The Unfounders

In this episode, Becki Hawkins, the Senior Nutritionist at Champneys, shares her extensive experience in the wellness and nutrition industry.

She discusses the philosophy behind Champneys' approach to food, emphasising moderation, balance, and variety.

Becki highlights the importance of innovation in menu development, the impact of their cookbook, and the evolving landscape of nutrition science.

She also addresses the significance of enjoying food and social connections, the challenges faced during her career, and the exciting future developments at Champneys.

Check her out on socials here:

TikTok: @the_intolerance_n

Instagram: @the_intolerance_nutritionist

As always thanks to our fantastic sponsor ⁠Mission Kitchen!⁠

If you're a chef, baker of food brand looking to grow, then head on over to book a tour at their site in Nine Elms, London today.

Also if you want to build a brand consumers love, you NEED to speak with my incredible new sponsor ⁠Against Ordinary⁠ - the masterminds behind my gorgeous new rebrand.

They also have a 5-Minute Brand Test to help you uncover what’s working, what’s holding you back, and where your untapped potential lies. Give the ⁠Brand Scorecard⁠ a go today!

Check out the ever growing ⁠⁠Unfounders Song Selection ⁠⁠playlist on Spotify.... it's WILD.

Ps - Have you got a guest you'd love to hear from? Submit a guest request form on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Intro by Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/hey-pluto/nod-your-head

Chapters

00:00 Becki's Journey and Role at Champneys

02:37 The Philosophy of Wellness at Champneys

05:25 Food Philosophy: Moderation, Balance, and Variety

08:12 Innovation in Menu Development

11:35 Collaboration and Brand Partnerships

14:20 The Cookbook Journey

17:33 Becki's Early Relationship with Food

18:49 Journey to Shampneys: Building a Career in Nutrition

21:02 Evolving Nutrition Philosophy: Adapting to Science and Trends

24:12 The Interplay of Food and Wellness: A Holistic Approach

26:26 Balancing Indulgence and Health: The 80-20 Rule

30:02 Resilience in Adversity: Lessons from Challenges

34:55 Looking Ahead: Future Innovations at Champneys

In this episode, Ellie-Mae Healy, Head of Growth at Marna Iced Tea, shares her journey from sports to the startup world, discussing the unique approach Marna takes in brewing iced tea with real loose leaf tea.

She highlights the challenges and successes of the brand, the importance of utilising AI for operational efficiency in such a small team.

It was also great to hear about her time at Perfect Ted and what she learnt along the way.

I loved this chat, and the tea is delicious - this is a brand to watch for sure!

As always thanks to our fantastic sponsor ⁠Mission Kitchen!⁠

If you're a chef, baker of food brand looking to grow, then head on over to book a tour at their site in Nine Elms, London today.

Also if you want to build a brand consumers love, you NEED to speak with my incredible new sponsor ⁠Against Ordinary⁠ - the masterminds behind my gorgeous new rebrand.

They also have a 5-Minute Brand Test to help you uncover what’s working, what’s holding you back, and where your untapped potential lies. Give the ⁠Brand Scorecard⁠ a go today!

Check out the ever growing ⁠⁠Unfounders Song Selection ⁠⁠playlist on Spotify.... it's WILD.

Ps - Have you got a guest you'd love to hear from? Submit a guest request form on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Intro by Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/hey-pluto/nod-your-head

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

01:29 Ellie May's Role at Marna Iced Tea

01:49 The Unique Selling Proposition of Marna Iced Tea

03:46 The Founding Story of Marna

04:55 Ellie's Journey into the Iced Tea World

06:23 The Lean Team Structure at Marna

08:16 Utilising AI in Operations and Sales

09:59 A Day in the Life of Head of Growth

11:42 Ellie's Career Path and Transition to Manna

15:03 Lessons Learned from Perfect Ted

18:32 Big Wins and Experiences at Marna

18:51 Navigating Commercial Strategies in Retail

20:32 Expanding Retail Presence and Key Partnerships

22:53 Challenges in the Iced Tea Market

27:45 Learning from Tough Days in a Startup

30:43 Transferable Skills from Hospitality to Sales

33:28 Advice for Entering the Startup World

35:10 Embracing the Messiness of Startup Life

This weeks guest are Harry Ford and Eve Rodway of HIP POP - functional drinks brand offering a wide range of delicious kombucha’s, fibre rich soda’s and CBD drinks.

We discuss the brand's origins, marketing strategies, festival activations, and the importance of team culture.

I loved digging into both Harry and Eve’s backgrounds and to understanding what makes them both love what they do, day in day out!

As always thanks to our fantastic sponsor ⁠Mission Kitchen!⁠

If you're a chef, baker of food brand looking to grow, then head on over to book a tour at their site in Nine Elms, London today.

Also if you want to build a brand consumers love, you NEED to speak with my incredible new sponsor ⁠Against Ordinary⁠ - the masterminds behind my gorgeous new rebrand.

They also have a 5-Minute Brand Test to help you uncover what’s working, what’s holding you back, and where your untapped potential lies. Give the ⁠Brand Scorecard⁠ a go today!

Check out the ever growing ⁠⁠Unfounders Song Selection ⁠⁠playlist on Spotify.... it's WILD.

Ps - Have you got a guest you'd love to hear from? Submit a guest request form on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Intro by Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/hey-pluto/nod-your-head

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Hip Hop and Its Founders

03:59 Growth and Market Presence of Hip Hop

05:50 Rebranding and Marketing Strategies

09:33 Festival Activations and Brand Engagement

10:47 Team Structure and Company Culture

13:07 Career Journeys: From Aspirations to Reality

24:51 Reconnecting and Brand Evolution

25:23 Crafting Unique Flavours and Brand Identity

26:37 Exciting New Product Launches

27:51 Sustainable Wellness Campaigns

28:46 Navigating Operations and Retail Partnerships

31:10 Understanding Consumer Insights

34:08 Expanding Market Reach and Brand Positioning

37:51 Favourite Products and Personal Recommendations

39:36 Overcoming Challenges in the Industry

43:05 Music and Motivation in the Workplace

Allora, let me welcome you to apertivo hour with this weeks guest Jacob Wood.

Jacob is the Sales & Activation Manager at Allora - a brand reinventing the spritz with their unique, delicious lemon based spirit.

He discusses his journey from field sales to joining Allora, the challenges faced in building the brand, and the strategies employed to engage with customers and bars and getting 'liquid on lips.'

I love what Allora are doing, and Jacob is brilliant.

As always thanks to our fantastic sponsor ⁠Mission Kitchen!⁠

If you're a chef, baker of food brand looking to grow, then head on over to book a tour at their site in Nine Elms, London today.

Also if you want to build a brand consumers love, you NEED to speak with my incredible new sponsor ⁠Against Ordinary⁠ - the masterminds behind my gorgeous new rebrand.

They also have a 5-Minute Brand Test to help you uncover what’s working, what’s holding you back, and where your untapped potential lies. Give the ⁠Brand Scorecard⁠ a go today!

Check out the ever growing ⁠⁠Unfounders Song Selection ⁠⁠playlist on Spotify.... it's WILD.

Ps - Have you got a guest you'd love to hear from? Submit a guest request form on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Intro by Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/hey-pluto/nod-your-head

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Setup

01:40 The Story of Allora

06:13 Jacob's Journey to Allora

08:44 Allora's Team and Work Culture

10:12 Early Aspirations and Career Path

13:24 Activations and Brand Building

18:07 Future Goals and Market Expansion

21:48 Educating the Market: Beyond Limoncello

24:19 Innovative Product Development and RTDs

26:28 Collaborations and Brand Partnerships

28:32 Overcoming Challenges in Sales and Activations

32:03 The Importance of Small Details in Business

33:58 Advice for Aspiring Sales Professionals

36:46 The Story Behind Allora's Name and Brand Vision

Sarah Warman was the first marketing hire at Brewdog back in 2013...From a small craft brewery brand, to an international beer powerhouse.

But what has it actually been like working in a business where marketing and PR stunts has been a huge part of their growth?

What are the key lessons and learnings along the way?

What is it really like working with James Watt?

I loved this chat so much. Sarah is absolutely brilliant and diving through her career journey was so great fun - I hope you enjoy it as much as we did

As always thanks to our fantastic sponsor ⁠Mission Kitchen!⁠

If you're a chef, baker of food brand looking to grow, then head on over to book a tour at their site in Nine Elms, London today.

Also if you want to build a brand consumers love, you NEED to speak with my incredible new sponsor ⁠Against Ordinary⁠ - the masterminds behind my gorgeous new rebrand.

They also have a 5-Minute Brand Test to help you uncover what’s working, what’s holding you back, and where your untapped potential lies. Give the ⁠Brand Scorecard⁠ a go today!

Check out the ever growing ⁠⁠Unfounders Song Selection ⁠⁠playlist on Spotify.... it's WILD.

Ps - Have you got a guest you'd love to hear from? Submit a guest request form on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Intro by Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/hey-pluto/nod-your-head

Chapters

00:00 Sarah's Career Overview and Current Role

04:48 Transitioning to Fractional Work

10:01 Early Career Aspirations and Education

12:59 Joining BrewDog and Early Marketing Strategies

16:53 Crowdfunding Experience at BrewDog

18:39 Marketing Insights and Community Engagement

19:01 Evolution of BrewDog's Marketing Strategy

21:40 Memorable Campaigns and PR Stunts

26:37 Lessons from Successes and Failures

33:57 Maximizing PR Opportunities

36:24 Personal Growth and Relationships at BrewDog

44:34 Reflections on the Working Experience

46:11 Advice for Aspiring Marketers

Today I speak with the wonderful 'neuro-spicy' Lois Mills - Senior Content Lead at Yonder, who very much finds her work 'rewarding' to say the least.

Yonder is a new way of banking, rewarding customers with points for debit and credit card spending.

Rather than stuffy and corporate, they do things much more creative, playful and know how to get eyeballs on the brand.

Lois discusses the challenges and joys of working in a startup environment, the importance of creative marketing strategies, and her experiences with innovative campaigns that resonate with audiences.

I loved this one - and know you will too!

As always thanks to our fantastic sponsor ⁠Mission Kitchen!⁠

If you're a chef, baker of food brand looking to grow, then head on over to book a tour at their site in Nine Elms, London today.

Also if you want to build a brand consumers love, you NEED to speak with my incredible new sponsor ⁠Against Ordinary⁠ - the masterminds behind my gorgeous new rebrand.

They also have a 5-Minute Brand Test to help you uncover what’s working, what’s holding you back, and where your untapped potential lies. Give the ⁠Brand Scorecard⁠ a go today!

Check out the ever growing ⁠⁠Unfounders Song Selection ⁠⁠playlist on Spotify.... it's WILD.

Ps - Have you got a guest you'd love to hear from? Submit a guest request form on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Intro by Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/hey-pluto/nod-your-head

Chapters

00:00 Marketing Strategies and Brand Visibility

01:58 Role at Yonder and Content Creation

04:33 Discovering Yonder and Its Unique Offerings

07:32 Creative Campaigns and Brand Engagement

08:43 Introduction and Technical Glitches

08:55 Creative Campaigns: Make It Rain

13:18 The Impact of Brand Creativity

16:26 The Squiggly Career Path

22:33 Lessons from a Non-Linear Journey

25:46 The Importance of Bias to Action

35:38 Navigating Tough Times in Marketing

39:11 Technical Glitches and Podcasting Challenges

40:08 Music as a Work Companion

42:56 Closing Thoughts and Future Connections

⁠Holie's⁠ are on a mission to shake up the breakfast aisle with their high protein, low sugar range and in this episode, I speak to UK Commercial Director to ⁠Bina Edwards⁠.

Bina has a fantastic background working for brands like Red Bull, Ugly, and Liquid Death.

Unpicking all these lessons and learnings throughout her journey was fantastic.

It's raw, honest and there's so much value in this.

I love that she's channeling all this experience into taking on the sugar packed sector - and we even talk about a lawsuit from Lotus bakeries... which Holies won...

As always thanks to our fantastic sponsor ⁠Mission Kitchen!⁠

If you're a chef, baker of food brand looking to grow, then head on over to book a tour at their site in Nine Elms, London today.

Also if you want to build a brand consumers love, you NEED to speak with my incredible new sponsor ⁠Against Ordinary⁠ - the masterminds behind my gorgeous new rebrand.

They also have a 5-Minute Brand Test to help you uncover what’s working, what’s holding you back, and where your untapped potential lies. Give the ⁠Brand Scorecard⁠ a go today!

Check out the ever growing ⁠⁠Unfounders Song Selection ⁠⁠playlist on Spotify.... it's WILD.

Ps - Have you got a guest you'd love to hear from? Submit a guest request form on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Intro by Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/hey-pluto/nod-your-head

Chapters

00:00: Meet Bina Edwards and Holies

09:08: Finding the Right Opportunity and Team Dynamics

14:14: Lessons from Liquid Death and Brand Perception

25:59: Marketing Strategies: Startups vs. Established Brands

36:48: Legal Challenges and Brand Integrity

37:55: Final Thoughts and Future Directions

42:04: The Future of Holies and Market Expansion

This week's guest is an absolute powerhouse in the drinks world - Ben Dando, Managing Director at Goodrays,

In their words, Goodrays provide premium, natural, great-tasting wellbeing products, all born from the power of the sun - in a range of CBD drinks, oils, and edibles.

Following on from a delicious rebrand, it was great to dive into this with Ben to hear all about his background working in the drinks world. From the days of Coca Cola and Relentless - to Karma Drinks, Califia Farms and most recently Liquid Death.

Ben has so much knowledge and so many learnings about what works - and what doesn't work.

There is SO much value in this - grab a can of Goodrays and tuck in!

As always thanks to our fantastic sponsor ⁠Mission Kitchen!⁠

If you're a chef, baker of food brand looking to grow, then head on over to book a tour at their site in Nine Elms, London today.

Also if you want to build a brand consumers love, you NEED to speak with my incredible new sponsor ⁠Against Ordinary⁠ - the masterminds behind my gorgeous new rebrand.

They also have a 5-Minute Brand Test to help you uncover what’s working, what’s holding you back, and where your untapped potential lies. Give the ⁠Brand Scorecard⁠ a go today!

Check out the ever growing ⁠⁠Unfounders Song Selection ⁠⁠playlist on Spotify.... it's WILD.

Ps - Have you got a guest you'd love to hear from? Submit a guest request form on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Intro by Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/hey-pluto/nod-your-head

Chapters

00:00: Introduction to Ben Dando and Good Rays

02:41: The Backstory of Good Rays

04:42: The Importance of Taste in Functional Beverages

07:31: Distribution and Availability of Good Rays

08:51: Rebranding Good Rays

12:52: Ben Dando's Career Journey

17:59: Challenges and Growth at Karma Drinks

23:46: International Expansion Challenges

26:15: Navigating Public Perception and Communication

28:22: Transitioning to GoodRays

29:39: Lessons from Corporate to Startup Culture

32:37: Localisation and Market Adaptation

37:12: Strategic Focus on Domestic Growth

40:39: Future Innovations and Brand Vision

5 Years ago, Katie Edmunds joined her brother as employee number 1 at Trip.

In that time the business has gone from strength to strength, becoming a household name in the functional drinks space and Katie has just been promoted to USA Director of Sales.

In this episode we dig into the importance of team dynamics, company culture, and employee wellness initiatives in how to build a high functioning team that is over 60 people now!

We delve into Tripp's expansion into the US market, tailoring and expanding their diverse product range, and the significance of resilience in sales. 

I loved this chat, and I'm sure you will too!

As always thanks to our fantastic sponsor ⁠Mission Kitchen!⁠

If you're a chef, baker of food brand looking to grow, then head on over to book a tour at their site in Nine Elms, London today.

Also if you want to build a brand consumers love, you NEED to speak with my incredible new sponsor ⁠Against Ordinary⁠ - the masterminds behind my gorgeous new rebrand.

They also have a 5-Minute Brand Test to help you uncover what’s working, what’s holding you back, and where your untapped potential lies. Give the ⁠Brand Scorecard⁠ a go today!

Check out the ever growing ⁠⁠Unfounders Song Selection ⁠⁠playlist on Spotify.... it's WILD.

Ps - Have you got a guest you'd love to hear from? Submit a guest request form on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Intro by Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/hey-pluto/nod-your-head

Chapters

00:00: Introduction to Tripp and Its Founders

03:49: The Journey of Tripp: From Concept to Brand

06:23: Team Growth and Company Culture at Tripp

09:31: Expanding into the US Market

12:03: Education and Career Path of Katie Edmunds

14:30: Challenges and Resilience in Sales

17:23: Celebrating Wins and Learning from No's

25:16: Navigating the Early Days of Tripp

27:40: The Evolution of CBD and Consumer Education

29:57: Expanding Product Range and Meeting Consumer Needs

32:35: Employee Wellness and Company Culture

34:10: Advice for Newcomers in the Industry

37:42: Finding Balance and Enjoying the Journey

This episode is a fantastic conversation digging into the real, honest and unfiltered ways of raising, saving and spending money in business - Where the hell does all the money go?

Recorded live at ⁠Bread & Jam⁠ (Thanks to ⁠Aztec⁠) this panel was with:

🌾 Thiviyan Umapathysarma - Oat Avenue

🍫 Charlotte Miller - Caroboo

🍺 Jacob Liddle - Jiddler's Tipple

Sharing the lessons and learnings along the way about ways to save, and to waste money!

I’d love to hear what you think of this one - personally I LOVED it!

As always thanks to our fantastic sponsor ⁠Mission Kitchen!⁠

If you're a chef, baker of food brand looking to grow, then head on over to book a tour at their site in Nine Elms, London today.

Also if you want to build a brand consumers love, you NEED to speak with my incredible new sponsor ⁠Against Ordinary⁠ - the masterminds behind my gorgeous new rebrand.

They also have a 5-Minute Brand Test to help you uncover what’s working, what’s holding you back, and where your untapped potential lies. Give the ⁠Brand Scorecard⁠ a go today!

Check out the ever growing ⁠⁠Unfounders Song Selection ⁠⁠playlist on Spotify.... it's WILD.

Ps - Have you got a guest you'd love to hear from? Submit a guest request form on our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Intro by Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠⁠

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/hey-pluto/nod-your-head

Chapters

00:00: Outsourcing Production and Cost Efficiency

01:27: Founders' Journeys: Capital and Growth

01:55: Milestones and Key Achievements

05:12: Financial Lessons: Spending Wisely

09:09: Navigating Challenges and Mistakes

12:30: Effective Marketing Strategies

16:00: Understanding Margins and Pricing

19:33: Hiring Smart: Building the Right Team

22:56: Investor Relationships and Transparency

26:14: Cash Flow Management and Resourcefulness