In this episode of 20 minutes with, Eimear Andersen speaks to Kirsty Henshaw, founder of Kirsty’s, about building one of the UK’s most trusted free-from food businesses.

Kirsty shares how the company began after her son was born with multiple severe food allergies, at a time when free-from options were limited and uninspiring. She reflects on pitching on Dragons’ Den, the realities of scaling a specialist food brand and why free-from is not a trend but a responsibility rooted in trust and safety.

The conversation explores how retailers’ understanding of free-from has evolved, the complexity of allergen control, and why owning a dedicated factory has been a critical advantage. Kirsty also discusses innovation across ready meals and takeaway-style products, her partnership with Myprotein and the importance of balancing commercial growth with genuine social impact.

A grounded look at leadership, resilience and what it really takes to build trust in food retail.

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