Today's guest is the lovely Ailis Anderson - Head of Brand & Marketing at Honestly Tasty. Now Honestly Tasty make absolutely DELICIOUS fermented, mould-ripened, natural, plant-based cheeses like blue, brie, camembert and more. Recently they acquired La Fauxmagerie - a brand who I worked for in the past and had the pleasure of seeing behind the scenes the care, passion and craft the Honestly Tasty team put into creating all these award winning cheeses! I loved digging into Ailis' background regarding how nannying translated to working in a startup environment, how she got this role, and why she's so passionate about the space. Ailis also mentioned the new Camden Cultured range which is STUNNING and may be some of my new favourite cheeses on the market! If you've never been impressed by vegan cheese, these are some of the brands that will help change your mind. Enjoy this conversation - I sure did! As always thanks to our fantastic sponsor ⁠Mission Kitchen!⁠ If you're a chef, baker of food brand looking to grow, then head on over to book a tour at their site in Nine Elms, London today. Also if you want to build a brand consumers love, you NEED to speak with my incredible new sponsor ⁠Against Ordinary⁠ - the masterminds behind my gorgeous new rebrand. They also have a 5-Minute Brand Test to help you uncover what’s working, what’s holding you back, and where your untapped potential lies. Give the ⁠Brand Scorecard⁠ a go today! Check out the ever growing ⁠⁠Unfounders Song Selection ⁠⁠playlist on Spotify.... it's WILD. Ps - Have you got a guest you'd love to hear from? Submit a guest request form on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Intro by Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠⁠ Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/hey-pluto/nod-your-head Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Honestly Tasty 06:14 The Journey of Vegan Cheese 14:07 Innovations in Plant-Based Cheese 17:06 The Vegetarian Journey 18:51 The Rebranding Experience 21:10 Shelf Presence and Market Strategy 22:22 Christmas Specials and New Products 24:16 Collaborations and Availability 28:02 Challenges in Direct-to-Consumer Shipping 31:52 The Soundtrack of Startup Life

Jack Rutherfood is the UK Managing Director at Italian food powerhouse Crosta Mollica They have been dominating in the UK over recent years, and it was great chatting to Jack to try and understand some of the reasons why that is. I also loved digging into Jack's background from his first role as a Junior Buyer at Sainsburys, to moving brand side and working at the likes of Diageo, Lily's Kitchen and THIS. Jack is a fantastic guy - and I loved this one, I'm sure you will too! As always thanks to our fantastic sponsor ⁠Mission Kitchen!⁠ If you're a chef, baker of food brand looking to grow, then head on over to book a tour at their site in Nine Elms, London today. Also if you want to build a brand consumers love, you NEED to speak with my incredible new sponsor ⁠Against Ordinary⁠ - the masterminds behind my gorgeous new rebrand. They also have a 5-Minute Brand Test to help you uncover what’s working, what’s holding you back, and where your untapped potential lies. Give the ⁠Brand Scorecard⁠ a go today! Check out the ever growing ⁠⁠Unfounders Song Selection ⁠⁠playlist on Spotify.... it's WILD. Ps - Have you got a guest you'd love to hear from? Submit a guest request form on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Intro by Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠⁠ Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/hey-pluto/nod-your-head Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Jack Rutherford and Crosstor Malika 01:40 The Story of Crosstor Malika 03:13 Brand Evolution and Rebranding Success 05:39 Joining Crosstor: The Attraction of the Brand 08:33 Market Insights: Chilled vs Frozen Pizza 11:46 The Secret Sauce of Crosstor's Success 17:40 Jack's Journey: From Aspirations to Leadership 20:10 The Evolution of Ready-to-Drink Beverages 22:02 Career Path: From Sainsbury's to Diageo 25:00 Transitioning to Challenger Brands 27:46 Navigating the Plant-Based Boom 30:44 Balancing Work and Family Life 33:22 Resilience in the Face of Challenges 35:43 The Soundtrack of Work Life

Oi, FATSO. Yeah, you heard that right... No, I'm not insulting you - I'm talking about the unapologetically FAT and delicious chocolate brand FATSO as this week I sit down with the lovely Poppy Dionian Smith - National Account Manager and Maja Turner - Brand & Content Manager. I LOVED this conversation. From the playful name and branding - which when unwrapped has so much more to share, from their ethical sourcing from a single farm in Cambodia, to supporting the chocolate dream charity initiative and so much more. Honestly, the chocolate is unbelievably good, and I loved hearing why Poppy and Maja joined the team and why they love what they do! As always thanks to our fantastic sponsor ⁠Mission Kitchen!⁠ If you're a chef, baker of food brand looking to grow, then head on over to book a tour at their site in Nine Elms, London today. Also if you want to build a brand consumers love, you NEED to speak with my incredible new sponsor ⁠Against Ordinary⁠ - the masterminds behind my gorgeous new rebrand. They also have a 5-Minute Brand Test to help you uncover what’s working, what’s holding you back, and where your untapped potential lies. Give the ⁠Brand Scorecard⁠ a go today! Check out the ever growing ⁠⁠Unfounders Song Selection ⁠⁠playlist on Spotify.... it's WILD. Ps - Have you got a guest you'd love to hear from? Submit a guest request form on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Intro by Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠⁠ Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/hey-pluto/nod-your-head Chapters 00:00 Introduction to FATSO and Its Founders 02:52 The Brand Story and Ethical Sourcing 05:40 The Team Dynamics and Company Culture 08:17 Personal Journeys to FATSO 11:25 Typical Workweeks and Responsibilities 14:09 The Impact of the Brand Name 'FATSO' 22:58 The Allure of Unique Branding 24:29 Childhood Dreams and Culinary Passions 25:42 Lessons from the Journey 27:26 The Importance of Passion in Work 29:29 Navigating Management and Team Dynamics 30:23 Exciting Developments for the Holiday Season 32:04 Learning from Setbacks 34:52 The Soundtrack of Work Life

In this episode, Becki Hawkins, the Senior Nutritionist at Champneys, shares her extensive experience in the wellness and nutrition industry. She discusses the philosophy behind Champneys' approach to food, emphasising moderation, balance, and variety. Becki highlights the importance of innovation in menu development, the impact of their cookbook, and the evolving landscape of nutrition science. She also addresses the significance of enjoying food and social connections, the challenges faced during her career, and the exciting future developments at Champneys. Check her out on socials here: TikTok: @the_intolerance_n Instagram: @the_intolerance_nutritionist As always thanks to our fantastic sponsor ⁠Mission Kitchen!⁠ If you're a chef, baker of food brand looking to grow, then head on over to book a tour at their site in Nine Elms, London today. Also if you want to build a brand consumers love, you NEED to speak with my incredible new sponsor ⁠Against Ordinary⁠ - the masterminds behind my gorgeous new rebrand. They also have a 5-Minute Brand Test to help you uncover what’s working, what’s holding you back, and where your untapped potential lies. Give the ⁠Brand Scorecard⁠ a go today! Check out the ever growing ⁠⁠Unfounders Song Selection ⁠⁠playlist on Spotify.... it's WILD. Ps - Have you got a guest you'd love to hear from? Submit a guest request form on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Intro by Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠⁠ Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/hey-pluto/nod-your-head Chapters 00:00 Becki's Journey and Role at Champneys 02:37 The Philosophy of Wellness at Champneys 05:25 Food Philosophy: Moderation, Balance, and Variety 08:12 Innovation in Menu Development 11:35 Collaboration and Brand Partnerships 14:20 The Cookbook Journey 17:33 Becki's Early Relationship with Food 18:49 Journey to Shampneys: Building a Career in Nutrition 21:02 Evolving Nutrition Philosophy: Adapting to Science and Trends 24:12 The Interplay of Food and Wellness: A Holistic Approach 26:26 Balancing Indulgence and Health: The 80-20 Rule 30:02 Resilience in Adversity: Lessons from Challenges 34:55 Looking Ahead: Future Innovations at Champneys

In this episode, Ellie-Mae Healy, Head of Growth at Marna Iced Tea, shares her journey from sports to the startup world, discussing the unique approach Marna takes in brewing iced tea with real loose leaf tea. She highlights the challenges and successes of the brand, the importance of utilising AI for operational efficiency in such a small team. It was also great to hear about her time at Perfect Ted and what she learnt along the way. I loved this chat, and the tea is delicious - this is a brand to watch for sure! As always thanks to our fantastic sponsor ⁠Mission Kitchen!⁠ If you're a chef, baker of food brand looking to grow, then head on over to book a tour at their site in Nine Elms, London today. Also if you want to build a brand consumers love, you NEED to speak with my incredible new sponsor ⁠Against Ordinary⁠ - the masterminds behind my gorgeous new rebrand. They also have a 5-Minute Brand Test to help you uncover what’s working, what’s holding you back, and where your untapped potential lies. Give the ⁠Brand Scorecard⁠ a go today! Check out the ever growing ⁠⁠Unfounders Song Selection ⁠⁠playlist on Spotify.... it's WILD. Ps - Have you got a guest you'd love to hear from? Submit a guest request form on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Intro by Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠⁠ Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/hey-pluto/nod-your-head Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest 01:29 Ellie May's Role at Marna Iced Tea 01:49 The Unique Selling Proposition of Marna Iced Tea 03:46 The Founding Story of Marna 04:55 Ellie's Journey into the Iced Tea World 06:23 The Lean Team Structure at Marna 08:16 Utilising AI in Operations and Sales 09:59 A Day in the Life of Head of Growth 11:42 Ellie's Career Path and Transition to Manna 15:03 Lessons Learned from Perfect Ted 18:32 Big Wins and Experiences at Marna 18:51 Navigating Commercial Strategies in Retail 20:32 Expanding Retail Presence and Key Partnerships 22:53 Challenges in the Iced Tea Market 27:45 Learning from Tough Days in a Startup 30:43 Transferable Skills from Hospitality to Sales 33:28 Advice for Entering the Startup World 35:10 Embracing the Messiness of Startup Life

This weeks guest are Harry Ford and Eve Rodway of HIP POP - functional drinks brand offering a wide range of delicious kombucha’s, fibre rich soda’s and CBD drinks. We discuss the brand's origins, marketing strategies, festival activations, and the importance of team culture. I loved digging into both Harry and Eve’s backgrounds and to understanding what makes them both love what they do, day in day out! As always thanks to our fantastic sponsor ⁠Mission Kitchen!⁠ If you're a chef, baker of food brand looking to grow, then head on over to book a tour at their site in Nine Elms, London today. Also if you want to build a brand consumers love, you NEED to speak with my incredible new sponsor ⁠Against Ordinary⁠ - the masterminds behind my gorgeous new rebrand. They also have a 5-Minute Brand Test to help you uncover what’s working, what’s holding you back, and where your untapped potential lies. Give the ⁠Brand Scorecard⁠ a go today! Check out the ever growing ⁠⁠Unfounders Song Selection ⁠⁠playlist on Spotify.... it's WILD. Ps - Have you got a guest you'd love to hear from? Submit a guest request form on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Intro by Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠⁠ Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/hey-pluto/nod-your-head Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Hip Hop and Its Founders 03:59 Growth and Market Presence of Hip Hop 05:50 Rebranding and Marketing Strategies 09:33 Festival Activations and Brand Engagement 10:47 Team Structure and Company Culture 13:07 Career Journeys: From Aspirations to Reality 24:51 Reconnecting and Brand Evolution 25:23 Crafting Unique Flavours and Brand Identity 26:37 Exciting New Product Launches 27:51 Sustainable Wellness Campaigns 28:46 Navigating Operations and Retail Partnerships 31:10 Understanding Consumer Insights 34:08 Expanding Market Reach and Brand Positioning 37:51 Favourite Products and Personal Recommendations 39:36 Overcoming Challenges in the Industry 43:05 Music and Motivation in the Workplace

Allora, let me welcome you to apertivo hour with this weeks guest Jacob Wood. Jacob is the Sales & Activation Manager at Allora - a brand reinventing the spritz with their unique, delicious lemon based spirit. He discusses his journey from field sales to joining Allora, the challenges faced in building the brand, and the strategies employed to engage with customers and bars and getting 'liquid on lips.' I love what Allora are doing, and Jacob is brilliant. As always thanks to our fantastic sponsor ⁠Mission Kitchen!⁠ If you're a chef, baker of food brand looking to grow, then head on over to book a tour at their site in Nine Elms, London today. Also if you want to build a brand consumers love, you NEED to speak with my incredible new sponsor ⁠Against Ordinary⁠ - the masterminds behind my gorgeous new rebrand. They also have a 5-Minute Brand Test to help you uncover what’s working, what’s holding you back, and where your untapped potential lies. Give the ⁠Brand Scorecard⁠ a go today! Check out the ever growing ⁠⁠Unfounders Song Selection ⁠⁠playlist on Spotify.... it's WILD. Ps - Have you got a guest you'd love to hear from? Submit a guest request form on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Intro by Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠⁠ Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/hey-pluto/nod-your-head Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Setup 01:40 The Story of Allora 06:13 Jacob's Journey to Allora 08:44 Allora's Team and Work Culture 10:12 Early Aspirations and Career Path 13:24 Activations and Brand Building 18:07 Future Goals and Market Expansion 21:48 Educating the Market: Beyond Limoncello 24:19 Innovative Product Development and RTDs 26:28 Collaborations and Brand Partnerships 28:32 Overcoming Challenges in Sales and Activations 32:03 The Importance of Small Details in Business 33:58 Advice for Aspiring Sales Professionals 36:46 The Story Behind Allora's Name and Brand Vision

Sarah Warman was the first marketing hire at Brewdog back in 2013...From a small craft brewery brand, to an international beer powerhouse. But what has it actually been like working in a business where marketing and PR stunts has been a huge part of their growth? What are the key lessons and learnings along the way? What is it really like working with James Watt? I loved this chat so much. Sarah is absolutely brilliant and diving through her career journey was so great fun - I hope you enjoy it as much as we did As always thanks to our fantastic sponsor ⁠Mission Kitchen!⁠ If you're a chef, baker of food brand looking to grow, then head on over to book a tour at their site in Nine Elms, London today. Also if you want to build a brand consumers love, you NEED to speak with my incredible new sponsor ⁠Against Ordinary⁠ - the masterminds behind my gorgeous new rebrand. They also have a 5-Minute Brand Test to help you uncover what’s working, what’s holding you back, and where your untapped potential lies. Give the ⁠Brand Scorecard⁠ a go today! Check out the ever growing ⁠⁠Unfounders Song Selection ⁠⁠playlist on Spotify.... it's WILD. Ps - Have you got a guest you'd love to hear from? Submit a guest request form on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Intro by Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠⁠ Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/hey-pluto/nod-your-head Chapters 00:00 Sarah's Career Overview and Current Role 04:48 Transitioning to Fractional Work 09:26 Early Career Aspirations and Education 12:24 Joining BrewDog and Early Marketing Strategies 16:18 Crowdfunding Experience at BrewDog 18:04 Marketing Insights and Community Engagement 18:27 Evolution of BrewDog's Marketing Strategy 21:06 Memorable Campaigns and PR Stunts 26:03 Lessons from Successes and Failures 33:23 Maximizing PR Opportunities 35:49 Personal Growth and Relationships at BrewDog 43:59 Reflections on the Working Experience 45:36 Advice for Aspiring Marketers

Today I speak with the wonderful 'neuro-spicy' Lois Mills - Senior Content Lead at Yonder. Yonder is a new way of banking, rewarding customers with points for debit and credit card spending. Rather than stuffy and corporate, they do things much more creative, playful and know how to get eyeballs on the brand. Lois discusses the challenges and joys of working in a startup environment, the importance of creative marketing strategies, and her experiences with innovative campaigns that resonate with audiences. I loved this one - and know you will too! As always thanks to our fantastic sponsor ⁠Mission Kitchen!⁠ If you're a chef, baker of food brand looking to grow, then head on over to book a tour at their site in Nine Elms, London today. Also if you want to build a brand consumers love, you NEED to speak with my incredible new sponsor ⁠Against Ordinary⁠ - the masterminds behind my gorgeous new rebrand. They also have a 5-Minute Brand Test to help you uncover what’s working, what’s holding you back, and where your untapped potential lies. Give the ⁠Brand Scorecard⁠ a go today! Check out the ever growing ⁠⁠Unfounders Song Selection ⁠⁠playlist on Spotify.... it's WILD. Ps - Have you got a guest you'd love to hear from? Submit a guest request form on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Intro by Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠⁠ Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/hey-pluto/nod-your-head Chapters 00:00 Marketing Strategies and Brand Visibility 01:58 Role at Yonder and Content Creation 04:33 Discovering Yonder and Its Unique Offerings 07:32 Creative Campaigns and Brand Engagement 08:43 Introduction and Technical Glitches 08:55 Creative Campaigns: Make It Rain 13:18 The Impact of Brand Creativity 16:26 The Squiggly Career Path 22:33 Lessons from a Non-Linear Journey 25:46 The Importance of Bias to Action 35:38 Navigating Tough Times in Marketing 39:11 Technical Glitches and Podcasting Challenges 40:08 Music as a Work Companion 42:56 Closing Thoughts and Future Connections

Holie's are on a mission to shake up the cereal aisle with their high protein, low sugar granola and in this episode, I speak to UK Commercial Director to Bina Edwards. Bina has a fantastic background working for brands like Red Bull, Ugly, and Liquid Death. Unpicking all these lessons and learnings throughout her journey was fantastic. It's raw, honest and there's so much value in this. I love that she's channeling all this experience into taking on the sugar packed sector - and we even talk about a lawsuit from Lotus bakeries... which Holies won... As always thanks to our fantastic sponsor ⁠Mission Kitchen!⁠ If you're a chef, baker of food brand looking to grow, then head on over to book a tour at their site in Nine Elms, London today. Also if you want to build a brand consumers love, you NEED to speak with my incredible new sponsor ⁠Against Ordinary⁠ - the masterminds behind my gorgeous new rebrand. They also have a 5-Minute Brand Test to help you uncover what’s working, what’s holding you back, and where your untapped potential lies. Give the ⁠Brand Scorecard⁠ a go today! Check out the ever growing ⁠⁠Unfounders Song Selection ⁠⁠playlist on Spotify.... it's WILD. Ps - Have you got a guest you'd love to hear from? Submit a guest request form on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Intro by Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠⁠ Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/hey-pluto/nod-your-head Chapters 00:00: Meet Bina Edwards and Holies 09:08: Finding the Right Opportunity and Team Dynamics 14:14: Lessons from Liquid Death and Brand Perception 25:59: Marketing Strategies: Startups vs. Established Brands 36:48: Legal Challenges and Brand Integrity 37:55: Final Thoughts and Future Directions 42:04: The Future of Holies and Market Expansion

This week's guest is an absolute powerhouse in the drinks world - Ben Dando, Managing Director at Goodrays, In their words, Goodrays provide premium, natural, great-tasting wellbeing products, all born from the power of the sun - in a range of CBD drinks, oils, and edibles. Following on from a delicious rebrand, it was great to dive into this with Ben to hear all about his background working in the drinks world. From the days of Coca Cola and Relentless - to Karma Drinks, Califia Farms and most recently Liquid Death. Ben has so much knowledge and so many learnings about what works - and what doesn't work. There is SO much value in this - grab a can of Goodrays and tuck in! As always thanks to our fantastic sponsor ⁠Mission Kitchen!⁠ If you're a chef, baker of food brand looking to grow, then head on over to book a tour at their site in Nine Elms, London today. Also if you want to build a brand consumers love, you NEED to speak with my incredible new sponsor ⁠Against Ordinary⁠ - the masterminds behind my gorgeous new rebrand. They also have a 5-Minute Brand Test to help you uncover what’s working, what’s holding you back, and where your untapped potential lies. Give the ⁠Brand Scorecard⁠ a go today! Check out the ever growing ⁠⁠Unfounders Song Selection ⁠⁠playlist on Spotify.... it's WILD. Ps - Have you got a guest you'd love to hear from? Submit a guest request form on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Intro by Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠⁠ Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/hey-pluto/nod-your-head Chapters 00:00: Introduction to Ben Dando and Good Rays 02:41: The Backstory of Good Rays 04:42: The Importance of Taste in Functional Beverages 07:31: Distribution and Availability of Good Rays 08:51: Rebranding Good Rays 12:52: Ben Dando's Career Journey 17:59: Challenges and Growth at Karma Drinks 23:46: International Expansion Challenges 26:15: Navigating Public Perception and Communication 28:22: Transitioning to GoodRays 29:39: Lessons from Corporate to Startup Culture 32:37: Localisation and Market Adaptation 37:12: Strategic Focus on Domestic Growth 40:39: Future Innovations and Brand Vision

5 Years ago, Katie Edmunds joined her brother as employee number 1 at Trip. In that time the business has gone from strength to strength, becoming a household name in the functional drinks space and Katie has just been promoted to USA Director of Sales. In this episode we dig into the importance of team dynamics, company culture, and employee wellness initiatives in how to build a high functioning team that is over 60 people now! We delve into Tripp's expansion into the US market, tailoring and expanding their diverse product range, and the significance of resilience in sales. I loved this chat, and I'm sure you will too! As always thanks to our fantastic sponsor ⁠Mission Kitchen!⁠ If you're a chef, baker of food brand looking to grow, then head on over to book a tour at their site in Nine Elms, London today. Also if you want to build a brand consumers love, you NEED to speak with my incredible new sponsor ⁠Against Ordinary⁠ - the masterminds behind my gorgeous new rebrand. They also have a 5-Minute Brand Test to help you uncover what’s working, what’s holding you back, and where your untapped potential lies. Give the ⁠Brand Scorecard⁠ a go today! Check out the ever growing ⁠⁠Unfounders Song Selection ⁠⁠playlist on Spotify.... it's WILD. Ps - Have you got a guest you'd love to hear from? Submit a guest request form on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Intro by Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠⁠ Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/hey-pluto/nod-your-head Chapters 00:00: Introduction to Tripp and Its Founders 03:49: The Journey of Tripp: From Concept to Brand 06:23: Team Growth and Company Culture at Tripp 09:31: Expanding into the US Market 12:03: Education and Career Path of Katie Edmunds 14:30: Challenges and Resilience in Sales 17:23: Celebrating Wins and Learning from No's 25:16: Navigating the Early Days of Tripp 27:40: The Evolution of CBD and Consumer Education 29:57: Expanding Product Range and Meeting Consumer Needs 32:35: Employee Wellness and Company Culture 34:10: Advice for Newcomers in the Industry 37:42: Finding Balance and Enjoying the Journey

This episode is a fantastic conversation digging into the real, honest and unfiltered ways of raising, saving and spending money in business - Where the hell does all the money go? Recorded live at Bread & Jam (Thanks to Aztec) this panel was with: 🌾 Thiviyan Umapathysarma - Oat Avenue 🍫 Charlotte Miller - Caroboo 🍺 Jacob Liddle - Jiddler's Tipple Sharing the lessons and learnings along the way about ways to save, and to waste money! I’d love to hear what you think of this one - personally I LOVED it! As always thanks to our fantastic sponsor ⁠Mission Kitchen!⁠ If you're a chef, baker of food brand looking to grow, then head on over to book a tour at their site in Nine Elms, London today. Also if you want to build a brand consumers love, you NEED to speak with my incredible new sponsor ⁠Against Ordinary⁠ - the masterminds behind my gorgeous new rebrand. They also have a 5-Minute Brand Test to help you uncover what’s working, what’s holding you back, and where your untapped potential lies. Give the ⁠Brand Scorecard⁠ a go today! Check out the ever growing ⁠⁠Unfounders Song Selection ⁠⁠playlist on Spotify.... it's WILD. Ps - Have you got a guest you'd love to hear from? Submit a guest request form on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Intro by Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠⁠ Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/hey-pluto/nod-your-head Chapters 00:00: Outsourcing Production and Cost Efficiency 01:27: Founders' Journeys: Capital and Growth 01:55: Milestones and Key Achievements 05:12: Financial Lessons: Spending Wisely 09:09: Navigating Challenges and Mistakes 12:30: Effective Marketing Strategies 16:00: Understanding Margins and Pricing 19:33: Hiring Smart: Building the Right Team 22:56: Investor Relationships and Transparency 26:14: Cash Flow Management and Resourcefulness

Today's guest is a marketing legend - Rory McEntee Rory is now the Chief Marketing (/Mischief) Officer at GymNation - a mega gym taking over the UAE with their huge well equipped offering. He's already causing a stir with 'The Coolest Class in Dubai' and other fantastic initiatives, but I wanted to dig into his background, and what it's like moving to Dubai whilst raising a young family. So that's exactly what we did! Rory reflects on his experiences at GymBox, Paddy Power, Pizza Express and more - discussing how finding the right people and teams to let you have freedom of creativity can lead to some amazing PR campaigns and brand awareness. As always thanks to our fantastic sponsor ⁠Mission Kitchen!⁠ If you're a chef, baker of food brand looking to grow, then head on over to book a tour at their site in Nine Elms, London today. Also if you want to build a brand consumers love, you NEED to speak with my incredible new sponsor ⁠Against Ordinary⁠ - the masterminds behind my gorgeous new rebrand. They also have a 5-Minute Brand Test to help you uncover what’s working, what’s holding you back, and where your untapped potential lies. Give the ⁠Brand Scorecard⁠ a go today! Check out the ever growing ⁠⁠Unfounders Song Selection ⁠⁠playlist on Spotify.... it's WILD. Ps - Have you got a guest you'd love to hear from? Submit a guest request form on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Intro by Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠⁠ Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/hey-pluto/nod-your-head

This episode is a raw & honest look at what it takes to build, and then exit your business. Recorded live at Bread & Jam (Thanks to Aztec) this panel was with: 🐣 Anna Richey - Two Chicks 🍲 John B Stapleton - Ex New Covent Garden Soup Co / Little Dish 👨‍⚖️ Phil Hails-Smith - Joelson | B Corp Sharing the highs, lows, ins and outs of building and finally existing a brand. I’d love to hear what you think of this one - personally I LOVED it! As always thanks to our fantastic sponsor ⁠Mission Kitchen!⁠ If you're a chef, baker of food brand looking to grow, then head on over to book a tour at their site in Nine Elms, London today. Also if you want to build a brand consumers love, you NEED to speak with my incredible new sponsor ⁠Against Ordinary⁠ - the masterminds behind my gorgeous new rebrand. They also have a 5-Minute Brand Test to help you uncover what’s working, what’s holding you back, and where your untapped potential lies. Give the ⁠Brand Scorecard⁠ a go today! Check out the ever growing ⁠⁠Unfounders Song Selection ⁠⁠playlist on Spotify.... it's WILD. Ps - Have you got a guest you'd love to hear from? Submit a guest request form on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Intro by Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠⁠ Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/hey-pluto/nod-your-head Chapters 00:00: Panel Introductions and Backgrounds 01:14: Understanding Exit Strategies 01:53: The Journey to Exit: Anna's Experience 02:18: New Chapter 02:47: Timing Your Exit 05:33: Key Metrics for Successful Exits 08:59: Lessons Learned from the Exit Process 11:29: The Importance of Brand Differentiation 14:30: Advice for Future Exits 18:55: Post-Exit Involvement and Future Plans 23:04: Challenges and Watch Outs in Exiting 26:57: Audience Q&A: Insights and Advice

In this episode, I talk all thing operations with Phil Peters - Director of Supply Chain Services at YF. YF are a consultancy designed to help innovative, high-growth consumer businesses achieve mainstream scale. They provide advice and a wide range of services to retailers, investors and the brands themselves - one of which includes operations, and that's where Phil comes in! He shares insights from his early career, key lessons learned, and the significance of cash management in business. Phil emphasises the complexities of operations and supply chain - and is on a mission to celebrate these unsung heroes with OpsFest - running for the second time this year! I loved this chat - without Operations there is no business! Enjoy As always thanks to our fantastic sponsor ⁠Mission Kitchen!⁠ If you're a chef, baker of food brand looking to grow, then head on over to book a tour at their site in Nine Elms, London today. Also if you want to build a brand consumers love, you NEED to speak with my incredible new sponsor ⁠Against Ordinary⁠ - the masterminds behind my gorgeous new rebrand. They also have a 5-Minute Brand Test to help you uncover what’s working, what’s holding you back, and where your untapped potential lies. Give the ⁠Brand Scorecard⁠ a go today! Check out the ever growing ⁠⁠Unfounders Song Selection ⁠⁠playlist on Spotify.... it's WILD. Ps - Have you got a guest you'd love to hear from? Submit a guest request form on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Intro by Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠⁠ Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/hey-pluto/nod-your-head License code: QWUZIDMAML7QE7ZI Chapters: 00:00: Introduction to Phil and YF Consultancy 03:38: The Launch of Opsfest: A New Era for Operations 08:16: Phil's Journey: From Philosophy to Operations 17:44: Challenges in the Food Delivery Industry 22:03: Mental Health and Burnout in Operations 27:09: The Importance of Relationships and Flexibility 35:14: Operational Support for Brands 40:22: Connecting with YF and Future Opportunities

Today I have the honour and privilege of sitting down to talk with Laura Mimoun - Chief Marketing Officer at The Fulham Shore, looking after both The Real Greek and Franco Manca. Laura's background is fantastic, having worked at Mondalez and PepsiCo, looking after brands such as Mini Eggs, Creme Egg, Green and Blacks and so many more. Laura also had experience of being an entrepreneur herself, with the amazing Kaleido Salad Roll business. And then taking the step back into employment for where she is today. It's a brilliant story and SO much to gain from this - I really hope you enjoy it. As always thanks to our fantastic sponsor ⁠Mission Kitchen!⁠ If you're a chef, baker of food brand looking to grow, then head on over to book a tour at their site in Nine Elms, London today. Also if you want to build a brand consumers love, you NEED to speak with my incredible new sponsor ⁠Against Ordinary⁠ - the masterminds behind my gorgeous new rebrand. They also have a 5-Minute Brand Test to help you uncover what’s working, what’s holding you back, and where your untapped potential lies. Give the ⁠Brand Scorecard⁠ a go today! Check out the ever growing ⁠⁠Unfounders Song Selection ⁠⁠playlist on Spotify.... it's WILD. Ps - Have you got a guest you'd love to hear from? Submit a guest request form on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Intro by Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠⁠ Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/hey-pluto/nod-your-head License code: QWUZIDMAML7QE7ZI Chapters 00:00: Introduction to The Unfounders Podcast 04:04: Revamping The Real Greek: A Culinary Journey 09:09: Balancing Two Brands: Franco Manca and The Real Greek 14:34: Laura's Career Journey: From Corporate to Entrepreneur 19:40: The Challenges of Running Kaleido and Moving On 26:18: Returning to Corporate Life 32:12: Exciting New Launches and Promotions

Today's guest is the brilliant Shane Stewart - Brand Director at XOXO Soda. XOXO are a stunning prebiotic soda brand taking over Europe and The UK - and Shane is taking the helm leading all things brand. I loved digging into his background and past journey, working at brands like Northern Bloc ice cream and Moju. Shane also shares the work he's doing to remove stigma around grief, with his inclusive running club Step by Steppers that he created after sadly losing his father. Shane is an absolute legend, and I really hope you enjoy this episode! As always thanks to our fantastic sponsor ⁠Mission Kitchen!⁠ If you're a chef, baker of food brand looking to grow, then head on over to book a tour at their site in Nine Elms, London today. Also if you want to build a brand consumers love, you NEED to speak with my incredible new sponsor ⁠Against Ordinary⁠ - the masterminds behind my gorgeous new rebrand. They also have a 5-Minute Brand Test to help you uncover what’s working, what’s holding you back, and where your untapped potential lies. Give the ⁠Brand Scorecard⁠ a go today! Check out the ever growing ⁠⁠Unfounders Song Selection ⁠⁠playlist on Spotify.... it's WILD. Ps - Have you got a guest you'd love to hear from? Submit a guest request form on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Intro by Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠⁠ Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/hey-pluto/nod-your-head License code: QWUZIDMAML7QE7ZI Chapters 00:00: Introduction to XOXO Soda and Shane's Role 06:49: Consumer Trends and the Rise of Functional Beverages 11:38: Creating Moments of Joy with XOXO Soda 18:30: Balancing Work and Personal Life 25:15: Shane's Career Journey and Lessons Learned 30:31: Learning from Experience and Consumer Engagement 37:28: Overcoming Obstacles in Events and Operations 48:06: Turning Personal Loss into Positive Action

In this conversation, Will Orchard, the sales lead at Shandy Shack, shares insights into the unique offerings of the brand, which specialises in low-alcohol craft beer shandies. He discusses the journey of Shandy Shack, its collaborations, customer demographics, and the challenges faced during rapid growth and acquisition. Will also reflects on his unconventional career path, lessons learned from his time in the army, and the importance of maintaining brand identity post-acquisition. The conversation highlights the evolving landscape of the drinks industry and the significance of moderation in drinking culture. Check out Will's side project The Observational Buffet here As always thanks to our fantastic sponsor ⁠Mission Kitchen!⁠ If you're a chef, baker of food brand looking to grow, then head on over to book a tour at their site in Nine Elms, London today. Also if you want to build a brand consumers love, you NEED to speak with my incredible new sponsor ⁠Against Ordinary⁠ - the masterminds behind my gorgeous new rebrand. They also have a 5-Minute Brand Test to help you uncover what’s working, what’s holding you back, and where your untapped potential lies. Give the ⁠Brand Scorecard⁠ a go today! Check out the ever growing ⁠⁠Unfounders Song Selection ⁠⁠playlist on Spotify.... it's WILD. Ps - Have you got a guest you'd love to hear from? Submit a guest request form on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Intro by Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠⁠ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Shandy Shack and Will's Role 06:04 Distribution and Collaborations 11:39 Will's Journey to Shandy Shack 16:58 Growth and Evolution of Shandy Shack 23:36 Building a Collaborative Team Culture 30:12 Transitioning to a Larger Organisation 36:32 Learning from Mistakes in Scaling

Today's guest is the wonderful Katie Arabella Ward - Senior National Account Manager at Pimentae Pimentae make delicious Margaritas - Spicy, Tommy, Cucumber and my favourite - Grapefruit, which was also just named the best canned margarita by BBC Good Food Katie swapped a career in beer into the world of tequila and I loved digging into all things drinks, managing customers and activations - and what they're doing as a brand to make noise. I loved this chat - and hope you do too! As always thanks to our fantastic sponsor ⁠Mission Kitchen!⁠ If you're a chef, baker of food brand looking to grow, then head on over to book a tour at their site in Nine Elms, London today. Also if you want to build a brand consumers love, you NEED to speak with my incredible new sponsor ⁠Against Ordinary⁠ - the masterminds behind my gorgeous new rebrand. They also have a 5-Minute Brand Test to help you uncover what’s working, what’s holding you back, and where your untapped potential lies. Give the ⁠Brand Scorecard⁠ a go today! Check out the ever growing ⁠⁠Unfounders Song Selection ⁠⁠playlist on Spotify.... it's WILD. Ps - Have you got a guest you'd love to hear from? Submit a guest request form on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Intro by Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠⁠