Daniel Lubetzky, founder of Kind Snacks and the newest 'Shark Tank' judge, joins Asking for a Trend to discuss his new role on the show and share his perspective on the food and snack industry.

The new Shark Tank judge reflected on his experience, noting that he's learning a great deal from his colleagues. When evaluating pitches on the show, Lubetzky emphasizes the importance of authenticity, claiming he has "a sixth sense for it." He ranks integrity as the most crucial factor, followed by a unique business concept, creativity, potential, and a great product or service. "In life, the people that I want to hire, the people that I want to work with, are people that can grow," he told Yahoo Finance.

Within his own business of snacking, Lubetzky acknowledges the unhealthy nature of the food industry saying "it's very real." With ultra-processed ingredients such as refined sugars, refined carbs, and artificial dyes/sweeteners, he believes that companies don't do "enough to educate the consumer." He adds; "It's not the right way to build our society."

Lubetzky also highlighted his recent investment in Cava (CAVA), the Mediterranean fast-casual chain that has seen its stock soar since going public last year. Despite inflation still impacting businesses across the economy, Lubetzky remains confident in the brand, stating, "For me, my experience is if you have a great product or service and you're at a growth stage, these things don't phase you."

This post was written by Angel Smith