Cooking Up Innovation – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Technical and general information from the podcast's RSS feed.

Cooking Up Innovation

Valentina Funaro

Arts

Frequency: 1 episode/158d. Total Eps: 9

Welcome to Cooking Up Innovation, the podcast that is all about new product development and driving innovation in food and beverage. In each episode i’ll be unwrapping how food businesses turn ideas into market ready products that end up in your shopping basket. Connect with me - LI: www.linkedin.com/in/valentina-funaro-233688104 IG: https://www.instagram.com/valentinaincucina__/?hl=en

Read moreCollapse

Site

RSS

Apple

Data updated on 01/10/2026

Recent rankings

Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

No recent rankings available

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Links found in episode descriptions and other podcasts that share them.

See all

https://www.instagram.com/drinkfhirst
4 shares
https://www.instagram.com/drink_gomatcha
3 shares
https://www.instagram.com/wearelittles
2 shares

https://www.fhirst.com/en-uk
4 shares
https://drinkgomatcha.com/
3 shares

RSS feed quality and score

Technical evaluation of the podcast's RSS feed quality and structure.

See all

RSS feed quality

To improve

Score global : 38%

Publication history

Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.

Year

Latest published episodes

Recent episodes with titles, durations, and descriptions.

See all

Soul Kitchen: Breathing New Life Into Instant Soup

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 • Duration 43:18

In this episode, I sit down with Bella Acland, the founder of Soul Kitchen, to explore how a frustration with bland, uninspiring packet soup sparked a mission to reinvent a forgotten category. From two years of battling manufacturers for a clean-label recipe to landing a listing on Eurostar, Bella shares the real behind-the-scenes of building a veg-packed instant soup that's as nourishing as it is convenient.

Topics:

Bella's route into food and drink, from a zoology degree to wholesale sales
What Soul Kitchen is: veg-first, plant-based instant soups in recyclable paper sachets
The new Soul Kitchen+ functional range (high-protein greens; lion's mane mushroom with vitamins B12 and D)
Spotting the gap in a dated, low-quality instant soup category
Why "real veg" messaging worked better than "superfood" claims
Building bold flavour without added sugar and with low salt
From kitchen to factory: two years, three manufacturers and 12 tomato powder suppliers
Fighting for a clean label: minimum order quantities, margins and hearing "no" a lot
Balancing premium quality with affordability in a price-sensitive category
How NPD decisions get made: negative competitor reviews, TikTok trends and a WhatsApp customer panel
The unexpected office and desk-lunch occasion, plus outdoor and camping use
GLP-1, high protein and the nutrient-dense snacking opportunity
Expanding into just-add-hot-water meal pots to take on the pot noodle aisle
Where to sit in store: next to cup soup, ambient innovation and bone broth
From D2C to wholesale, independents, food service and a Eurostar listing
Advice for founders: solve a real problem, keep it simple, and let your hero product evolve

Connect with me on LinkedIn - ⁠www.linkedin.com/in/valentina-funaro-233688104⁠

Soul Kitchen

Website - ⁠https://www.wearesoulkitchen.com/

Instagram - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/wearesoulkitchen/

Read moreCollapse

GoMatcha: 90 recipes, 2 years, 1 perfected matcha latte

Tuesday, April 8, 2025 • Duration 49:30

In this episode, I sit down with Nina Penning, the founder of GoMatcha, to explore how a personal love for matcha sparked a bold leap into the beverage industry. From launching her brand to creating a ready-to-drink matcha latte, Nina shares the real behind-the-scenes of building a product that’s as meaningful as it is delicious.

Topics:

From Idea to Infusion – How Nina turned her passion for matcha into a brand
Building GoMatcha – Lessons from launching a DTC wellness brand
Creating the RTD Matcha Latte – Diving into the process of creating their newest RTD product launch
Sustainability & Sourcing – The importance of quality in Matcha
Nina’s Founder Journey – The highs, lows, and surprises along the way
What’s Next for GoMatcha? – Innovation, community, and growing the brand
Final Thoughts – Advice for aspiring founders

Connect with me on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/valentina-funaro-233688104

GoMatcha

Website - https://drinkgomatcha.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drink_gomatcha/

Read moreCollapse

Kumasi Drinks: Refreshing the cacao industry one squeeze at a time

Thursday, August 1, 2024 • Duration 01:10:08

In this episode I talk to Lars Gierveld who is the founder of Kumasi, a drink made from the pulp of the cacao fruit that would otherwise be discarded as a by product of chocolate production. Kumasi is about so much more than product innovation and their story showcases how there is still space for mission-led businesses to thrive within FMCG.

Topics:

Introduction to Lars
The making of the documentary
Working with Nestle
Discovering cocoa juice
Kumasi business model
Sourcing locations
The challenge of being first to market
The A to Z of making Kumasi
Branding, sampling and partnerships

Connect with me on LinkedIn - ⁠www.linkedin.com/in/valentina-funaro-233688104⁠

Kumasi

Documentary - https://vimeo.com/525553590/4ca705804b

Website - https://www.kumasi-drinks.nl/[⁠](https://www.fhirst.com/en-uk)

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kumasi_drinks/?hl=en[⁠](https://www.instagram.com/drinkfhirst/)

Read moreCollapse

FHIRST: The art and science behind bottling billions of cultures

Tuesday, January 23, 2024 • Duration 56:50

In this episode I talk to Steven van Middelem who is the founder of FHIRST, a pioneering living soda with pre and probiotics. FHIRST is a true example of how science and taste have come together to create a product that is both delicious and improves your gut and immune health.

Topics:

Stevens’ career background
Creating the FHIRST soda
Why gut health is so popular
Why kombucha isn't necessarily the healthiest for your gut
The trials and errors of developing a first to market product
What are microorganisms and how do they work
How FHIRST ensure their soda remains active
The truth behind plant fibres
What all natural actually means
Choosing the right flavours for launch
Creating an impact with on-shelf packaging
Advice from a life-long career in the beverage industry

Connect with me on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/valentina-funaro-233688104

FHIRST

Website - https://www.fhirst.com/en-uk

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drinkfhirst/

Read moreCollapse

The Tofoo Co: What the rainy day test says about your product

Monday, October 23, 2023 • Duration 55:37

In this episode I talk to Lydia and Dave, owners of The Tofoo Co, who have been on a mission to turn tofu from drab to fab. The Tofoo Co creates one of the best selling tofus in the UK, using an age old method established by it’s original owner in 1999. Their unique journey into business ownership shows how you can turn a pre-existing business into a national success when you combine quality product with effective branding and positioning.

Topics:

How The Tofoo Co came to be
Consumer attitudes towards tofu
Why branding was critical
How to embrace tofu as a staple ingredient
Learning how to make handmade tofu
Manufacturing: Understanding the process and keeping it under control
Their approach to NPD & gathering consumer insight
How they have responded to a changing market

Connect with me on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/valentina-funaro-233688104

The Tofoo Co

Website - https://tofoo.co.uk/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tofoo/?hl=en

Read moreCollapse

Jnck Bakery: Baking the future of healthy snacking

Season 1 · Episode 3

Tuesday, August 1, 2023 • Duration 39:21

In this episode I talk to Alex Brassill, the co-founder of Jnck Bakery who are creating indulgent freshly baked goods that carry zero guilt. Jnck Bakery are fusing age-old baking techniques with cutting-edge technology to create a cookie that has 90% less sugar than your average retail product, 10g of fibre and 8g of protein but still provides all the same comfort.

Topics:

From sports nutrition to cookies: The story behind Jnck Bakery
Making the UK happier and healthier: Their mission
How Jnck Bakery set themselves apart from other brands
The art of creating a cookie: How the Jnck cookie was created
How they ensure freshly baked and the benefits of a frozen supply chain
Inspiration behind the four flavours
How to approach product development in a start up environment
How their cookies are truly de-junked
Validating the product with consumers
Whats next for Jnck Bakery & where to find them

Connect with me on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/valentina-funaro-233688104

Jnck Bakery

Website - https://jnckbakery.co.uk/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jnckbakery/?hl=en

Read moreCollapse

Little's Coffee: The only coffee machine you’ll ever need is a spoon

Season 1 · Episode 2

Monday, July 3, 2023 • Duration 01:11:18

In this episode I talk to Will Little, the managing director of Little’s Coffee, who are seeking to disrupt supermarket shelves with their flavoured coffee. Their product development journey explains why there are very few disruptor brands in the monopoly that is the instant coffee market, and why doing less, but better, is a winning strategy for a strong product line.

Topics:

California to Finland to the UK: The story behind Little’s Coffee
How Little’s are disrupting the consumer coffee shelf
The target consumer & changes in shopping habits
The product range: Now vs then
Coffee sourcing and traceability
The NPD process: New flavours, panels and wacky ideas
Packaging: The journey to plastic free & closing the loop with podback
Creating a team culture
Will’s top advice for creating a successful food brand

Connect with me on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/valentina-funaro-233688104

Little’s Coffee

Website - https://wearelittles.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wearelittles/?hl=en

Read moreCollapse

The Jolly Hog: Why product development is like an onion

Season 1 · Episode 1

Monday, May 15, 2023 • Duration 01:03:13

In this episode I talk to Max Kohn, one of the three brothers behind The Jolly Hog, a staple brand on UK retail shelves with their British, award-winning meat products. Their product development journey showcases how instinct, taste and a strong core identity can lay the foundations for a successful food business.

Topics:

How The Jolly Hog came to be: from rugby to retail
The sausage retail space once upon a time
The importance of upholding welfare
Creating a signature product & experimentation
Their approach to NPD & EPD: the onion & panelling
Where they find inspiration
Pigsty: Developing for restaurant
Branching into the world of publishing: the Pigs In Blankets Cookbook
How to win Great Taste awards
Branching out from pork
Encouraging innovation within your team

The Jolly Hog

Website - https://thejollyhog.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thejollyhog/?hl=en

Read moreCollapse

Cooking Up Innovation - Trailer

Season 1

Tuesday, April 11, 2023 • Duration 01:09

Do you love food? Are you curious about how food products are made? Do you ever wonder what your favourite food brands will launch next?

Those are all questions we'll be exploring on Cooking Up Innovation. Stay tuned and stay curious.

Read moreCollapse

Cooking Up Innovation – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Cooking Up Innovation – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Instagram9

Other9

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Instagram9

Other9

LinkedIn1