business, Entrepreneurship Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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How Halfday Went From Dorm Room To Disrupting A $9B Category
Tuesday, 16 September, 2025
What does it take to reinvent a legacy category for the modern consumer? In this episode, Mike Lombardo, the co-founder of better-for-you iced tea brand Halfday, shares the journey of transforming a college side hustle into a fast-growing challenger brand. Fueled by a mission to improve gut health without sacrificing flavor, Mike and his co-founder set out to reimagine iced tea for today’s health-conscious consumer. Mike opens up about the brand’s early missteps, and why putting flavor first became a non-negotiable product principle. He also shares how Halfday secured coveted shelf space at Whole Foods, partnered with one of New York City’s most influential distributors, and how a last-minute decision to attend BevNET Live led to a major investment that helped propel the business forward. Show notes: 0:25: Interview: Mike Lombardo, Co-Founder, Halfday – Mike explains the origins of the name “Halfday,” how he and his co-founder initially bootstrapped their way into Whole Foods stores and what they learned from in-store demos. He talks about why the original concept wasn’t scalable and how the pandemic became a turning point in which they leaned more heavily into the products’ functional benefits, low sugar content and flavor, focusing their message on “iced tea for the modern consumer.” Mike emphasizes the importance of patience and iteration, and building the right team with experienced operators. He reflects on the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, including doubts about scalability, the challenges of fundraising, and the importance of trusting the process. Brands in this episode: Halfday, Three Wishes, Snapple, Olipop, Liquid Death, Bai, C4 Energy
