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S2, Ep 07: Lee Personius on Leading Growth, One Pizza At A Time
Have you ever wondered how a small food startup with just four people became one of the UK’s leading names in the food-to-go industry? In this episode of Sales Leaders’ Secrets, Amanda Downs sits down with Lee Personius, founder and CEO of Tugo.
From humble beginnings in a rundown trading estate, Lee has grown Tugo into a £22 million business and he’s aiming to double that in the next decade. He shares how he secured early investment, won over big customers, and maintained a close-knit team culture along the way.
Tune in to learn more about leadership, growth, and why celebrating with pizza matters more than you think.
Here are the Highlights:
00:00 Introduction
05:16 Early stage mistakes and growth
06:56 Startup journey with key support
11:23 Balancing family feel & performance
13:47 Why some people are built to be entrepreneurs
18:39 Developing a softer leadership style over time
21:48 Reliable support in tough times
24:28 Caution in crisis
27:54 Be clear on what you do
Join us each month between May and November for the Uspire webinar series “Become a Better Leader” and get valuable leadership frameworks and techniques to help you achieve sustainable growth that lasts. https://theuspiregroup.com/uspire-events/become-a-better-leader-webinar-series/
About Amanda Downs:
Amanda Downs is Uspire's Director of Commercial Leadership and a commercial training and coaching expert. She has worked extensively in Europe, EMEA, the US, and Asia and is an accredited Insights Discovery practitioner. She also leads Uspire's commercial leadership proposition.
She produces the popular Sales Growth Expert blog and is currently writing her first sales leadership book.
Connect with Amanda:
Website: theuspiregroup.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandadowns2/
About The Uspire Partnership:
Uspire challenge, energise and upskill leaders to set the stage for business transformation and commercial success. Members of the Uspire team are all industry professionals and have first-hand experience of the commercial challenges you face. We develop leadership skills and commercial capabilities; delivering profitable growth and a sustainable legacy of change.
Connect with Uspire:
Website: theuspiregroup.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uspire-ltd/
About Lee Personius:
Lee Personius is the Founder & CEO of Tugo Food, a forward-thinking foodservice company on a mission to make great food more accessible, sustainable, and adaptable. Tugo works with partners across the food industry to deliver smart, flexible food solutions that meet the demands of modern service without compromising on quality or values.
Under Lee’s leadership, Tugo has grown into a purpose-driven business that doesn’t just talk the talk. They’re proud to be a certified B Corp, a Gold-accredited Investors in People organisation, a Times Best Places to Work honouree, and a National Living Wage Employer. That people-first, sustainability-focused mindset is baked into everything they do—from product innovation to company culture.
With over 20 years of experience in business leadership and a deep passion for doing things differently, Lee brings a refreshingly grounded perspective to how companies can grow with integrity. In this episode, we’ll dive into his journey, how Tugo is reshaping foodservice, and what it means to build a company that’s both commercially smart and ethically sound.
Produced by Winter Audio.
View all episodes
By UspireHave you ever wondered how a small food startup with just four people became one of the UK’s leading names in the food-to-go industry? In this episode of Sales Leaders’ Secrets, Amanda Downs sits down with Lee Personius, founder and CEO of Tugo.
From humble beginnings in a rundown trading estate, Lee has grown Tugo into a £22 million business and he’s aiming to double that in the next decade. He shares how he secured early investment, won over big customers, and maintained a close-knit team culture along the way.
Tune in to learn more about leadership, growth, and why celebrating with pizza matters more than you think.
Here are the Highlights:
00:00 Introduction
05:16 Early stage mistakes and growth
06:56 Startup journey with key support
11:23 Balancing family feel & performance
13:47 Why some people are built to be entrepreneurs
18:39 Developing a softer leadership style over time
21:48 Reliable support in tough times
24:28 Caution in crisis
27:54 Be clear on what you do
Join us each month between May and November for the Uspire webinar series “Become a Better Leader” and get valuable leadership frameworks and techniques to help you achieve sustainable growth that lasts. https://theuspiregroup.com/uspire-events/become-a-better-leader-webinar-series/
About Amanda Downs:
Amanda Downs is Uspire's Director of Commercial Leadership and a commercial training and coaching expert. She has worked extensively in Europe, EMEA, the US, and Asia and is an accredited Insights Discovery practitioner. She also leads Uspire's commercial leadership proposition.
She produces the popular Sales Growth Expert blog and is currently writing her first sales leadership book.
Connect with Amanda:
Website: theuspiregroup.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandadowns2/
About The Uspire Partnership:
Uspire challenge, energise and upskill leaders to set the stage for business transformation and commercial success. Members of the Uspire team are all industry professionals and have first-hand experience of the commercial challenges you face. We develop leadership skills and commercial capabilities; delivering profitable growth and a sustainable legacy of change.
Connect with Uspire:
Website: theuspiregroup.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uspire-ltd/
About Lee Personius:
Lee Personius is the Founder & CEO of Tugo Food, a forward-thinking foodservice company on a mission to make great food more accessible, sustainable, and adaptable. Tugo works with partners across the food industry to deliver smart, flexible food solutions that meet the demands of modern service without compromising on quality or values.
Under Lee’s leadership, Tugo has grown into a purpose-driven business that doesn’t just talk the talk. They’re proud to be a certified B Corp, a Gold-accredited Investors in People organisation, a Times Best Places to Work honouree, and a National Living Wage Employer. That people-first, sustainability-focused mindset is baked into everything they do—from product innovation to company culture.
With over 20 years of experience in business leadership and a deep passion for doing things differently, Lee brings a refreshingly grounded perspective to how companies can grow with integrity. In this episode, we’ll dive into his journey, how Tugo is reshaping foodservice, and what it means to build a company that’s both commercially smart and ethically sound.
Produced by Winter Audio.