Interview Questions for Alon Chen, Tastewise's CEO
Transformin' the conversation here, y'all! We chatted with Alon Chen, CEO of Tastewise, an Israeli company that uses an AI-powered platform to uncover foodie trends in real-time. Let's dive into how they do it!
Kertai: Alright, Alon, what gives with this AI platform of yours? How does it unearth the hottest food and drink trends?
Chen: Well, buckle up, 'cause we analyze over a trillion data points in real-time, giving us a snapshot of how consumer preferences are evolving across platforms and regions. Our platform is like a data-devouring brontosaurus, feasting on a smorgasbord of sources—75 billion social media posts, one trillion online recipes, millions of restaurant menus and reviews, and hundreds of thousands of grocery products. We then take that raw data and use advanced AI models to turn it into gold, I mean, actionable insights!
For example, we use models to group similar entities, like identifying restaurant chains or classifying comparable food products. Our neural networks help segment consumers based on shared behaviors, interests, and values. We also link data across platforms, so we can trace a restaurant's reach across various delivery apps, creating a unified view that helps us cut through the noise and spot early signals of change.
Kertai: Sounds snazzy, but what challenges come with applying AI to the food industry?
Chen: Food's a personal and culturally nuanced thing, which makes applying AI a bit of a wild ride. A big challenge is making sure our models understand the local flavor, health, and sustainability preferences that can vary from one place to another. To tackle this, we've designed our platform to deliver hyper-local insights using geotagged data and regional analysis. Another key challenge is preserving the human touch. We pair machine learning with food expertise from industry pros to ensure our insights are not just accurate but culturally relevant and meaningful.
Kertai: How's your approach different from traditional market research methods?
Chen: Traditional research methods like surveys, focus groups, and syndicated reports are often way too slow to keep up with the pace of today's market. In contrast, Tastewise delivers execution-ready insights in real-time, based on what consumers are actually digging into, cooking up, searching for, and gabbing about right now. We don't just identify trends; we help teams respond to them quickly and effectively.
Kertai: Any success stories you'd like to share?
Chen: Waitrose, a leading U.K. supermarket, slapped together a Japanese-inspired product line of 26 items in just nine months using Tastewise. The line attracted a younger demographic and drove an average spending increase of $5 per visit. Another win is Campbell's. Their marketing team has been using our trend data for the past two years to shape seasonal and monthly campaigns grounded in real-time consumer interests, helping them create more resonant messages that strengthen their emotional connections with customers.
Kertai: How do you ensure your AI insights remain actionable and relevant to real-time client needs?
Chen: We build our entire platform around driving immediate, practical outcomes. Our in-house content team collaborates with brands to test concepts, localize campaigns, and tweak messaging for different audiences. For consumer packaged goods brands, we provide detailed guidance on which product formats, claims, and shelf placements perform best, right down to specific aisles in specific stores. This level of precision helps brands launch campaigns that resonate with consumers and keep them coming back for more!
Enrichment Data:Tastewise's AI platform predicts several food and drink trends that'll rule in 2025:
- Hydration with a Kick: Expect to see a rise in hydration beverages that throw a flavor party, with boba tea leading the charge.
- Spicy Business: Hot honey and gochujang are on-trend, indicating an appetite for heat in our food.
- Crave-able Comfort: When it comes to delivery, burgers and pasta dominate, with flavors and craveability mattering more than price.
- Global Fusion: Dishes that blend comfort with global flavors are popular, such as "Gochujang BBQ Chicken with Sesame Ginger Glaze."
- Functional Dairy: Get ready for functional dairy products, better-for-you cheese, and innovative dairy flavors that combine sweet and savory.
- Delivery-Friendly Formats: Sandwiches and wraps rule the roost because they're travel-friendly, followed closely by rice and noodle dishes.
These trends suggest consumers are on the hunt for indulgent, practical, and globally influenced foods, and they're seeking healthier, innovative options in dairy.
- Tastewise's AI platform, like a data-devouring brontosaurus, analyzes over a trillion data points in real-time from various sources such as social media posts, online recipes, restaurant menus, and reviews, to uncover food and drink trends.
- Chen explains that their AI models group similar entities, helping to identify restaurant chains or classify comparable food products, while neural networks segment consumers based on their behaviors, interests, and values.
- To tackle challenges in applying AI to the food industry, such as understanding cultural nuances, Tastewise's platform delivers hyper-local insights using geotagged data and regional analysis, and combines machine learning with food expertise from industry professionals.
- Traditional market research methods, like surveys and focus groups, are often too slow to keep up with the pace of the market, while Tastewise delivers real-time, execution-ready insights.
- Success stories from clients like Waitrose and Campbell's demonstrate that Tastewise's AI-powered platform is effective in helping brands respond to trends quickly and effectively, creating more resonant messages that strengthen their connections with customers.