Recipe for Greatness

We sit down with Ineke Nugteren , a nurse turned founder, to unpack how frontline healthcare experience sparked a mission to change what everyday snacking looks like. We talk through the messy realities of building Nourish from a kitchen table into major UK retail, while staying focused on real ingredients, gut health and balanced blood sugar. seeing conventional low-fat guidance fail patients in...

Baby food should not feel like a trade-off between “quick” and “good”. We sit down with Ed van der Lande , founder of More Toddler Meals , to unpack a deceptively simple question: how do you feed toddlers wholesome meals with real texture and visible ingredients when you are exhausted, out of the house, or racing between nursery pick-ups and work? Ed traces the idea back to a moment on deployment...

We talk with Wild Things founder Fliss Newland about going from Mondelez to building an organic, plant-based gummy brand that targets families without losing the fun of sweets. She breaks down the practical steps behind the leap, from finding the right opportunity to nailing brand positioning, packaging, and early retail wins.  Childhood hustle stories and the influence of self-employed parents  L...

We talk with Owen Potts about building The Potts Partnership from a home kitchen into a premium ambient food manufacturer stocked by major UK supermarkets. We dig into hands-on learning, bold packaging choices like aluminium cans, and the unglamorous cash flow and operations work that makes growth possible.  Turning a gap year job in a jam factory into a career in food manufacturing and product de...

We talk with Craig about how he leaves university, learns the fundamentals of margin and negotiation in meat trading, and turns a steam-cooked chicken discovery into GSN . We break down the scrappy freezer-in-gyms launch, the Covid pivot to e-commerce, and the principles that keep the brand focused on profitable growth.  leaving university to gain real-world experience in a family commodity tradin...

A teenage trader learns to move stock on Romford Market, then builds a clean‑label snack factory that challenges ultra‑processed bars and keeps going through COVID with a private‑label engine. Matt Hunt, co‑founder of The Protein Ball Co , joins us for a candid, high‑energy tour through graft, grit, and the choices that change a business. We dig into margins, manufacturing, pet treats you could ea...

We trace Yusuf’s path from schoolyard hustles to building a functional cold brew that swaps jitters for calm focus. The story spans painful caffeine experiments, tough retail lessons, and the mindset shift from making a product to selling one at a profit. Listen to the story of building Unconform • early ventures and the itch to build  • caffeine overload as the spark for a solution  • cold brew,...

We explore how poker shaped Andrew Macleod's thinking and how those mental models helped him build Emilia’s Crafted Pasta into a debt-free, multi-site brand. From scouting Italy to opening under budget and growing slow, we show how to balance soul with margins. • Poker as a mirror of risk and behaviour • Bootstrapping events and earning trust without capital • Finding the pasta gap and valida...

Will Howard shares his journey from hospitality worker to Managing Director of GrowUp Farms , revealing how purpose-driven leadership and vulnerability create stronger businesses and teams. • Started career with a passion for food, working in hospitality before transitioning to FMCG roles at L'Oreal and PepsiCo • Found his authentic leadership style at purpose-driven companies like Red Bull,...

What does it take to build a thriving food brand that refuses to compromise on values? Karen and Patrick O'Flaherty , founders of Pip Organic , reveal the remarkable journey that transformed their humble market stall selling fresh juices into one of the UK's most trusted organic food and drink brands. The husband-and-wife team share how their backgrounds in marketing and finance, combine...

Matthew Jones is the founder of Bread Ahead bakery. On this episode, Matthew shares his remarkable journey from sleeping on bakery floors to building a global brand that's reshaping how people experience and understand artisan baking. • Growing up in 1970s Britain surrounded by makers and creators despite the "dire" food scene • Leaving school at 15 to pursue chef training through a...

Dominic Rice , co-founder and CEO of CANS , is on a mission to build a new category of non-sweet, no-sugar, no-sweetener soft drinks. After 16 years at Red Bull, Dom is applying his beverage industry expertise to create a genuinely healthy alternative that doesn't compromise on taste. The idea came over a steak dinner in Prague , where three friends shared the frustration of living sugar- and...

Daniel Cray , an Australian entrepreneur and CEO of Phizz , pivoted from advertising to create a revolutionary three-in-one hydration, vitamin and electrolyte tablet that's now one of the UK's fastest-growing wellness brands. He shares his journey from bootstrapping with three friends to leading a category-defining company used by Premier League teams and travellers worldwide. • After di...

Suzie Millar shares the inspiring journey of growing The Scottish Bee Company from a purpose-driven venture into a thriving business while introducing over 27 million bees to Scotland and establishing a charity to support pollinators' habitats. • From lawyer to chiropractor to honey entrepreneur, connecting analytical skills with empathy and health interests • Starting a bee company while pre...

Martin Holden-White takes us through his journey of founding Grubby , the UK's first 100% plant-based recipe kit company that has delivered over 2 million meals since launching in 2019. • Starting in kitchens at 16 years old before studying hospitality • Originally conceptualizing Grubby as a smart fridge vending machine for offices • Pivoting the entire business model during COVID lockdown t...

Felix James , co-founder and head brewer at Small Beer , takes us through his brewing journey from childhood experiments to pioneering the world's first brewery dedicated to beers under 2.8%. His passion for biology and fermentation forms the foundation of a revolutionary approach to creating full-flavoured beer with less alcohol. • Started brewing at age 4 with a home experiment using a milk...

Richard Peake shares his remarkable journey from Mars Graduate Scheme to doubling Merchant Gourmet's revenue as Managing Director and the leadership lessons he learned along the way. His approach to business combines vulnerability with high standards, creating frameworks that empower teams while staying true to brand authenticity. • Early career at Mars provided foundation but entrepreneurial...

Charles Redfern shares his organic food journey from founding Real Foods, Organico , and Fish4ever, revealing how his French roots inspired a mission focused on reviving and expanding organic products with sustainability at the core. • Accidentally entering finance before realising his passion for food entrepreneurship • Starting with French cordial, facing distribution challenges and learning on...

Valentijn van Santvoort , co-founder of Holie's cereal, shares how they've disrupted the traditional breakfast category by creating genuinely healthy, sugar-free alternatives that challenge industry giants through transparent, fearless marketing. • Background as a brand strategist for major agencies like Nike and IKEA before getting tired of selling average products with cool stories • C...

Discover how Tess Reed transformed her homemade tahini dressing into All Dressed Up , a standout brand now stocked in Whole Foods and Ocado within just one year of launching. Tess shares her winding career path from university graduate to food entrepreneur and the pivotal moments that led to her business success.  • Growing up on a farm with a food-loving family shaped Tess's passion for qual...

Chris Kong's journey from child actor in Hong Kong to co-founder and co-CEO of Better Nature is nothing short of remarkable. Chris shares how his early experiences in biochemistry at the University of Oxford and his passion for sustainability led him to create a leading tempeh brand in the UK. Growing up with an entrepreneurial spirit, from selling snacks to classmates to experimenting with a...

Florian de Chezelles , co-founder of The Salad Project , joins us for a conversation about his remarkable journey in the hospitality industry. From growing up in a lively family of five siblings to his transformative education at the prestigious Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne in Switzerland, Florian shares how these experiences shaped his communication skills and passion for hospitality. We delve int...

Ever wondered how a simple bean can transform the food industry? Join us as Amelia Christie-Miller , the innovative force behind Bold Bean Co , shares her extraordinary journey from a food-loving childhood to becoming a notable entrepreneur in the UK. Gain insights into how Amelia's experiences in Spain ignited her passion for beans, leading to her entrepreneurial success and the presence of...

Uncover the inspiring entrepreneurial journey of Melissa Snover, the visionary founder and CEO of Nourished, as she takes us on a ride from her unexpected start in business to pioneering innovations in the world of personalised nutrition. Melissa's passion for creating a vegetarian gummy candy led her to experiment with plant-based ingredients and develop a vegan gummy using Gellan gum. Throu...

Meet Huib van Bockel, the creative force behind Tenzing, a natural energy drink brand that's turning heads. Journey through Huib's eclectic career, from his marketing roots at Unilever and Red Bull to his initial entrepreneurial steps with a fashion venture specialising in high-end socks. Huib opens up about the vital lessons learned in supply chain management and how these experiences s...