Getting to Grow

What does it take to turn bubbling jars of kombucha into a supermarket success story?In this episode, Emma Thackray shares her journey — from running Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in the UK, to discovering fermented foods in America, and finally co-founding Hip Pop, one of the UK’s fastest-growing gut health drinks brands.She talks about scrappy beginnings (literally selling cans out of her car), raising millions of pounds in investment, and the wild reality of scaling a challenger brand into Sainsbury’s, Co-op, and beyond.We also cover…→ What happens when everything goes wrong on moving day→ Why flavour — not fads — drives Hip Pop’s success→ How Emma raised investment without a background in FMCG→ The lessons from rebranding for mass market growthIf you’re into food & drink, startups, or the behind-the-scenes of building a modern brand — you’ll love this one.Zoe Fox:https://www.instagram.com/gettingtogrow/https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-fox-377033b0/Emma Thackray, Co-Founder--Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmathackray/Drink Hip Pop:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drink.hip.pop/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrinkHipPopWebsite: https://drinkhippop.com/#gettingtogrow #gettingtogrowpodcast #fmcg #foodanddrink #drinks #hippop #kombucha #startup #entrepreneurship

He was selling tea from his uni bedroom…Now it’s a multi-million-pound brand with shops across the UK.Mike Turner co-founded Bird & Blend Tea Co. to shake up the tea industry—creating a brand people wanted to be part of, not just shop fromBut building a values-led brand came with hard choices:→ Saying no to investors who didn’t “get it”→ Scaling without compromising creativity→ And figuring out how to lead a team when you never planned to be a “boss”In this episode, we dive into the scrappy early days, Mike’s obsession with community, and how he & his co-founder Krisi turned tea into a movement.Whether you're scaling a business or just love a good founder story—this one’s for you.Zoe Fox—YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gettingtogrowpodcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-fox-377033b0/Mike Turner, Co-Founder —LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeajturner/Bird & Blend Tea Co—Website: https://www.birdandblendtea.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/birdandblendtea#gettingtogrow #gettingtogrowpodcast #fmcg #foodandbeverage #tea #bird&blendtea #bird&blend #hotbeverage

Jens Knoop turned a childhood memory into one of the UK’s most beloved luxury chocolate drinks — Knoops.

Here’s how he did it…

In this episode, we dive into the journey of building Knoops from a single idea into a nationwide brand. He shares the creative process behind developing over 20 different chocolate percentages, talks about maintaining quality while scaling, and reflects on how his German roots shaped the brand’s vision.

You'll also hear about the challenges of the chocolate industry, brand expansion, and Jens’ philosophy of "chocolate happiness."

If you love food branding, founder stories, or premium product strategy — this one's packed with real gems.

Jens Knoop — Founder of Knoops:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knoopschocolate/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jens-knoop-1a15a446/

Knoops Chocolate:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knoopschocolate/

Website: https://knoops.co.uk

Zoe Fox

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gettingtogrowpodcast

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-fox-377033b0/

#gettingtogrow #gettingtogrowpodcast #fmcg #foodandbeverage #chocolate #jensknoop #knoops #hotchocolate #darkchocolate #gourmetchocolate #craftchocolate

What does it take to become one of the most influential voices in the drinks industry?

In this episode, Dawn Davies shares her wild journey — from running legendary fine dining spots with no experience, to becoming the head buyer at The Whisky Exchange.

She talks about curating spirits from across the globe, making million-pound decisions, and why she’ll always back brands that stand for something.

We also cover…→ Industry myths→ How consumer tastes are shifting→ What it takes to earn shelf space today

If you're into drinks, branding, or the business of taste — you’ll love this one.

Dawn Davies, Head Buyer at The Whisky Exchange

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dawndaviesmw/

The Whisky Exchange

Website: https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whiskyexchange/

Follow Zoe Fox

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gettingtogrow

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-fox-377033b0/

#gettingtogrow #gettingtogrowpodcast #fmcg #foodandbeverage #alcohol #thewhiskeyexchange #whiskeyexchange #wine #spirits #beer #drinks #dawndavies

In this episode, we dive into the story of Better Nature and how co-founder Elin Roberts helped bring tempeh to the masses. From early-stage experiments to landing on Tesco’s shelves, Elin shares the behind-the-scenes of building a purpose-driven food brand in an industry dominated by big players.We cover what it takes to educate customers about something new, how to stand out in the alt-protein space, and why tempeh might just be the future of plant-based eating.If you're passionate about food, sustainability, or building something that matters, this one’s for you.Elin Roberts, Co-Founder of Better NatureInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/elin.mari/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elinmroberts/Better NatureInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/betternaturetempeh/Website: https://betternaturetempeh.co/Follow Zoe FoxYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gettingtogrowLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-fox-377033b0/#gettingtogrow #gettingtogrowpodcast #fmcg #foodandbeverage #tempeh #plantbased #betternature #betternaturetempeh

She never planned on becoming a founder — but Olivia Louise Jenkins’ journey from a steady 9–5 to building a global jewellery brand is anything but ordinary.

In this episode, we dive into how Olivia co-founded D. Louise, the challenges she faced juggling a full-time job while launching, and the viral moments that changed everything.

From bootstrapping her first collections to navigating the pressures of massive growth, she shares the raw truth behind building a business she never expected to run.

If you're a creative, side hustler, or dream of starting something of your own — Olivia’s story will hit home and inspire action.

Olivia Jenkins, Co-Founder of D. Louise

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olivialouise.jenkins/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-jenkins-055663151/

D. Louise Jewelry

Website: https://www.dlouise.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/d.louise/

Follow Zoe Fox

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gettingtogrow

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-fox-377033b0/

From indulgent desserts to gut-friendly yoghurts, James Averdick has launched some of the UK’s most loved food brands — including GU, Coconut Collaborative, and now Spooners!

In this episode, we dive into…

→ James’ journey of founding multiple successful food businesses→ His thoughts on brand-building in the FMCG world→ What it takes to create products that truly connect with people

He shares lessons from growing GU into a premium dessert powerhouse, navigating sustainability with Coconut Collaborative, and why Spooners might just be his boldest move yet.

Whether you’re building a CPG brand, curious about the food startup space, or just want a behind-the-scenes look at launching hit products — this one’s packed with insight!

James Averdieck, Founder of GU, Coconut Collaborative, and Spooners

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jim_averdieck/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-averdieck-333b45b5/

Follow Zoe Fox

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gettingtogrow

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-fox-377033b0/

What does it take to shake up the premium drinks industry?

Raissa de Haas, co-founder of Double Dutch Drinks, shares how she and her twin sister, Joyce de Haas, built a brand that’s redefining mixers with bold flavors and innovation.

In this episode, we dive into…

→ The journey of launching Double Dutch,

→ Challenges of scaling in a competitive market, and

→ Strategies behind building a strong brand.

Plus, we explore innovation in the drinks industry and what’s next for premium mixers.

If you’re into entrepreneurship, the drinks industry, or building a standout brand, you won’t want to miss this conversation!

Raissa de Haas, Co-Founder of Double Dutch Drinks

Instagram:

LinkedIn:

Double Dutch Drinks

Website:

Follow Zoe Fox

YouTube: /gettingtogro

LinkedIn: /zoe-fox-377033b0

How do you take a brand from startup to industry leader?

Vince Lawson, CMO of Biotiful Gut Health, shares how he’s pioneering Biotiful Gut Health and making gut health more accessible to everyone.

In this episode, we dive into the challenges of…

→ Launching and marketing health-focused brands
→ The science behind Kefir and natural probiotics
→ Strategies for building brand loyalty in competitive markets.

Plus, we explore the future of dairy, plant-based alternatives, and clean-label products.Whether you're an entrepreneur, marketer, or health enthusiast, this episode is packed with insights on branding, scaling, and the future of wellness.

Zoe Fox
 YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/@gettingtogrowpodcast]
LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-fox-377033b0/]

Vince Lawson, CMO of Biotiful Gut Health
LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/vince-lawson-015a93b/]Biotiful Gut Health
Website: [https://biotifulguthealth.com/]

In this episode, we dive into the journey of building Grubby, the challenges of scaling a food subscription business, and the unexpected pivots along the way. From dealing with the name controversy to navigating the complexities of forecasting, I share insights into what it really takes to grow a direct-to-consumer brand in the food industry.