HUNGRY. - podcast cover

HUNGRY.

Dan Popewww.linkedin.com

HUNGRY is THE podcast for Challenger FMCG & Hospitality Founders wanting to pour gasoline on growth.

We chat with the industry BIG HITTERS. We ooze out the HIDDEN success secrets they’ve never told before and dive deep into their gut-wrenching failures, so you avoid them. We help you grow bigger, faster, stronger. Over the last 6 years, we’ve chatted to some insane guests on the poddy: Rory Sutherland, Seth Godin, Jamie Laing, Spencer Matthews, Tom Kerridge, Sir John Hegarty, The founders of SOHO House, TRIP, The Devonshire, Tony’s Chocolonely, Vita Coco Look, I’ll be blunt, HUNGRY is NOT your normal podcast. HUNGRY is NOT scripted and sterile Q&A interviews. HUNGRY is for pretty much no one. HUNRGY is a deliciously fun, wild and crazy, ADHD rollercoaster of free flowing conversations. got what it takes? Buckle up. Strap in.

get ready to… FEED YOUR HUNGER

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Episodes

Espresso: James Watt, BrewDog: Why Price Laddering Is the Most UNDERRATED Growth Hack

James Watt shares why price laddering is the ultimate growth hack most brands ignore. From £1.25 basics to £10 ultra-premium brews, discover how BrewDog uses this strategy to attract everyone—from first-time buyers to hardcore fans. We break down how offering different price points boosts accessibility, creates perceived value, and drives trade-ups to more profitable products. 📙Download HUNGRY Big Banging Reading list here 🧾 HUNGRY survey would be so grateful if you may please fill out ♨️Still...

Dec 19, 20246 minEp. 248

Ex-PepsiCo Sales Director: 7 Easy Ways Unlock Tesco, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s With Category Management

Book a North Star Demo - by emailing the legend here kieran@northstarbc.co.uk Wanna land Tesco Sainsbury's CoOp or Waitrose & Partners in 2025? Well, my friend, good news listen up. Delighted to welcome Kieran South founder of North Star on to the poddy We chat all tingz Category management Category Management is THE secret weapon you didn’t know you needed The thread from founder vision <> buyer goals <> retail success = build mahoosive brands. Yes, North Star are a poddy sponso...

Dec 16, 202452 minEp. 247

Espresso: Why Michelin Stars Make F&CK ALL ££ - Unruly Pig founder

Ever wondered what it takes to run a top-rated gastropub? Brendan from The Unruly Pig breaks down why Michelin-starred restaurants often struggle to make money, dealing with sky-high costs for fancy ingredients and skilled chefs⁠. What's super interesting is how they've cracked the code at The Unruly Pig. While fancy Michelin spots might serve 45-60 people on a Saturday night, they're pumping out 100-120 covers⁠. But here's the clever bit - they've actually simplified their menu over time, focus...

Dec 12, 202412 minEp. 246

Gary Lavin, VITHIT - “I was SKINT…” from Broke to £80 Million Global Drinks Brand

Recently, I’ve had to really really DIG IN. Grind. Grind. Chew glass. Wade in. Full send. Gary delivers a Masterclass in Grit & Sales Our conversation really helped me. I know it’ll help you, too. ON THE MENU: 1. Why going bankrupt is a death by a thousand paper cuts - but it’s the best day of your life too 2. Sell. Sell. Sell. Why too many brands skip Challenger Brand “Leg Day” - you HAVE to get good at sales 3. Why “Denial” is both very good and bad in business + how to use the power corre...

Dec 09, 20242 hr 18 minEp. 245

Espresso: How Tarquin’s Gin Turned £50k into a Dream Distillery

Tarquin's Cornish Gin is a perfect example of how passion, creativity, and strategic spending can transform limited resources into a successful food and drink brand.Driven by obsession and love for the craft, Tarquin Leadbetter refused to outsource, instead mastering the distillation process himself. His approach combined resourcefulness—like affordable local branding and budget-friendly equipment from Portugal—with a commitment to quality and authenticity. 📙Download HUNGRY Big Banging Reading ...

Dec 05, 20248 minEp. 244

James Watt, BrewDog Founder - 17 Years of Billion Dollar Brand Building GOLD in 2 Hours

In 2016, I read Business For Punks. One of the greatest business books of all time. And, a huge inspiration to start HUNGRY. Total honour to sit down with James Watt , BrewDog founder This is a F*CKING BANGER!!!!!! Deffo watch on Youtube if you can, first time we’ve recorded in 4K cinematic a.k.a grown up cameras. ON THE MENU: 1. The Swimming with Sharks Gratitude Rule: “there’s a 100 billion to 1 chance of you being here so GO FOR IT” 2. Why Good founders solve problems, but Great Founders use ...

Dec 02, 20241 hr 49 min

Espresso: Alex Smith, No Bullshit Strategy: The SECRET Link Between Brand Strategy and Storytelling ITSU and Apple

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/alex-smith-the-strategy-expert-and-no-bullshit/id1537239469?i=1000659223965 Listen to the full episode here 📙Download HUNGRY Big Banging Reading list here 🧾 HUNGRY survey would be so grateful if you may please fill out ♨️Still bloody HUNGRY? Course ya are. Each week I spend 15 hours writing my newsletter. It’ll take you 5 mins to read. Full of wisdom from the biggest names in food and drink. Subscribe here - https://hungryfeast.beehiiv.com/🍲 -------------...

Nov 28, 202418 minEp. 242

9 Bonkers Ways The Unruly Pig Became The UK’s No.1 Voted Pub After a Fire Burned Down Their Pub “We are COMPLETELY F*CKED”

The Unruly Pig is The UK’s Best Pub 🐷 Number 1 & Winner – UK Top 50 Gastropubs Awards 2024 🍺 National Restaurant Awards 2024 Top 100 -#56 🐷 GQ Magazine Food & Drinks Awards 2023 – “Best Pub” 🍺 Taste of East of England Awards 2023 – Winner & Gold Award 🐷 The Sunday Times-Best Sunday Roasts in the UK 2024 🍺 The Good Food Guide 2024 – “Britain’s 50 Cosiest Pubs” The food is slap-bang, full-sha-bang STONKINGLY delish. Brendan Padfield, Unruly founder, is a wonderful human. Garrulou...

Nov 25, 20242 hr 10 minEp. 241

Espresso: How the 'Doom Bar Effect' Took Tarquin’s Gin from Local Legend to £10M National

Tarquin Leadbetter dives into his absolutely genius strategy of focusing on local brand building in Cornwall, capturing the seasonal tourist market, and gradually expanding nationally. He describes how he used a regional focus to market cost-effectively across the UK—a concept he calls the "Doom Bar effect" - based on the small brewery born on the North Cornish coast that scaled to become the UK's best selling cask and bottled ale. Key Takeaways: you can market to a national audience on a local ...

Nov 21, 20248 minEp. 240

How School of Wok Bounced Back from Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose SCREWIN Their Brand

In 2018, Jeremy Pang built a HUGE cookery school, School of Wok in Covent Garden So huge, so forward thinking Tesco , Sainsbury's , Waitrose & Partners come knocking. Suddenly, School of Wok launches into 1200 stores Happy days? Right? Well, that’s when it started to go wrong (all revealed in our conversation) Thankfully, Jeremy Pang is a total legend. Relentlessly resourceful. Go getter-grafter. Deal maker. Grit-graft, twist-turn, plot-pivot, Jez, got School of Wok back on it’s feet Charlie...

Nov 18, 20242 hr 16 min

Espresso: YumBug Founder's Life Changing Hack to Fundraise Millions (super quickly)

📙Download HUNGRY Big Banging Reading list here 🧾 HUNGRY survey would be so grateful if you may please fill out ♨️Still bloody HUNGRY? Course ya are. Each week I spend 15 hours writing my newsletter. It’ll take you 5 mins to read. Full of wisdom from the biggest names in food and drink. Subscribe here - https://hungryfeast.beehiiv.com/🍲 --------------------------------- 🤝 Let's Connect! ►Let's link-up here ​ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-pope/) ►Stalk me here ​ (https://www.instagram.co...

Nov 14, 20249 minEp. 238

Tarquins Gin Founder: The Unconventional Brand Building Playbook DIAGEO Wish They Knew About

Tarquins are a brand I adore. A brand who followed no “rules”. Tarquin turned beautifully constrained budgets from headwind to tailwind They’ve built a WHOPPAAA business, by not focusing on London. Distribution Density> Distribution Breadth Brand Depth > Brand Awareness Die Hard Fans> Meek Fans LOVED this episode. ON THE MENU: The Prudent Path to Profitability: Why Founders must OBSESS with the path to profitability “Giles Brook you don’t have a business if you can’t hit 40% gross margi...

Nov 11, 20242 hr 30 minEp. 237

Espresso: "Your Brand is NOTHING Without These" BOTIVO's 4 Essential Pillars of Brand Story

📙Download HUNGRY Big Banging Reading list here 🧾 HUNGRY survey would be so grateful if you may please fill out ♨️Still bloody HUNGRY? Course ya are. Each week I spend 15 hours writing my newsletter. It’ll take you 5 mins to read. Full of wisdom from the biggest names in food and drink. Subscribe here - https://hungryfeast.beehiiv.com/🍲 --------------------------------- 🤝 Let's Connect! ►Let's link-up here ​ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-pope/) ►Stalk me here ​ (https://www.instagram.co...

Nov 07, 20248 minEp. 236

How Black Bear Burger Use Behavioural Economics to WIPE OUT Five Guys & Shack Shack

I remember the day with marble-polished clarity. The day I sodomised my first Black Bear Burger Brixton. 2020. In the strangled-mangled shackles lockdown, at my mates on Efra road. A celestial chubby steaming parcel of joy arrived. Lip-smackingly, soul-spankingly, face-melting YUM. My fave Burgus in London, and Stew is an absolute G ON THE MENU: Packvertising Genius: How Black Bear Burger turned their Deliveroo packaging into a Storytelling Machine Surviving Crispy Chips Crisis: How BBB solved t...

Nov 04, 20241 hr 47 min

Espresso: Will Storr, The Status Game Author: Why Your Food & Drink Brand Is Ruining Your Identity?!

📙Download HUNGRY Big Banging Reading list here 🧾 HUNGRY survey would be so grateful if you may please fill out ♨️Still bloody HUNGRY? Course ya are. Each week I spend 15 hours writing my newsletter. It’ll take you 5 mins to read. Full of wisdom from the biggest names in food and drink. Subscribe here - https://hungryfeast.beehiiv.com/🍲 --------------------------------- 🤝 Let's Connect! ►Let's link-up here ​ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-pope/) ►Stalk me here ​ (https://www.instagram.co...

Oct 30, 20249 minEp. 234

Seth Godin: All His Food & Drink Strategy Secrets in a 57 Min Conversation

TOTAL HONOUR to sit down for a podcast part two with the legend Seth Godin. We go DEEP into the Strategy + Brand + Storytelling Secrets of the best challenger brands Tony’s Chocolonely vs. Cadbury’s Blank Street Coffee vs. Starbucks Nespresso vs. Kenco Farmers Markets . Supermarket Lettuce Teaser below, fully eppy Monday morning ON THE MENU: David Chang Momofuko + Brussel Sprouts with bacon Rule: Pick your customers, pick your future - “Some customers will cross the street for your brand promise...

Oct 28, 202454 min

BOTIVO’s 12 Unusually Lavish Brand Building Principles That Could Change Your Life

a brand building master class like you've NEVER head before Botivo Drinks | B corp are one of my fave brands The level of DEPTH Imme Ermgassen and Sam Paget Steavenson have gone into to build BOTIVO is CRAZY You're in for an ABSOLUTE TREAT ON THE MENU: 1. How BOTIVO was Born out of a Unusual Request at Lavish Parties like Calvin Harris, Ellie Golding, Prince Harry & Megan 2. Always Go Against the Category: Be a pleasure brave brand in a sea of moderation 3. Make something your CONSUMERS ACTU...

Oct 21, 20241 hr 49 min

Espresso: How To Wipe Out Aperol Spritz This Winter (2x your revenue with half the volume)

FULL EPISODE: Apple Spotify Youtube 📙Download HUNGRY Big Banging Reading list here 🧾 HUNGRY survey would be so grateful if you may please fill out ♨️Still bloody HUNGRY? Course ya are. Each week I spend 15 hours writing my newsletter. It’ll take you 5 mins to read. Full of wisdom from the biggest names in food and drink. Subscribe here - https://hungryfeast.beehiiv.com/🍲 --------------------------------- 🤝 Let's Connect! ►Let's link-up here ​ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-pope/) ►Stalk...

Oct 17, 202416 minEp. 229

Espresso: Alex Smith, No Bullshit Strategy: MOJU and Oatly Strategy Secrets (shhhh keep quiet)

Listen to the full episode here 📙Download HUNGRY Big Banging Reading list here 🧾 HUNGRY survey would be so grateful if you may please fill out ♨️Still bloody HUNGRY? Course ya are. Each week I spend 15 hours writing my newsletter. It’ll take you 5 mins to read. Full of wisdom from the biggest names in food and drink. Subscribe here - https://hungryfeast.beehiiv.com/🍲 --------------------------------- 🤝 Let's Connect! ►Let's link-up here ​ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-pope/) ►Stalk me ...

Oct 17, 202411 minEp. 228

The Challenger Founder's Photographer: Unusual Lessons You’ve Never Been Told From Jamie Laing, Tom Straker, Reece James

Art vs. Commerce: How Elspeth balances creative freedom with business realities. Photographer Elspeth Vincent's journey, highlighting her artistic development and the business lessons she learned. Early Inspirations: Elspeth’s family influences and initial artistic explorations. Role of Mentorship: How photographers like Hanina shaped Elspeth’s growth. Finding a Unique Style: What makes Elspeth's style distinct and how experimentation helped. Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Strategies Elspeth used...

Oct 14, 20241 hr 54 min

Espresso: Will Storr, Why 3* Michelin Restaurants Have Completely Ruined Food

FULL EPISODE: Youtube Apple Spotify 📙Download HUNGRY Big Banging Reading list here 🧾 HUNGRY survey would be so grateful if you may please fill out ♨️Still bloody HUNGRY? Course ya are. Each week I spend 15 hours writing my newsletter. It’ll take you 5 mins to read. Full of wisdom from the biggest names in food and drink. Subscribe here - https://hungryfeast.beehiiv.com/🍲 --------------------------------- 🤝 Let's Connect! ►Let's link-up here ​ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-pope/) ►Stalk...

Oct 10, 20249 minEp. 226

Jack Stein: Life and Travel Lessons from Rick Stein, Captaining The Stein Ship into Future Waters, Vanilla Bass & The Dangers of 1% Improvement, Surfing and Cooking

Absolutely LOVED this conversation. Jack is well-traveled, well-read and well-fed. Whipper-smart and great fun. Perfect ingredients for a perfect conversation partner. Our conversation oozed and grooved from Surfing to Sauces, Bad Bosses to Best MBA’s Jack’s taken the reigns from Rick and is captaining the Stein Ship into future waters. You’re in for a treat. ♨️Still bloody HUNGRY? Course ya are. Each week I spend 15 hours writing my newsletter. It’ll take you 5 mins to read. Full of wisdom from...

Oct 07, 20242 hr

Espresso: How Innocent Drinks Overcame Near Death in 2008

📙Download HUNGRY Big Banging Reading list here 🧾 HUNGRY survey would be so grateful if you may please fill out ♨️Still bloody HUNGRY? Course ya are. Each week I spend 15 hours writing my newsletter. It’ll take you 5 mins to read. Full of wisdom from the biggest names in food and drink. Subscribe here - https://hungryfeast.beehiiv.com/🍲 --------------------------------- 🤝 Let's Connect! ►Let's link-up here ​ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-pope/) ►Stalk me here ​ (https://www.instagram.co...

Oct 03, 202416 minEp. 224

7 Brilliant Basics of Onboarding to Make New Employees SMASH IT OUT THE PARK

Delighted to wax lyzz with mi amigos PJ and BM. MKJ Ignite are a sponsor of the poddy. They’re great friends. And, yes, they’re recruiters (ohhhh gawwddd, I just used the “R” word) (cuff me Mr. Officer) Chill-AAxxxx, they're TOTAL LEGENDS People don’t talk about onboarding enough. Imagine walking into a 5* hotel and your room is a complete tip. You’d be miffed. So many founders and brands are working at such a ferocious pace. They’re forgetting to do the brilliant basics. Forgetting to tidy the ...

Oct 02, 202446 minEp. 223

Tyrrells Crisps & Chase Distillery Founder: 36 Years of Brand Building Wisdom in 3 Hours, The Future of Food, How Gut Health Goes Mainstream

"There are no rules, so create your own rules” - Tyrell’s Crisps & Chase Distillery founder: 16 Controversial Lessons from a £40 Million Exit and a £75 Million Exit to DIAGEO “…there are laws, but there are NO RULES” Back for a part two, with the Food & Drink OG DON Will Chase builds and flips. A MasterClass in Life and Brand building. Loved it. It’s long. Very long. So take it in slowly. ♨️Still bloody HUNGRY? Course ya are. Each week I spend 15 hours writing my newsletter. It’ll take y...

Sep 30, 20242 hr 57 minEp. 222

Espresso: Innocent Founder ONE HARSH TRUTH to Become a Household Brand... Be Different + Better

📙Download HUNGRY Big Banging Reading list here 🧾 HUNGRY survey would be so grateful if you may please fill out ♨️Still bloody HUNGRY? Course ya are. Each week I spend 15 hours writing my newsletter. It’ll take you 5 mins to read. Full of wisdom from the biggest names in food and drink. Subscribe here - https://hungryfeast.beehiiv.com/🍲 --------------------------------- 🤝 Let's Connect! ►Let's link-up here ​ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-pope/) ►Stalk me here ​ (https://www.instagram.co...

Sep 26, 202411 minEp. 221

13 Simple Strategies to Quickly Raise Money for BONKERS Ideas, Win Insane PR for FREE and 10x Creativity on 10x Less Budget - Leo Taylor YUMBUG

Making bugs mainstream is a brilliantly bonkers idea. I love brilliantly bonkers people. This Poddy was bonkers and brilliant yummy wisdom left me bug-eyed n’ bonked out Leo is an EXCEPTIONALLY bright visionary Leo sees bugs on bougie small plate menus in Shoredtich, Cricket Con Carne demolished on hungover Boxing Days in Glasgow And, SpBug Bol with Garlic bread for your Tuesday Tea (certy: the best dinner on a Tuesday) YUMBUG is backed by the genius Ollie, the man behind BOTIVO And, James Watt ...

Sep 23, 20241 hr 53 minEp. 220

Espresso: How Innocent Won a Tesco Listing - Negotiation Tactics from a Master "Be Flexible in the Moment and know when to say "yes""

📙Download HUNGRY Big Banging Reading list here 🧾 HUNGRY survey would be so grateful if you may please fill out ♨️Still bloody HUNGRY? Course ya are. Each week I spend 15 hours writing my newsletter. It’ll take you 5 mins to read. Full of wisdom from the biggest names in food and drink. Subscribe here - https://hungryfeast.beehiiv.com/🍲 --------------------------------- 🤝 Let's Connect! ►Let's link-up here ​ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-pope/) ►Stalk me here ​ (https://www.instagram.co...

Sep 19, 202412 minEp. 219
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