In this episode of Funded Futures, host Emily Macfarlane sits down with Ben Circosta, founder and CEO of Bippi, the fast-growing Australian food brand transforming authentic Calabrian family recipes into supermarket staples.

What started in his Nonna Emilia’s kitchen during lockdown has become a national success story, with Bippi’s chilli condiments, hot honey, and salsa verde now stocked in 1,200+ retailers including Coles and Woolworths.

Ben shares his entrepreneurial journey from experimenting with traditional recipes, to navigating food production challenges, scaling distribution, and crafting a bold Italian-inspired brand identity that resonates with modern consumers. He also reflects on winning the Melbourne Young Entrepreneur Award (Food & Beverage) and how that recognition fuels his next chapter.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How heritage and family traditions shaped Bippi’s brand identity

• The challenges of scaling food production without compromising quality

• Securing national distribution in Coles and Woolworths

• The role of branding, marketing, and storytelling in building consumer trust

• Lessons from bootstrapping and reinvesting profits into sustainable growth

• Advice for aspiring founders in the food and beverage industry

Whether you’re a food lover, a startup founder, or simply curious about the future of Australian food brands, this episode is packed with practical insights and heartfelt storytelling.