In this episode, Michael Dermer speaks to Michael Grant, President of Antico Noè, the Italian panini business. Originally a 200 square foot hole-in-wall panini shop in Florence, Italy, it’s grown a cult following since 1945. Michael Grant took on the challenge to expand the business over in New York. With a background in financial restructuring and helping turn around low-performing businesses, Michael’s focus on costings and brand-scaling has turned Antico Noè’s growth into a success. 1.5 years in, we learn how Michael deals with the pressures of living up to the Florentine expectations and why you need to be thrown into the deep end.

Michael Grant shares his views on:

• What it takes to leave corporate America for your dream
• His big break with Jennifer Lopez
• Living up to the reputation of a well-known and loved brand
• The need for challenges early on in the business process
• Experiential marketing
• Serving a cult following

“I’m a big believer that you’re never going to be ready to do something - as long as you’re calculated and flexible you can do it”

Quotes of note:

On being entrepreneurial: “You need to be open, flexible and listen to people - things are constantly changing”

On competition: “We can bring our set-up to anywhere, it’s mobile, so we need to ‘wow’ people”

The loneliest moment: “The day I had to tell my MD’s and partners that I was leaving - they were the best to work for”

The craziest moment: “having a cult-following and marketing-build for the summer - but you have no idea how you’re launch day will go”

The happiest moment: “finding out that this venture was successful”