The Unfounders

In today’s episode I’m joined by two fantastic guests from the brilliant Mr Organic. Head of Brand Stephanie Lee and National Account Manager Margaux Jacquot.

I loved digging into the origins, heritage and why behind the brand, as well as unpicking everything around how the range has expanded to over 120 product and counting, and the role independents play in their strategy.

The conversation delves into the importance of customer feedback, the recent rebrand, and the significance of quality in organic products - as well as both of their careers.

I LOVED this one, and hope 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.

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

Chapters:

00:00: Introduction and Background of Mr. Organic

03:14: Product Development and Customer Feedback

05:43: Innovative Campaigns and Product Launches

08:46: Exploring New Product Lines

11:31: Rebranding and Market Positioning

14:00: The Importance of Organic and Health Trends

17:04: Personal Journeys and Career Paths

22:41: The Journey to the UK: Margaux's Story

26:11: Sales Experience: Learning from the Field

28:15: Passion for Food: The Driving Force

30:54: Career Development: Finding the Right Fit

32:54: Navigating Challenges: Lessons from Tough Times

36:45: Value vs. Cost: Educating Customers

39:23: Collaboration and Team Spirit

39:37: Music and Team Culture

Today's guest is Will Drinkwater Head of Operations at TRIBE.

Tribe make delicious, nutritionally focused products like flapjacks, brownies, cereals and more with the aim of supporting their community charity The Tribe Freedom Foundation, helping tackle human trafficking.

Will has been in the business nearly 10 years and I loved digging into his journey.

We dive into Tribe's origin story, the importance of operations in a growing business, sustainability efforts, team culture, and the challenges faced in the food industry.

Will shares insights on product development, collaborations, and the tools that help streamline operations, emphasising the community aspect of the brand and the shared experiences that come with running and working together.

I LOVED this one, and hope 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.

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

Chapters:

00:00: Introduction and Overview of Tribe

01:55: The Story Behind Tribe's Founding

04:45: Tribe's Social Impact and Charity Initiatives

07:43: Recent Product Launches and Brand Refresh

12:00: Will's Journey into Operations

14:38: The Importance of Operations in Business

17:01: Managing Growth and Supplier Relationships

19:35: Operational Tools and Software

25:57: Team Culture and Work Environment

28:03: Building a Young and Dynamic Team

30:35: The Power of Shared Experiences

36:59: Navigating Operational Challenges

43:06: Sustainability and Industry Regulations

45:18: Finding Your Tribe in Business

In today's episode, Nat Slade, Head of Sales and Partnerships at Dirtea, discusses the innovative world of functional mushrooms and their health benefits.

We discuss her journey from recruitment in healthcare to leading sales at Dirtea, emphasising the importance of team culture, wellness initiatives, and the brand's commitment to quality.

Nat also highlights the challenges faced in the industry, the significance of building relationships, and offers valuable advice for aspiring professionals in sales and FMCG.

There truly is SO much richness to be had here and I am a HUGE fan of the brand!

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.

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

Chapters:

00:00: Introduction to Dirty and Its Mission

04:20: Understanding Functional Mushrooms

07:19: The Dirty Product Range and Accessibility

10:26: The Versatility of Dirty Products in Food Service

13:10: Nat Slade's Career Journey and Transition to Dirty

19:20: Leadership and Team Development at Dirty

23:54: Navigating the Transition to Sales

24:51: The Shift to Mushroom Coffee

27:22: The Rise of Functional Foods

29:41: Balancing Work and Wellness

31:47: Building Team Culture at Dirty

33:43: Hiring for Success

37:31: Future Plans and Innovations

39:14: Overcoming Challenges in the Industry

43:14: Music and Motivation

44:17: Advice for Aspiring Sales Professionals

In the final episode of our 3 part Mission Kitchen special, I have the pleasure of sitting down with Kerry Hopkins - Head of Brand at Pollen + Grace.

Pollen + Grace have been championing healthy, fresh, plant-based food for a decade now, and they don’t show any signs of slowing down.

I loved digging into Kerry’s time there pretty much since day one! What is it about her role that’s kept her engaged for 10 years, how has the brand evolved and changed.

What challenges have they had to overcome, and what does the future hold for them?

There truly is SO much richness to be had here and I am a HUGE fan of the brand!

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.

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

Chapters

00:00: Introduction to Pollen and Grace

02:29: The Brand Story and Mission

04:52: Evolution of Pollen and Grace

06:40: Brand Messaging and Market Positioning

08:51: Team Structure and Work Environment

10:34: Brand Evolution and Packaging Changes

14:20: Challenges and Learning Experiences

16:46: Product Development and Feedback Loops

20:28: Market Trends and Consumer Behaviour

22:48: Personal Journey into the Food Industry

24:45: Passion and Commitment to the Brand

27:17: Future Plans and Innovations

30:31: Community and Networking at Mission Kitchen

33:18: Conclusion and Recommendations

In part 2 of our Mission Kitchen special, Mitch sits down with ⁠Jack Parton⁠, Marketing Director at ⁠Sylt Pickling⁠.

We discuss the innovative concept of pickling liquids, the importance of reducing food waste, and his journey in the food industry.

Jack shares insights on community engagement through events, the support provided by Mission Kitchen for startups, and the challenges faced in entrepreneurship.

Jack also emphasises the significance of work-life balance and the value of being part of a supportive community in the food business.

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.

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

Chapters

00:00: Introduction to Silk Pickling

04:04: The Concept of Home Pickling

07:14: Team Structure and Growth

09:05: Passion for Cooking and Culinary Journey

11:40: Events and Community Engagement

17:00: Mission Kitchen and Its Impact

22:50: Challenges and Learning Experiences

34:09: Final Thoughts and Advice

Today's guest is the fantastic Liv Marshall - Head of Commercial at White Rabbit.

In this episode we discuss Liv's journey from Unilever to leading a pioneering gluten-free brand.

She shares insights on the evolution of White Rabbit's product range, the importance of consumer feedback, and the challenges faced in the food industry.

Liv emphasises the significance of working for brands that align with personal values and the impact of strong leadership in fostering grow.

Plus SO much more!

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.

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

Chapters:

00:00: Introduction to Liv Marshall and White Rabbit

03:19: The Evolution of White Rabbit

05:10: Product Highlights and Business Growth

06:56: The Role of Gluten-Free in Food Service

07:32: Liv's Day-to-Day as Head of Commercial

09:48: Liv's Career Journey: From Unilever to White Rabbit

14:09: Lessons from Unilever: The Big Business Experience

19:39: Transitioning to Oatly: Seeking Growth and Challenge

23:15: Diverse Backgrounds and Team Dynamics

27:35: Transitioning from Oatly to White Rabbit

31:42: Rebranding and Product Evolution

37:20: Consumer Engagement and Feedback

40:06: Learning from Career Challenges

42:44: Advice for Aspiring Professionals

43:33: Celebrating Female-Led Brands

44:54: The Journey and Lessons Learnedtro Jingle Credits to All Good Folks

This is part 1 of a 3 part, in-person special filmed live at Mission Kitchen.

In this first installment, Mitch sits down with Alex Locke - Brand Manager at plant-based cheese brand Mondarella.

Alex shares insights into the plant-based cheese market and her career journey working in brands like Yankee Candle, The Food Doctor and Ocado.

We also dive into the collaborative spirit fostered within Mission Kitchen and how Mondarella use the space. Leading to unique buyers boxes with chutney and crackers made on site.

Plus SO much more!

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.

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

Today's guest is the wonderful Holly Barnes - partnership manager at BlendSmiths. She shares her journey and insights into the world of artisanal hot drinks.

The conversation explores the origins of BlendSmiths, the importance of quality ingredients, and the role of partnerships in building a successful brand.

Holly discusses the challenges faced in the industry, the significance of hospitality experience, and some exciting NPD that has just been released!

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.

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 Jingle Credits to All Good Folks - Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠

Today's guest is Ian Wilkinson Sales Director at the powerhouse of a brand Hunter & Gather. They focus on providing real foods with clean ingredients in a world full of UPF's.

In the last 12 months, the business has flown from £6.5 million to £11.1 million and with 80% of that coming from online and D2C sales!

In this conversation we talk about the importance of building a community as a way of fostering customer loyalty.

We dig into Ian's career working at brands like Danone, Twinings, Britvic and AB World Foods and the lessons he's learnt along the way.

Why it's so important to be passionate about what you do - and SO much more.

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.

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 Jingle Credits to All Good Folks - Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠

00:00: Introduction and Background of Hunter & Gather

02:39: Growth and Market Trends in Health Foods

05:15: Company Culture and Team Dynamics

08:18: Sales Strategy: D2C vs Retail

11:15: Building a Community and Brand Loyalty

14:05: Navigating Retail Partnerships and Accelerators

17:06: Ian's Career Journey and Sales Philosophy

18:44: The Journey into Sales

21:08: Transitioning to ABF and Twinings

24:08: Growth and Leadership at Twinings

26:26: From Big Business to Scale-Up

27:43: Lessons from Big Corporations

31:37: Navigating Challenges and Mistakes

34:56: Strategic Focus in a Growing Business

38:01: The Soundtrack of a Career

Today's guest is the wonderful Sophie Hall - Operations + Product Manager at Spoon Cereals.

Operations is rarely given the spotlight it deserves despite it being the backbone of a business. You can't grow a brand if you can't get products from A to B and everything that's involved in making that happen!

Brands need people as passionate about Ops like Sophie to help take care of things and it was great to dig into her journey, some of the tools she uses to streamline processes, her love of Disney - and SO much more.

There is SO much richness in this - I really hope you enjoy 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.

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 Jingle Credits to All Good Folks - Free Flowin' from ⁠⁠Uppbeat⁠

00:00: Introduction and Background

02:13: Spoon Cereals: The Brand and Its Mission

04:41: Sophie Hall's Journey into Operations

07:21: Experiences at Rude Health and Snowbird

09:37: Getting Hired at Spoon Cereals

11:58: Work Culture and Team Dynamics

14:39: Challenges in Operations

16:57: Operational Efficiency and Lessons Learned

17:12: Navigating Challenges in Operations

18:12: Leveraging AI for Efficiency

20:41: Career Learnings and Personal Growth

22:29: Innovations in Product Development

22:59: Sustainability and Upcycling in Food Production

25:16: Empowering Women in Business

27:22: Essential Tools for Small Teams

29:23: The Spirit of Trying Everything