============================================ 🌟Espresso's are powered by our sponsor Unleashed!🌟 1. What on earth is Unleashed, I hear you asking? Unleashed is Inventory management software that talks to your financial and eComm software. We use it daily at Islands. It's BANGING!! 2. Why Unleashed will change your life as a foodie founder? Cut admin time in half. Save money. Lots of money. Get lucid clarity on margins. Be all over cash flow, after all cash is king. Manage stock and cash flow. 3...
Dec 26, 2024•7 min•Ep. 250
Why do so many food & drink brands struggle on D2C? Why do MOJU or SURREAL absolutely kill it ? Jack Rubin knows D2C better than anyone I know The D2C Donny Honour to wax lyzzy about how he’s built Purdy & Figg into a HUGE WHOPPA brand Love D2C or love Behavioural Science - you’ll love this ON THE MENU: 1. Charlie Munger’s Lollapalooza Principle for Building HUGE D2C Brands - Business Model - spend X make Y - Allowable cost of acquisition - Contribution on first order - Future order + co...
Dec 23, 2024•2 hr 2 min•Ep. 249
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. ON THE MENU: What Price Laddering Actually Means (Hint: It’s Not Just About Money) How BrewDog Converts Lager Lovers wit...
Dec 19, 2024•6 min•Ep. 248
Book a North Star Demo - by emailing the legend here [email protected] 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, 2024•52 min•Ep. 247
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, 2024•12 min•Ep. 246
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, 2024•2 hr 20 min•Ep. 245
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. Key Takeaways: Leveraged a tight budge...
Dec 05, 2024•8 min•Ep. 244
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, 2024•2 hr 51 min
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/alex-smith-the-strategy-expert-and-no-bullshit/id1537239469?i=1000659223965 Listen to the full episode here Espresso's are powered by our brand new sponsor, Unleashed! 1. What on earth is Unleashed, I hear you asking? Unleashed is Inventory management software that talks to your financial and eComm software. We use it daily at Islands. It's BANGING!! 2. Why Unleashed will change your life as a foodie founder? Cut admin time in half. Save money. Lots of money...
Nov 28, 2024•18 min•Ep. 242
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, 2024•2 hr 12 min•Ep. 241
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, 2024•8 min•Ep. 240
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, 2024•2 hr 18 min
Listen to the full episode here Espresso's are powered by our brand new sponsor, Unleashed! 1. What on earth is Unleashed, I hear you asking? Unleashed is Inventory management software that talks to your financial and eComm software. We use it daily at Islands. It's BANGING!! 2. Why Unleashed will change your life as a foodie founder? Cut admin time in half. Save money. Lots of money. Get lucid clarity on margins. Be all over cash flow, after all cash is king. Manage stock and cash flow. 3. The ...
Nov 14, 2024•9 min•Ep. 238
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, 2024•3 hr 32 min•Ep. 237
Imme, the branding expert and co-founder of Botivo, outlines how to tell your brand story and build long term resonance with your customers with these four key tensions found in your market, throughout broader society, and your customer. Tensions which are then woven into the company’s brand strategy Espresso's are powered by our brand new sponsor, Unleashed! 1. What on earth is Unleashed, I hear you asking? Unleashed is Inventory management software that talks to your financial and eComm softwa...
Nov 07, 2024•8 min•Ep. 236
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, 2024•2 hr 49 min
FULL EPISODE: Youtube Espresso's are powered by our brand new sponsor, Unleashed! 1. What on earth is Unleashed, I hear you asking? Unleashed is Inventory management software that talks to your financial and eComm software. We use it daily at Islands. It's BANGING!! 2. Why Unleashed will change your life as a foodie founder? Cut admin time in half. Save money. Lots of money. Get lucid clarity on margins. Be all over cash flow, after all cash is king. Manage stock and cash flow. 3. The biggest br...
Oct 30, 2024•9 min•Ep. 234
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, 2024•55 min
Seth Godin's take on Status, Affiliations, and Freedom from Fear, How Heinz Ketchup Lives Rent Free Inside Your Childhood Memories, The Circle of Us vs. The Circle of Now, & Union Square Cafe and Danny Meyer's Restaurant Strategy. Listen to the full episode here Espresso's are powered by our brand new sponsor, Unleashed! 1. What on earth is Unleashed, I hear you asking? Unleashed is Inventory management software that talks to your financial and eComm software. We use it daily at Islands. It'...
Oct 24, 2024•6 min•Ep. 232
Listen to the full episode here Espresso's are powered by our brand new sponsor, Unleashed! 1. What on earth is Unleashed, I hear you asking? Unleashed is Inventory management software that talks to your financial and eComm software. We use it daily at Islands. It's BANGING!! 2. Why Unleashed will change your life as a foodie founder? Cut admin time in half. Save money. Lots of money. Get lucid clarity on margins. Be all over cash flow, after all cash is king. Manage stock and cash flow. 3. The ...
Oct 24, 2024•4 min•Ep. 231
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, 2024•2 hr 51 min
FULL EPISODE: Apple Spotify Youtube Espresso's are powered by our brand new sponsor, Unleashed! 1. What on earth is Unleashed, I hear you asking? Unleashed is Inventory management software that talks to your financial and eComm software. We use it daily at Islands. It's BANGING!! 2. Why Unleashed will change your life as a foodie founder? Cut admin time in half. Save money. Lots of money. Get lucid clarity on margins. Be all over cash flow, after all cash is king. Manage stock and cash flow. 3. ...
Oct 17, 2024•16 min•Ep. 229
Listen to the full episode here Espresso's are powered by our brand new sponsor, Unleashed! 1. What on earth is Unleashed, I hear you asking? Unleashed is Inventory management software that talks to your financial and eComm software. We use it daily at Islands. It's BANGING!! 2. Why Unleashed will change your life as a foodie founder? Cut admin time in half. Save money. Lots of money. Get lucid clarity on margins. Be all over cash flow, after all cash is king. Manage stock and cash flow. 3. The ...
Oct 17, 2024•11 min•Ep. 228
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, 2024•2 hr 56 min
FULL EPISODE: Youtube Apple Spotify Espresso's are powered by our brand new sponsor, Unleashed! 1. What on earth is Unleashed, I hear you asking? Unleashed is Inventory management software that talks to your financial and eComm software. We use it daily at Islands. It's BANGING!! 2. Why Unleashed will change your life as a foodie founder? Cut admin time in half. Save money. Lots of money. Get lucid clarity on margins. Be all over cash flow, after all cash is king. Manage stock and cash flow. 3. ...
Oct 10, 2024•9 min•Ep. 226
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, 2024•2 hr 2 min
Espresso's are powered by our brand new sponsor, Unleashed! 1. What on earth is Unleashed, I hear you asking? Unleashed is Inventory management software that talks to your financial and eComm software. We use it daily at Islands. It's BANGING!! 2. Why Unleashed will change your life as a foodie founder? Cut admin time in half. Save money. Lots of money. Get lucid clarity on margins. Be all over cash flow, after all cash is king. Manage stock and cash flow. 3. The biggest brands in FMCG love love...
Oct 03, 2024•16 min•Ep. 224
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, 2024•46 min•Ep. 223
"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, 2024•3 hr 59 min•Ep. 222
Espresso's are powered by our brand new sponsor, Unleashed! 1. What on earth is Unleashed, I hear you asking? Unleashed is Inventory management software that talks to your financial and eComm software. We use it daily at Islands. It's BANGING!! 2. Why Unleashed will change your life as a foodie founder? Cut admin time in half. Save money. Lots of money. Get lucid clarity on margins. Be all over cash flow, after all cash is king. Manage stock and cash flow. 3. The biggest brands in FMCG love love...
Sep 26, 2024•11 min•Ep. 221
