Eric-Schnell, Beyond Brands, Mood33, Cool Beans: CBD-infused beverages
Eric Schnell, co-founder Beyond Brands, Mood33, Cool Beans: I'm optimistic on the growing consumer awareness of, and demand for, CBD infused beverages as we head into 2021. I believe there will a day that this category rivals the energy category in beverages, as CBD is an 'anti-energy' functional ingredient and is the only other plant compound I know besides caffeine that you can use in a formula and the consumer 'feels' an effect within minutes.
As for what keeps me up of night, lack of sampling ability on new food and beverage products definitely keeps most founders up at night as active demos are the lifeline of all new products, especially ones creating new categories and need the hand-to-hand touch so that the consumer is educated and enlightened in store and can create a purchase immediately at checkout.
No matter how much a brand can strategize about how to 'touch' the consumer digitally to gain excitement on a new product, its always been about the meet and greet that takes place at a demo experience in store that often leads to a loyal brand evangelist being created for a new product.
