Christopher Hunter's Linkedin Analytics

Building a beverage brand is one of the hardest things you can do. The highs are high—but the lows? They’ll test your grit, your vision, and your belief in yourself. That’s why community matters. Grateful to be on stage at The Beverage Forum sharing stories of our journeys alongside some of the best in the game— Clayton Christopher, Doss Cunningham from Nutrabolt, Danny Stepper and Josh Wand Legends who’ve built, scaled, and supported brands through every twist of the journey. There are no shortcuts in this space—just hard lessons, resilience, and relationships that make it all worth it. Here’s to pushing the category forward together. #BeverageForum #CPG #ConsumerBrands #Founders #BeverageEntrepreneur #Koia #Gratitude Koia

The grind is overrated. Joy has ROI. For a long time, I wore “tuning everything out” like a badge of honor. Say no to fun. Say yes to more work. The idea: if I just push harder, I’ll get ahead. But lately, I’ve realized something important: That mindset is outdated. And honestly? Counterproductive. I’ve started playing padel a few times a week. It checks a lot of boxes— • Movement • Social connection • Competitive outlet • Conversations that aren’t about work And here’s the surprising part: The time I spend doing something I actually enjoy is paid back in spades. I think more clearly. I’m more productive. And I’m just… better to be around. We talk a lot about performance, but rarely about the inputs that sustain it. Joy. Fun. Community. These aren’t distractions—they’re fuel. If you’re grinding nonstop and wondering why you feel stuck… Maybe what you need isn’t more hours. Maybe it’s just more fun. So take the Wednesday morning off to do something you find joy in and see how it goes.

🧠 Modern vs. Legacy: The Soda Parallel That Explains the Future of Protein 🚨 The Soda Shake-Up Ten years ago, if you wanted a soda, you grabbed a Pepsi or Coke. Today? You’re just as likely to reach for a Poppi or OLIPOP — not just because they taste good, but because they align with modern values: 👉 Gut health 👉 Clean ingredients 👉 Functional benefits 👉 Modern branding and community These “new soda” brands didn’t replace Pepsi or Coke on the shelf — they redefined what soda could be. 💪 The Same Shift Is Happening in Protein Legacy protein brands like Muscle Milk and Core Power were built for the gym bro era — high protein, artificial sweeteners, and performance-first. But today’s consumer wants more: ☑️ Plant-based and clean label ☑️ Low sugar, no weird aftertaste ☑️ Functional benefits (e.g., GLP-1 support, gut health) ☑️ Daily use — not just post-gym Brands that speak to whole-self wellness, not just gains Koia isn’t just a better version of legacy protein — it’s an entirely new interpretation of what protein should be. ❌ Why Legacy Brands Can’t Make the Jump Much like Pepsi and Coke couldn’t authentically launch a Poppi or OLIPOP without raising eyebrows, legacy protein players can’t pivot without losing their core customers or credibility: 👉 Their ingredient decks don’t align with the clean-label movement. 👉 Their branding speaks to a different generation. 👉 They’re built on scale and shelf space, not intimacy and community. ✅ Why Koia Wins Koia has the permission, positioning, and product to lead the “new protein” wave: ✔️ Lifestyle-forward brand that speaks to how we live, not just how we lift ✔️ 100% plant-based and clean label ✔️ Functional SKUs that align with modern health trends (GLP-1, gut health, metabolic wellness) ✔️ DTC and Amazon traction with retail momentum in RTD — the fastest-growing segment ✔️ Broad assortment on products to fit all day parts and usage occassions Poppi and OLIPOP didn’t just win shelf space — they won the modern consumer’s trust. Koia is doing the same for protein. And just like those brands, Koia is quietly becoming a prime example of what "Modern Protein" will look like. #beverageforum #bevnet BevNET.com The Beverage Forum Danny Stepper John Craven #protein #modernsoda