Home
Categories
EXPLORE
True Crime
Comedy
Society & Culture
Business
Sports
History
Fiction
About Us
Contact Us
Copyright
© 2024 PodJoint
00:00 / 00:00
Sign in

or

Don't have an account?
Sign up
Forgot password
https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Podcasts211/v4/77/f0/60/77f060af-28a2-7e09-3443-bbc193483647/mza_4708379223090206531.jpg/600x600bb.jpg
Brand Growth Heroes
Fiona Fitz | Brand Growth Heroes Mini MBA |
111 episodes
4 hours ago
Brand Growth Heroes ranks in the top 1.5% of ALL podcasts globally. With +25 years' experience working for brand giants and as coach to over 400 challenger brand founders, Fiona Fitz asks the questions you need the answers to from the founders of wildly successful consumer goods brands driving transformational growth.
Show more...
Entrepreneurship
Business,
Investing
RSS
All content for Brand Growth Heroes is the property of Fiona Fitz | Brand Growth Heroes Mini MBA | and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Brand Growth Heroes ranks in the top 1.5% of ALL podcasts globally. With +25 years' experience working for brand giants and as coach to over 400 challenger brand founders, Fiona Fitz asks the questions you need the answers to from the founders of wildly successful consumer goods brands driving transformational growth.
Show more...
Entrepreneurship
Business,
Investing
Episodes (20/111)
Brand Growth Heroes
Childs Farm Founder Joanna Jensen's Blueprint to Make Business EASY

A few seasons ago, I invited Joanna Jensen, founder of Childs Farm, on the show to tell us how she built one of the UK’s most loved family skincare brands and how she successfully exited. You can find the original episode by scrolling back to season 7, or clicking here

Since then, Joanna has written a brilliant new book called 'Making Business Child’s Play'. Brand Growth Heroes listeners can buy the book at at a discount using code CFsales30 here!

Like Joanna herself, it's a no-nonsense, practical guide for founders on the startup and scaling journey. In it, she shares everything she wishes she’d known when she started out, the things no one gives you a playbook for.

***If this episode inspires you to think about new ways to drive business growth, please could you click FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE on your favourite podcast app and leave a review! Follow me on LinkedIn here***

In this candid chat, Joanna gives us a taster of what’s inside the book and the key lessons she’s distilled from 15+ years of building and growing Childs Farm. We talk about:

Market validation – how to test your idea properly before you dive in.

Knowing your consumer – why Meta doesn’t know them as well as you think.

Protecting your IP – how to safeguard your brand and avoid costly copycats.

Building real relationships – the human side of scaling a business.

Getting your P&L right – how to plan with the numbers that really matter.

Joanna’s “Little Black Book” – Joanna’s personal list of trusted experts and resources to help founders fast-track their growth.

As always, Joanna’s advice is refreshingly candid, funny, and full of hard-earned truth bombs for anyone building a brand from scratch.


Useful links

Joanna’s website

Joanna’s Instagram

Connect with Joanna on LinkedIn

Book: Making Business Child's Play, by Joanna Jensen use code CFsales30 here

============================================================

Thanks to Brand Growth Heroes’ podcast sponsor - Joelson, the commercial law firm

=============================================================

If you're a founder, you already know how much of your energy goes into building the perfect product, creating standout branding and connecting with your consumers.

But don’t forget that scaling a CPG business also comes with a maze of legal complexities that can make or break your business journey. From contracts, term sheets and regulatory compliance to protecting your brand's intellectual property as you expand, it's essential to get it right.

And that starts with the right legal partner.

So we're thrilled to introduce Joelson, THE leading commercial law firm that specialises in guiding the founders of scaling CPG brands, as Brand Growth Heroes' sponsor.

With long-term relationships with clients like Little Moons, Trip, Eat Natural, Bear Graze, and Pulsin, Joelson is also famous for advising the innocent founders in their landmark sale to Coca-Cola! As a female team, we are especially impressed by Joelson's commitment to championing female founders in CPG.

Not many law firms are also BCorps, nor do they specialise in helping founders navigate the legal challenges of scaling without stifling the creativity and momentum that got you here in the first place. So thanks, Joelson—we’re delighted to have you on board.

If you'd like to get in touch to find out more, why don't you drop them a line at hello@joelsonlaw.com!

==============================================

Don't forget to hit FOLLOW!  This small gesture from you means the world to us, and allows us to share these nuggets of insight and value with you more often. You won’t want to miss the next episode, where I'll chat to another successful founder of a challenger brand who shares more valuable insights into driving growth.

JOIN OUR Brand Growth Heroes community to stay updated with captivating stories and learnings from your beloved brands on their path to success!

Follow us on our Brand Growth Heroes socials: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Thanks to our Sound Engineer, Gyp Buggane, Ballagroove.com and podcast producer/content creator, Kathryn Watts, Social KEWS.


Show more...
1 week ago
39 minutes

Brand Growth Heroes
Part 2: "How to Build a Brand Out-loud" Mid-Day Squares & Perfect Ted LIVE

YES! It's Part Two of our LIVE London event with Jake Karls of Mid-Day Squares and Shani Higgs of PerfectTed, hosted LIVE by our wonderful friends at Lucky Saint Pub, London.

This episode is a recording of the audience Q&A that followed the live interview. And WOW! what a session it was. Founders and industry friends in the room asked some incredible questions, and the answers from Jake and Shani (PerfectTed’s Head of Sales, who stepped in after Marisa left) were packed with honesty, insight, and lessons you're going to be able to take away and use to add real value to the way you work.

If you haven’t listened to Part One yet, scroll back one episode to catch the full conversation about how both brands have scaled so quickly, from kitchen tables to category creation.

What we talk about:

  • Jake on scaling Canadian brand Mid-Day Squares NATIONALLY the USA and even beyond.
  • Shani on building PerfectTed’s sales engine and breaking into retail.
  • How they balance ambition with resilience when things get tough.
  • The importance of storytelling and transparency in attracting fans (not just customers).
  • Lessons on founder communication, trust, and team dynamics from two fast-growth brands.
  • Practical insights into category creation, competition, and global expansion.

If you enjoy this episode, please share it with a friend, colleague, or fellow founder! And don’t forget to hit follow/subscribe to Brand Growth Heroes on your favourite podcast app so we can continue to bring you the best guests and the most valuable golden nuggets.

Useful links
Follow us on our Brand Growth Heroes socials:
LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Mid-Day Squares on LinkedIn

Perfect Ted LinkedIn

Midday Squares Instagram

Perfect Ted Instagram

Perfect Ted TikTok

Lucky Saint on LinkedIn

Lucky Saint
Midday Squares

Perfect Ted

============================================================

Thanks to Brand Growth Heroes’ podcast sponsor - Joelson, the commercial law firm

=============================================================

If you're a founder, you already know how much of your energy goes into building the perfect product, creating standout branding and connecting with your consumers.

But don’t forget that scaling a CPG business also comes with a maze of legal complexities that can make or break your business journey. From contracts, term sheets and regulatory compliance to protecting your brand's intellectual property as you expand, it's essential to get it right.

And that starts with the right legal partner.

So we're thrilled to introduce Joelson, a leading commercial law firm that specialises in guiding the founders of scaling CPG brands, as Brand Growth Heroes' sponsor.

With long-term relationships with clients like Little Moons, Trip, Eat Natural, Bear Graze, and Pulsin, Joelson is also famous for advising the innocent founders in their landmark sale to Coca-Cola! As a female team, we are especially impressed by Joelson's commitment to championing female founders in CPG.

Not many law firms are also BCorps, nor do they specialise in helping founders navigate the legal challenges of scaling without stifling the creativity and momentum that got you here in the first place. So thanks, Joelson—we’re delighted to have you on board.

If you'd like to get in touch to find out more, why don't you drop them a line at hello@joelsonlaw.com!

==============================================

A tiny favour: If this episode inspires you to think about new ways to drive business growth, please could you click FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE on your favourite podcast app and leave a review?

This small gesture from you means the world to us, and allows us to share these nuggets of insight and value with you more often.

You won’t want to miss the next episode, in which Fiona Fitz talks with another successful founder of a challenger brand who shares more valuable insights into driving growth.

Please don't hesitate to join our Brand Growth Heroes community to stay updated with captivating stories and learnings from your beloved brands on their path to success!


Thanks to our Sound Engineer, Gyp Buggane, Ballagroove.com and podcast producer/content creator, Kathryn Watts, Social KEWS.


Show more...
3 weeks ago
54 minutes

Brand Growth Heroes
Mid-Day Squares & PerfectTed, Live in London PART 1 How to Build a $100M Brand Out Loud:

I am so thrilled to share this very special LIVE episode with you. I had the absolute joy of sitting down in London with Marisa Poster, co-founder of PerfectTed and Jake Karls, founder of Mid-Day Squares, for an unforgettable conversation about scaling challenger brands, radical transparency, and building community. And yes, I got to TASTE a Mid-Day Square and it's INCREDIBLE.  In fact, I actually ate 3 in a row.

If you haven’t come across Mid-Day Squares yet, they’re the Canadian-born brand redefining healthy afternoon snacking with functional chocolate AND now scaling rapidly across the US. Co-founder Jake Karls last joined me on Brand Growth Heroes in 2023 (scroll back to hear the original episode), and since then, the business has experienced significant growth, expanding from $8M to tens of millions in revenue, with its sights firmly set on reaching $100M.

Because it was PerfectTed who first introduced me to Jake, it felt only right to have Marisa Poster join in the conversation as co-host!

And thanks to Lucky Saint who SO kindly offering us their fab upstairs event room, we gathered 50 friends, founders, and partners for a night of storytelling, snacking, and straight-talking about what it really takes to scale a challenger brand. 

In this episode, we dive into:

  • How Mid-Day Squares grew from the kitchen table to producing 150,000 bars a day.
  • Why therapy, radical transparency, and “building a business out loud” became part of their DNA.
  • The importance of building fans not just customers.
  • How PerfectTed is making matcha accessible and creating a whole new category.
  • The realities of expanding into the US market (and what’s different from Canada, the UK, and beyond).
  • Why team communication and trust are make-or-break for founders.
  • How Storytelling fuels challenger brands.
  • What happens when new competitors enter a category and how to stay focused.
  • The role of product excellence in sustaining growth.
  • The highs, lows, trolls, and resilience it takes to keep going.

This is part one of our Mid-Day Squares live series. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did hosting it!

Next week we’ll be sharing the Q&A session, which ran for a whole extra hour and was packed with brilliant audience questions.

And as you’ll hear at the end of this episode, Shani Higgs, Head of Sales at PerfectTed (and their fourth team member after the founders), will be stepping in to co-host with me for part two. You’re going to learn A LOT so stay tuned!

Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss it. And if you’re not already, go check out Midday Squares and PerfectTed on Instagram and LinkedIn; their storytelling is world-class.

A tiny favour: If this episode inspires YOU to think about new ways to drive business growth, please could you click FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE on your favourite podcast app and leave a review, and maybe share with someone you know will enjoy it?

This small gesture from you means the world to us, and allows us to share these nuggets of insight and value with you more often.


Useful links

Midday Squares LinkedIn

Perfect Ted LinkedIn

Midday Squares Facebook

Midday Squares Instagram

Perfect Ted Instagram

Perfect Ted TikTok

Midday Squares

Perfect Ted

Lucky Saint on LinkedIn

Lucky Saint

============================================================

Thanks to Brand Growth Heroes’ podcast sponsor - Joelson, the commercial law firm

=============================================================

If you're a founder, you already know how much of your energy goes into building the perfect product, creating standout branding and connecting with your consumers.

But don’t forget that scaling a CPG business also comes with a maze of legal complexities that can make or break your business journey. From contracts, term sheets and regulatory compliance to protecting your brand's intellectual property as you expand, it's essential to get it right.

And that starts with the right legal partner.

So we're thrilled to introduce Joelson, a leading commercial law firm that specialises in guiding the founders of scaling CPG brands, as Brand Growth Heroes' sponsor.

With long-term relationships with clients like Little Moons, Trip, Eat Natural, Bear Graze, and Pulsin, Joelson is also famous for advising the innocent founders in their landmark sale to Coca-Cola! As a female team, we are especially impressed by Joelson's commitment to championing female founders in CPG.

Not many law firms are also BCorps, nor do they specialise in helping founders navigate the legal challenges of scaling without stifling the creativity and momentum that got you here in the first place. So thanks, Joelson—we’re delighted to have you on board.

If you'd like to get in touch to find out more, why don't you drop them a line at hello@joelsonlaw.com!

==============================================


 Join our Brand Growth Heroes community to stay updated with captivating stories and learnings from your beloved brands on their path to success!

Follow us on our Brand Growth Heroes socials: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Thanks to our Sound Engineer, Gyp Buggane, Ballagroove.com and podcast producer/content creator, Kathryn Watts, Social KEWS.

Show more...
1 month ago
1 hour 2 minutes

Brand Growth Heroes
Brand is Everything: Founder Kate Prince on Building Ancient+Brave

Davina McCall is my daily running/dog-walking buddy (okay, okay... only in my earbuds), SO when I heard that she was promoting Ancient+Brave on her podcast, I just KNEW I had to see if I could get founder Kate Prince onto Brand Growth Heroes to find out just HOW she is scaling this incredible wellness business.

Because a brand that gets (and can afford) someone like Davina on their *team* has got to be doing something right, right?

Founder Kate began her career as a City lawyer, to discovering her creative side working as a lawyer at Endemol (right at the beginning of Big Brother...), through a first founding venture into Tea,  to building one of the UK’s most exciting wellness brands. 

In this honest conversation, Kate shares the harsh realities of scaling fast, why obsession with brand and storytelling matters, and how learning to let go as a leader can become a founder’s greatest strength.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Why there’s no silver bullet in scaling AND how Kate got from £1m to £10m by stacking growth in layers.
  • Why Kate believes brand is everything AND how design, packaging, and storytelling turned Ancient + Brave from products into a movement.
  • The surprising choice to hire nutritionists early and why it paid off for credibility and product leadership.
  • How Ancient+Brave raised money but kept it in the bank, a rare approach that gave them confidence and control.
  • Why ritual and experience matter as much as product features, and how to make consumers feel something.
  • The lessons Kate learned about team, culture, and leadership along the way.

I loved recording this conversation. I’ve already listened back three times, and I’m still learning from it. I know you will too. Enjoy.

Did this episode make you think differently or give you an idea?
 
If so PLEASE SHARE THE LOVE BACK BY taking a few minutes to

1. Hit 🔔 FOLLOW or 🔔 SUBSCRIBE

2. SHARE WITH A FRIEND

3. SHARE ON LINKEDIN

4. LEAVE a review on iTunes

5. Add a comment under the episode on Spotify ⬇️ 

...every new subscriber and comment or question makes my day - leave your name and I'll drop you a message on Linkedin !!

Follow us on our Brand Growth Heroes socials:
LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.


Useful links

Connect with Ancient + Brave LinkedIn

Ancient + Brave website

Ancient + Brave Instagram

Ancient + Brave Facebook

============================================================

Thanks to Brand Growth Heroes’ podcast sponsor - Joelson, the commercial law firm

=============================================================

If you're a founder, you already know how much of your energy goes into building the perfect product, creating standout branding and connecting with your consumers.

But don’t forget that scaling a CPG business also comes with a maze of legal complexities that can make or break your business journey. From contracts, term sheets and regulatory compliance to protecting your brand's intellectual property as you expand, it's essential to get it right.

And that starts with the right legal partner.

So we're thrilled to introduce Joelson, a leading commercial law firm that specialises in guiding the founders of scaling CPG brands, as Brand Growth Heroes' sponsor.

With long-term relationships with clients like Little Moons, Trip, Eat Natural, Bear Graze, and Pulsin, Joelson is also famous for advising the innocent founders in their landmark sale to Coca-Cola! As a female team, we are especially impressed by Joelson's commitment to championing female founders in CPG.

Not many law firms are also BCorps, nor do they specialise in helping founders navigate the legal challenges of scaling without stifling the creativity and momentum that got you here in the first place. So thanks, Joelson—we’re delighted to have you on board.

If you'd like to get in touch to find out more, why don't you drop them a line at hello@joelsonlaw.com!

==============================================

A tiny favour: If this episode inspires you to think about new ways to drive business growth, please could you click FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE on your favourite podcast app and leave a review?

This small gesture from you means the world to us, and allows us to share these nuggets of insight and value with you more often.

You won’t want to miss the next episode, in which Fiona Fitz talks with another successful founder of a challenger brand who shares more valuable insights into driving growth.

Please don't hesitate to join our Brand Growth Heroes community to stay updated with captivating stories and learnings from your beloved brands on their path to success!

Thanks to our Sound Engineer, Gyp Buggane, Ballagroove.com and podcast producer/content creator, Kathryn Watts, Social KEWS.



Show more...
1 month ago
56 minutes

Brand Growth Heroes
Founders: Should YOU be CEO? Are You Sure?

Founder-led doesn’t HAVE to mean being founder-run.

What does it really take to step away from the founder grind and still stay true to your business?


In this 5-minute short, Stu Macdonald, founder of ManiLife Peanut Butter, explains why so many entrepreneurs get stuck doing “an elite job they’ve never been trained for” and how he escaped the stress hole by changing the way he structured his business.

Stu reflects on:

  • Why being founder-led doesn’t have to mean being founder-run


  • Why most first senior hires don’t work out and why that’s okay.


  • How the right team can turn chaos into momentum.

Selected and hand-picked by the brilliant team at MKJ Ignite – the FMCG recruitment experts helping challenger brands grow with the right people in the right roles – this short is full of practical people insights. Billy, Paul, and Immy have combed through the Brand Growth Heroes archives to bring you the most valuable founder wisdom on hiring and scaling teams that thrive.


If you're wondering whether or not you need help with your recruitment, or would like to ask for some advice, you can e-mail Billy directly at billy.maddock@mkj-ignite.co.uk


Connect with Billy Maddock on LinkedIn


Connect with Immy Southwell on LinkedIn


Connect with Paul Jones on LinkedIn


Follow MKJ Ignite on Instagram


Connect with MKJ Ignite on LinkedIn

Show more...
1 month ago
7 minutes

Brand Growth Heroes
Most Downloaded Episodes: Seedlip Founder on How to Be Disruptive

In case you've JUST discovered Brand Growth Heroes podcast, we're digging into the treasure trove of our most downloaded episodes from our back-catalogue so YOU don't miss A SINGLE BUSINESS INSIGHT!

From slow-burn visionaries to fast-moving disruptors, the show has featured founders of brands like Perfect Ted, Lucky Saint, Seedlip, Wild, Strong Roots, Oddbox, and global challengers like Waterdrop, Mid-Day Squares, Olipop, and Tony’s Chocolonely and many many more…

Next up in this special series, we are re-releasing one of the most loved and downloaded episodes of all time, an interview with Ben Branson, founder of Seedlip. 

In this replay, Fiona sits down with Ben Branson, founder of Seedlip, the world’s first distilled non-alcoholic spirit and arguably the original poster child of the No & Low alcohol movement.


Started on a garden table in 2016, Seedlip didn’t just disrupt the drinks industry — it invented a new category. Now sold in 49 countries, with a sales value in the tens of millions, Seedlip has become a global benchmark for what true brand disruption looks like.

In this episode, Ben shares:

  • How to build a brand that redefines an entire category


  • Why he chose to partner early with Diageo, and how it changed Seedlip’s trajectory


  • His unconventional approach to culture, team-building, and roles


  • What inspires him creatively from robot chefs to the 47,000+ plant-based ingredients that fuel innovation

This is an episode that founders still rave about and for good reason. It’s full of insights for anyone trying to scale something bold, disruptive, and lasting.

If you do learn some good stuff from this episode (and we hope you do), please, please share it, follow the show, AND leave a quick review. It all helps bring more brilliant founders and insights to you, our Brand Growth Heroes community!


============================================================


Thanks to Brand Growth Heroes’ podcast sponsor -
Joelson, the commercial law firm


=============================================================


If you're a founder, you already know how much of your energy goes into building the perfect product, creating standout branding and connecting with your consumers.


But don’t forget that scaling a CPG business also comes with a maze of legal complexities that can make or break your business journey. From contracts, term sheets and regulatory compliance to protecting your brand's intellectual property as you expand, it's essential to get it right.


And that starts with the right legal partner.


So we're thrilled to introduce Joelson, a leading commercial law firm that specialises in guiding the founders of scaling CPG brands, as Brand Growth Heroes' sponsor.


With long-term relationships with clients like Little Moons, Trip, Eat Natural, Bear Graze, and Pulsin, Joelson is also famous for advising the innocent founders in their landmark sale to Coca-Cola! As a female team, we are especially impressed by Joelson's commitment to championing female founders in CPG.


Not many law firms are also BCorps, nor do they specialise in helping founders navigate the legal challenges of scaling without stifling the creativity and momentum that got you here in the first place. So thanks, Joelson—we’re delighted to have you on board.


If you'd like to get in touch to find out more, why don't you drop them a line at
hello@joelsonlaw.com!


==============================================


A tiny favour: If this episode inspires you to think about new ways to drive business growth, please could you click FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE on your favourite podcast app and leave a review?

This small gesture from you means the world to us, and allows us to share these nuggets of insight and value with you more often.


You won’t want to miss the next episode, in which Fiona Fitz talks with another successful founder of a challenger brand who shares more valuable insights into driving growth.


Please don't hesitate to join our Brand Growth Heroes community to stay updated with captivating stories and learnings from your beloved brands on their path to success!


Follow us on our Brand Growth Heroes socials:
LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Thanks to our Sound Engineer, Gyp Buggane, Ballagroove.com and podcast producer/content creator, Kathryn Watts, Social KEWS.

Show more...
2 months ago
1 hour 6 minutes

Brand Growth Heroes
From Panic Attacks to Dream Job : Stu Macdonald | ManiLife Peanut Butter

We loved chatting to Stu....and you're going to love learning from this GOLD taken from our recent episode: 
What happens when a founder steps back from doing everything and instead builds a team that can take the business further than they ever could alone?

In this 5-minute clip, Stu Macdonald, founder of ManiLife Peanut Butter, shares why building their own factory was a turning point, not just for product quality and innovation, but for company culture.

Stu opens up about:

- Why making their own product was essential for both quality and commercial success.
- The power of trusting great people to lead where he couldn’t.
- The difference between working “insanely hard” versus building a business that hums.
- His raw experience with burnout and the shift that saved both him and the company.

This is a powerful reminder that YOU, the FOUNDERS, perhaps DON'T don’t need to do it all...or at least that you can CHOOSE to work towards a time when you're NOT doing it all. The right team, the right timing, and the right role for you can play to your strengths and drive even stronger growth.

This clip was selected and hand-picked by the brilliant team at MKJ Ignite, the FMCG recruitment experts helping challenger brands grow with the right people in the right roles, and is full of practical people insights. Directors Billy, Paul, and Immy have combed through the Brand Growth Heroes archives to bring you the most valuable founder wisdom on hiring and scaling teams that THRIVE.

A new 5-minute episode drops every two weeks — so make sure to HIT FOLLOW and don’t miss the next one.

If you're wondering whether or not you need help with your recruitment, or would like to ask for some advice, you can e-mail Billy directly at billy.maddock@mkj-ignite.co.uk

Connect with Billy Maddock on LinkedIn

Connect with Immy Southwell on LinkedIn

Connect with Paul Jones on LinkedIn

Follow MKJ Ignite on Instagram

Connect with MKJ Ignite on LinkedIn



Show more...
2 months ago
9 minutes

Brand Growth Heroes
Most Downloaded Episodes: TRIP's Co-Founder Olivia Ferdi on TRIP's First 2 Years

In case you've JUST discovered Brand Growth Heroes podcast, we're digging into the treasure trove of our most downloaded episodes from our back-catalogue so YOU don't miss A SINGLE INSIGHT!

From slow-burn visionaries to fast-moving disruptors, the show has featured founders of brands like Perfect Ted, Lucky Saint, Seedlip, Wild, Strong Roots, Oddbox, and global challengers like Waterdrop, Mid-Day Squares, Olipop, and Tony’s Chocolonely and many many more…

To kick off this special series, we are re-releasing one of the most loved episodes of all time: an interview with Olivia Ferdi, Co-founder of TRIP, which we recorded when TRIP Was just 2 years in to their growth journey, but was already close to £20M in sales.


TRIP is the UK's market-leading CBD drinks company. Since its launch in 2019, UK consumers have spent literally millions of pounds on TRIP's delicious CBD-infused canned drinks, as well as on their dinky little dropper bottles of CBD oils. 

In this episode, Fiona spoke to co-founder Olivia Ferdi about leaving her law career to step into the unknown, about how she and her husband have created a mainstream category out of something that had tremendous barriers to purchase up until now, and we learn how the TRIP team have had to drive demand in the old fashioned way through experience and word of mouth rather than through paid advertising. 

This conversation is PACKED with insights we don't want you to miss. Plus, we'll be doing a new interview with Olivia VERY SOON, so this is a great way to remind you all of where the market was only a few years ago!


If you do learn some good stuff from this episode (and we hope you do), please please share it, follow the show, AND leave a quick review. It all helps bring more brilliant founders and insights to you, our Brand Growth Heroes community!

=========================================================


Thanks to Brand Growth Heroes’ podcast sponsor -
Joelson, the commercial law firm


=========================================================


If you're a founder, you already know how much of your energy goes into building the perfect product, creating standout branding and connecting with your consumers.


But don’t forget that scaling a CPG business also comes with a maze of legal complexities that can make or break your business journey. From contracts, term sheets and regulatory compliance to protecting your brand's intellectual property as you expand, it's essential to get it right.


And that starts with the right legal partner.


So we're thrilled to introduce Joelson, a leading commercial law firm that specialises in guiding the founders of scaling CPG brands, as Brand Growth Heroes' sponsor.


With long-term relationships with clients like Little Moons, Trip, Eat Natural, Bear Graze, and Pulsin, Joelson is also famous for advising the innocent founders in their landmark sale to Coca-Cola! As a female team, we are especially impressed by Joelson's commitment to championing female founders in CPG.


Not many law firms are also BCorps, nor do they specialise in helping founders navigate the legal challenges of scaling without stifling the creativity and momentum that got you here in the first place. So thanks, Joelson—we’re delighted to have you on board.


If you'd like to get in touch to find out more, why don't you drop them a line at
hello@joelsonlaw.com!


==============================================


A tiny favour: If this episode inspires you to think about new ways to drive business growth, please could you click FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE on your favourite podcast app and leave a review?


This small gesture from you means the world to us, and allows us to share these nuggets of insight and value with you more often.


You won’t want to miss the next episode, in which Fiona Fitz talks with another successful founder of a challenger brand who shares more valuable insights into driving growth.


Please don't hesitate to join our Brand Growth Heroes community to stay updated with captivating stories and learnings from your beloved brands on their path to success!


Follow us on our Brand Growth Heroes socials:
LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.


Thanks to our Sound Engineer, Gyp Buggane,
Ballagroove.com and podcast producer/content creator, Kathryn Watts, Social KEWS.

Show more...
2 months ago
38 minutes

Brand Growth Heroes
Bold Bean Co's Model: Remote First & Big Culture Vibes

Bold Bean Co is doing team and culture differently.


In this episode, co-founders Amelia and Ed discuss how the'yre building a high-performing, remote-first team with people working all across the UK and quite a few other countries.

They want their team's motivation to be powered by the business mission, and as this is key it's important to them to allow their team to work their jobs around their lives, rather than the other way around!

What you'll learn:

  • Why "trust first" is key for Ed and Amelia and how they lead 
  • How a remote working model allows Bold Bean Co to look globally for exceptional talent, rather than only searching in the UK.
  • Why 'Culture' isn't something that you start thinking about once you're further on up the growth curve - it's got to be nurtured from the outset!

So, if you're building a team and wondering how to do it well without a traditional office setup, this one's for you.  

This 'BGH Short' is part of our People Series partnership with MKJ Ignite - The FMCG recruitment experts helping challenger brands grow with the right people in the right roles. Directors Billy, Paul, and Immy have combed through the Brand Growth Heroes archives to bring you the most valuable founder wisdom on hiring and scaling teams that thrive - and as a result, this short episode is PACKED with golden nuggets around people, team and culture. 


A new 5-minute short episode drops every two weeks — so make sure to HIT FOLLOW so you don’t miss the next one.

If you're wondering whether or not you need help with your recruitment, or would like to ask for some advice, you can e-mail Billy directly at billy.maddock@mkj-ignite.co.uk

Connect with Billy Maddock on LinkedIn

Connect with Immy Southwell on LinkedIn


Connect with Paul Jones on LinkedIn


Follow MKJ Ignite on Instagram

Connect with MKJ Ignite on LinkedIn

Show more...
2 months ago
4 minutes

Brand Growth Heroes
Grenade's £200M Exit to Mondalez: Juliet Barratt Co-Founder of Grenade LIVE On Stage

This is one of our favourite interviews EVER! In this very special LIVE edition of Brand Growth Heroes, recorded at Bread & Jam Fest 2025, Fiona Fitz sits down in front of a live audience with the absolutely brilliant and hilariously honest Juliet Barratt, co-founder of the category-defining sports nutrition brand, Grenade. Juliet shares the fab story of how she and then-partner Al Barrett took Grenade from the back of a big night out in Birmingham to the shelves of Tesco, WHSmith and petrol stations across the UK, and ultimately to a £200M exit to Mondelez - without ever compromising on what made them different.

If this episode inspires you to think about new ways to drive business growth, PLEASE could you click FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE on your favourite podcast app and leave a review, AND share it with a fellow founder - it could help them too!

The conversation covers so much - from how branding (and “weirdness!”) can be a superpower, to the moment they realised their “retire-on-a-beach” plan was delusional, to driving a tank into BodyPower Expo (yes, really) to get noticed by GNC. Juliet also opens up about how being “all in” meant no days off for four years, about hiring people who weren’t “knobs,” and about what it really felt like when the money landed in her bank account after the deal closed, and interestingly, why it WASN'T the moment of glory people imagine!

She also shares her views on today's funding-obsessed food and drink ecosystem, and why she believes too many founders are chasing other people’s stories instead of writing their own.

Wait for it...Juliet also shares her (perhaps controversial?!) views on the 'female founder' movement - we'd love to know what you think (if you're listening on Spotify, you can comment below!)


Juliet’s energy is infectious, her insight razor-sharp, and her advice unmissable for any challenger brand founder.

And yes, we talk about the Oreo bar. (Don’t eat five a day. Just… don’t.)

PS: Don’t miss the audience questions at the end. Golden nuggets tsunami!
 
Enjoy.

Useful links:

Connect with Juliet Barratt on LinkedIn

Follow Grenade on LinkedIn

More about Bread & Jam Festival

Follow Brand Growth Heroes on LinkedIn

Connect with BGH host Fiona Fitz on LinkedIn

============================================================

Thanks to Brand Growth Heroes’ podcast sponsor - Joelson, the commercial law firm

=============================================================

If you're a founder, you already know how much of your energy goes into building the perfect product, creating standout branding and connecting with your consumers.

But don’t forget that scaling a CPG business also comes with a maze of legal complexities that can make or break your business journey. From contracts, term sheets and regulatory compliance to protecting your brand's intellectual property as you expand, it's essential to get it right.

And that starts with the right legal partner.

So we're thrilled to introduce Joelson, a leading commercial law firm that specialises in guiding the founders of scaling CPG brands, as Brand Growth Heroes' sponsor.

With long-term relationships with clients like Little Moons, Trip, Eat Natural, Bear Graze, and Pulsin, Joelson is also famous for advising the innocent founders in their landmark sale to Coca-Cola! As a female team, we are especially impressed by Joelson's commitment to championing female founders in CPG.

Not many law firms are also BCorps, nor do they specialise in helping founders navigate the legal challenges of scaling without stifling the creativity and momentum that got you here in the first place. So thanks, Joelson—we’re delighted to have you on board.

If you'd like to get in touch to find out more, why don't you drop them a line at hello@joelsonlaw.com!

==============================================

A tiny favour: If this episode inspires you to think about new ways to drive business growth, please could you click FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE on your favourite podcast app and leave a review?

This small gesture from you means the world to us, and allows us to share these nuggets of insight and value with you more often.

You won’t want to miss the next episode, in which Fiona Fitz talks with another successful founder of a challenger brand who shares more valuable insights into driving growth.

Please don't hesitate to join our Brand Growth Heroes community to stay updated with captivating stories and learnings from your beloved brands on their path to success!

Follow us on our Brand Growth Heroes socials: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Thanks to our Sound Engineer, Gyp Buggane, Ballagroove.com and podcast producer/content creator, Kathryn Watts, Social KEWS.



Show more...
2 months ago
48 minutes

Brand Growth Heroes
How Tonic Health Built a Team to Scale

From Solo Hustle to Remote Rocketship: How Tonic Health Built a Team to Scale

In this 5-minute power-packed short, handpicked by MKJ Ignite, we hear how Sunna Van Kampen, founder of Tonic Health scaled from a solo founder to a fully-fledged team—all while navigating the chaos of COVID.


Hear how Tonic health built their TEAM and CULTURE:


- Hiring a full leadership team across ops, finance, sales, marketing & growth

- Building a remote-first culture from necessity (and stuck with it)

- Balancing speed with values as the team expanded

- Codifying culture to keep pace with rapid growth

Handpicked by the team at UK CPG recruitment specialist MKJ Ignite, this SHORT 5-minute golden nugget is packed with insight into what it really takes to scale and what you need to survive as a team while doing it.

Don’t forget to hit follow for more bite-sized founder wisdom every 2 weeks.


If you're wondering whether you need help finding the right people or would like some advice, you can book a no-obligation call with Billy from the MKJ Ignite team here!


Connect with Billy Maddock


Connect with Immy Southwell


Connect with Paul Jones


Show more...
3 months ago
5 minutes

Brand Growth Heroes
How Bio & Me Grew 15X in 4 Years - Without Losing Their Gut Instinct!

Bio & Me is one of the UK’s fastest-growing gut health food brands, co-founded by one of Fiona's former bosses at Nestle UK -  Jon Walsh, and leading gut health expert Dr. Megan Rossi. Built on a brand platform that teaches us that consuming loads of different plants each week =  better gut health, their award-winning range of granolas, porridges, and kefir yoghurts is now stocked nationwide.

In this latest episode, Fiona reconnects with Jon, four years after he first appeared on Brand Growth Heroes, when Bio & Me was hitting £1M in sales. Today? They’re doing £15–£20M annually.

You'll learn about: 

  • The real growth journey: from founder hustle to scaling a national brand
  • Why great strategy means nothing without killer execution
  • How to balance taste vs. health in both product and communication
  • Why Jon still answers customer emails himself
  • What it takes to win with retailers as a challenger brand
  • The magic that happens when you listen to your team and your shoppers

Jon shares candid insights into what it takes to grow a purpose-led food brand in today’s competitive market, without losing your soul or your edge.

Useful Links 

  • Bio & Me website
  • Follow Dr. Megan Rossi on Instagram: @theguthealthdoctor
  • Connect with Jon on LinkedIn
  • Follow Bio & Me on LinkedIn
  • Mention: Eddie Yoon – co-founder of Category Pirates

============================================================

Thanks to Brand Growth Heroes’ podcast sponsor - Joelson, the commercial law firm

=============================================================

If you're a founder, you already know how much of your energy goes into building the perfect product, creating standout branding and connecting with your consumers.

But don’t forget that scaling a CPG business also comes with a maze of legal complexities that can make or break your business journey. From contracts, term sheets and regulatory compliance to protecting your brand's intellectual property as you expand, it's essential to get it right.

And that starts with the right legal partner.

So we're thrilled to introduce Joelson, a leading commercial law firm that specialises in guiding the founders of scaling CPG brands, as Brand Growth Heroes' sponsor.

With long-term relationships with clients like Little Moons, Trip, Eat Natural, Bear Graze, and Pulsin, Joelson is also famous for advising the innocent founders in their landmark sale to Coca-Cola! As a female team, we are especially impressed by Joelson's commitment to championing female founders in CPG.

Not many law firms are also BCorps, nor do they specialise in helping founders navigate the legal challenges of scaling without stifling the creativity and momentum that got you here in the first place. So thanks, Joelson—we’re delighted to have you on board.

If you'd like to get in touch to find out more, why don't you drop them a line at hello@joelsonlaw.com!

==============================================

A tiny favour: If this episode inspires you to think about new ways to drive business growth, please could you click FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE on your favourite podcast app and leave a review?

This small gesture from you means the world to us, and allows us to share these nuggets of insight and value with you more often.

You won’t want to miss the next episode, in which Fiona Fitz talks with another successful founder of a challenger brand who shares more valuable insights into driving growth.

Please don't hesitate to join our Brand Growth Heroes community to stay updated with captivating stories and learnings from your beloved brands on their path to success!

Follow us on our Brand Growth Heroes socials: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Thanks to our Sound Engineer, Gyp Buggane, Ballagroove.com and podcast producer/content creator, Kathryn Watts, Social KEWS.

Show more...
3 months ago
48 minutes

Brand Growth Heroes
Why Olipop's Co-Founder Dynamic WORKS

In this episode of BGH SHORTS: The People Series, the team at MKJ Ignite have hand-picked this SHORT 5-minute golden nugget packed with insight into what it really takes to scale and what you need to survive as a team while doing it.

David Lester, co-founder of Olipop gives us insight into the human side of the co-founder relationship behind OLIPOP’s explosive growth - growing from an unlikely partnership to a half-billion-dollar brand.
 
Hear how:

  • Two very different co-founders turned past failures into this incredible success
  • A mission-driven mindset can become the ultimate competitive advantage
  • Staying aligned (without killing each other) is half the battle!

Don’t forget to hit follow for more bite-sized founder wisdom every 2 weeks.


And...if you're wondering whether or not you need help to find the right people, or would like to ask for some advice, why not take half an hour to discuss it over a no-obligation call with Billy from the MKJ Ignite team team here!


Connect with Billy Maddock

Connect with Immy Southwell

Connect with Paul Jones


Show more...
3 months ago
5 minutes

Brand Growth Heroes
Brand Alchemy: The £Multi Million Formula for Challenger Brand Success, with big fish Perry Haydn-Taylor

In this episode of Brand Growth Heroes, Fiona Fitz is joined by one of the most influential figures in UK brand building over the last 30 years:  the incredible Perry Haydn-Taylor, the creative mind behind one of the most famous brand consultancies in the business big fish®.

Fiona first met Perry in 2006 during her time heading up Gü France, and this conversation is full of the same sharp insight, warmth, and strategic clarity that made their early boardroom chats unforgettable.

With a client list that includes some of the UK’s most beloved challenger brands - think Gü, Charlie Bigham’s, Dorset Cereals, Clipper Teas, Sipsmith, Tyrrells, St. Pierre, Freddy’s Flowers, sofa.com, and more! Perry and his team at big fish® have consistently helped founders transform big ideas into commercially successful, category-defining businesses.

In this episode, you'll learn:

  • Why the most successful founders are “restless in pursuit of better”
  • The Power of Three framework: clarity × focus × effort = sustainable growth
  • How to articulate your unfair advantage and make the right choice the easy one
  • The role of charisma and storytelling in building buy-in from investors, retailers, and consumers
  • How Big Fish has reframed entire categories — from tea and chocolate to salad and flowers
  • Why hiring, values, and strategic simplicity are key to scaling well

This is a candid and insightful deep dive into what matters when building a brand, not just design and packaging, but conviction, focus, and a deep understanding of your customer.

If you’re navigating the messy middle of your growth journey, this episode is packed with practical frameworks and fresh perspective.

Useful Links:

big fish website

Connect with Perry on LinkedIn

Connect with big fish on LinkedIn

============================================================

Thanks to Brand Growth Heroes’ podcast sponsor - Joelson, the commercial law firm

=============================================================

If you're a founder, you already know how much of your energy goes into building the perfect product, creating standout branding and connecting with your consumers.

But don’t forget that scaling a CPG business also comes with a maze of legal complexities that can make or break your business journey. From contracts, term sheets and regulatory compliance to protecting your brand's intellectual property as you expand, it's essential to get it right.

And that starts with the right legal partner.

So we're thrilled to introduce Joelson, a leading commercial law firm that specialises in guiding the founders of scaling CPG brands, as Brand Growth Heroes' sponsor.

With long-term relationships with clients like Little Moons, Trip, Eat Natural, Bear Graze, and Pulsin, Joelson is also famous for advising the innocent founders in their landmark sale to Coca-Cola! As a female team, we are especially impressed by Joelson's commitment to championing female founders in CPG.

Not many law firms are also BCorps, nor do they specialise in helping founders navigate the legal challenges of scaling without stifling the creativity and momentum that got you here in the first place. So thanks, Joelson—we’re delighted to have you on board.

If you'd like to get in touch to find out more, why don't you drop them a line at hello@joelsonlaw.com!

==============================================

A tiny favour: If this episode inspires you to think about new ways to drive business growth, please could you click FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE on your favourite podcast app and leave a review?

This small gesture from you means the world to us, and allows us to share these nuggets of insight and value with you more often.

You won’t want to miss the next episode, in which Fiona Fitz talks with another successful founder of a challenger brand who shares more valuable insights into driving growth.

Please don't hesitate to join our Brand Growth Heroes community to stay updated with captivating stories and learnings from your beloved brands on their path to success!

Follow us on our Brand Growth Heroes socials: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Thanks to our Sound Engineer, Gyp Buggane, Ballagroove.com and podcast producer/content creator, Kathryn Watts, Social KEWS.

Show more...
3 months ago
46 minutes

Brand Growth Heroes
The Grocer Gold WINNERS Bold Bean Co: The People Power Behind the Beans!

Last night, Amelia Christie-Miller won THE GROCER GOLD ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR 2025!!

We're so proud of you, Ed and your team, and honoured to have supported you right from the very start of your journey!!

Amelia makes the point that this win is not just hers, but that "it belongs to every single person who believed in the bean revolution:
🏆 The Bold Bean Co | B Corp™ team who've hustled relentlessly to get us into 1000+ stocking points
🏆 My co-founder Ed Whelpton, who I eventually managed to persuade to join me on this mad journey and has transformed the business and experience for me.
🏆 Our investors who backed beans when everyone else said "you'll never disrupt Heinz" or “commodity category brands won’t work”.
🏆 The bean champs who clear our shelves at Waitrose & Partners and send our cookbooks to their friends!
🏆 The retailers who gave shelf space to a crazy idea about premium jarred legumes."
(Amelia Christie-Miller, LinkedIn)

So, in this week’s power-packed Brand Growth Heroes SHORT, Fiona chats with Ed Whelpton and Amelia Christie-Miller, the visionary co-founders of Bold Bean Co., about one of the most complicated but most critical challenges in early-stage FMCG brands: getting the right people into the business.


From accidental brilliance to strategic investment, Ed and Amelia reveal:

  • Why external advice is underrated
  • Hiring a fractional Head of People (yep, early!)
  • Ditching the office for a ‘connectivity budget’
  • What truly modern leadership looks like

Whether you’re scaling a team or just starting to hire, this is your short, sharp insight hit.


This BGH Short is part of our people series, hand-picked by the brilliant team at MKJ Ignite – the FMCG recruitment experts helping challenger brands grow with the right people in the right roles. This short is full of practical people insights. Billy, Paul, and Immy have combed through the Brand Growth Heroes archives to bring you the most valuable founder wisdom on hiring and scaling teams that thrive.


A new 5-7 minute episode drops every two weeks, so make sure to HIT FOLLOW and don’t miss the next one.


If you're wondering whether or not you need help with your recruitment, or would like to ask for some advice, you can book a no-obligation call with Billy - or anyone on the team - here!


Connect with Billy Maddock on LinkedIn


Connect with Immy Southwell on LinkedIn


Connect with Paul Jones on LinkedIn


Follow MKJ Ignite on Instagram


Connect with MKJ Ignite on LinkedIn


Show more...
4 months ago
7 minutes

Brand Growth Heroes
From Addiction & ADHD -> Creating A Billion Dollar Category - Josh White, Founder Cano Water

Sometimes the most the powerful challenger brand stories are also stories of struggle, survival, overcoming personal battles and inspiring strength and resilience.
In this episode of Brand Growth Heroes, Fiona sits down with Josh White, co-founder of Cano Water, a brand that’s not only challenging the status quo of the bottled water industry but also reshaping it entirely.

It all started with a question: Why are there so many plastic bottles in the sea AND why are we still drinking water from plastic bottles when cans are infinitely recyclable?

What followed was a radical mission to reduce plastic waste. In the process, Cano Water helped create an entirely new sustainable category, which is now worth over a billion dollars.

But behind the brand is a much deeper story.

In this raw and intimate conversation, Josh opens up to Fiona Fitz about growing up with ADHD, his battle with addiction from a young age, and how his personal struggles became the driving force behind his purpose. He shares what it’s really like building a fast-growing challenger brand when the industry doesn’t want you to win, the loneliness of leadership, and the resilience it takes to prove people wrong.

We explore how CanO Water came to define a new category in sustainability and what it takes to create real change in an industry that often resists disruption. Josh opens up about the early days—what it felt like to be laughed at by retailers and ignored by investors—and the moment it all changed thanks to an unexpected catalyst.

We dive into how ADHD has shaped Josh’s journey as a founder, both as a challenge and as a superpower, and the emotional toll of leading a mission-led business when the pressure never lets up. And as a new Dad, Josh speaks candidly about fatherhood, the guilt that comes with trying to balance family and work, and the legacy he wants to build, not just as an entrepreneur, but as a parent.

This is a conversation that will stick with you.

Useful Links:

Cano Water website

Connect with Josh on LinkedIn

Instagram & Facebook & TikTok

=============================================================

Thanks to Brand Growth Heroes’ podcast sponsor - Joelson, the commercial law firm

=============================================================

If you're a founder, you already know how much of your energy goes into building the perfect product, creating standout branding and connecting with your consumers.

But don’t forget that scaling a CPG business also comes with a maze of legal complexities that can make or break your business journey. From contracts, term sheets and regulatory compliance to protecting your brand's intellectual property as you expand, it's essential to get it right.

And that starts with the right legal partner.

So we're thrilled to introduce Joelson, a leading commercial law firm that specialises in guiding the founders of scaling CPG brands, as Brand Growth Heroes' sponsor.

With long-term relationships with clients like Little Moons, Trip, Eat Natural, Bear Graze, and Pulsin, Joelson is also famous for advising the innocent founders in their landmark sale to Coca-Cola! As a female team, we are especially impressed by Joelson's commitment to championing female founders in CPG.

Not many law firms are also BCorps, nor do they specialise in helping founders navigate the legal challenges of scaling without stifling the creativity and momentum that got you here in the first place. So thanks, Joelson—we’re delighted to have you on board.

If you'd like to get in touch to find out more, why don't you drop them a line at hello@joelsonlaw.com!

==============================================

A tiny favour: If this episode inspires you to think about new ways to drive business growth, please could you click FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE on your favourite podcast app and leave a review?

This small gesture from you means the world to us, and allows us to share these nuggets of insight and value with you more often.

You won’t want to miss the next episode, in which Fiona Fitz talks with another successful founder of a challenger brand who shares more valuable insights into driving growth.

Please don't hesitate to join our Brand Growth Heroes community to stay updated with captivating stories and learnings from your beloved brands on their path to success!

Follow us on our Brand Growth Heroes socials: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Thanks to our Sound Engineer, Gyp Buggane, Ballagroove.com and podcast producer/content creator, Kathryn Watts, Social KEWS.

Show more...
4 months ago
40 minutes

Brand Growth Heroes
The Perfect Ted People Strategy: Building the Rocket Ship While It’s Flying

In just 5 mins, get your dose of insight and inspiration from Perfect Ted's co-founder Marisa Poster, and their brilliant Head of Sales, Shani Higgs!

From the early grind of cold emails and constant rejection through post-Dragons’ Den momentum to scaling a £ 30M+ brand with just a 30-strong team, Marisa and Shani open up about how they’re building a really special team culture, as well as the global 'Matcha Movement'.

Hear how Perfect Ted has become a magnet for kind, passionate, hardworking people:

  • Why hiring for both skills and values matters now more than ever
  • The power of team culture and shared belief in scaling fast
  • Why is it the easiest sales job you’ll ever have at Perfect Ted?
  • How networking and saying yes can change everything
  • Why does working with people you genuinely like make all the difference?


Hand-picked by the brilliant team at MKJ Ignite

 – the FMCG recruitment experts helping challenger brands grow with the right people in the right roles – this short is full of practical people insights. Billy, Paul, and Immy have combed through the Brand Growth Heroes archives to bring you the most valuable founder wisdom on hiring and scaling teams that thrive.


A new 5-minute episode drops every two weeks — so make sure to HIT FOLLOW and don’t miss the next one.


If you're wondering whether or not you need help with your recruitment, or would like to ask for some advice, you can book a no-obligation call with Billy - or anyone on the team - here!


Connect with Billy Maddock on LinkedIn


Connect with Immy Southwell on LinkedIn


Connect with Paul Jones on LinkedIn

Follow MKJ Ignite on Instagram

Connect with MKJ Ignite on LinkedIn


Show more...
4 months ago
10 minutes

Brand Growth Heroes
Smol but mighty: The CGO & CMO Fueling this £44M Disruptor in Homecare

What’s the ACTUAL difference between a Chief Growth Officer and a Chief Marketing Officer,what do they do and why might a high-growth brand need both?

BGH host Fiona Fitz has been in the industry for 25+ years, and believe it or not, these roles are relatively new, borrowed from the worlds of tech and e-commerce, pure plays. So we decided it was high time to investigate what exactly a chief growth officer does and how they work alongside a chief marketing officer.

In this episode of Brand Growth Heroes, Fiona digs into that exact question with two of the most strategic minds behind one of the UK’s most successful DTC brands, smol. Neil Campbell is Chief Growth Officer, and Hilary Strong is Smol’s Chief Marketing Officer. Together, they break down how they work in tandem to scale a brand that’s grown to £44M in sales, without relying on traditional advertising or a big retail presence.

Neil and Hilary explore how customer lifetime value, subscription retention, and channel strategy combine to build a high-repeat-rate, mission-led brand. They also discuss how Smol segments its audience, turns data into action, and balances performance marketing with long-term brand building.

If you’ve ever wondered how to move from organic to scalable growth—or whether it’s time to bring in more senior commercial firepower to your team, this conversation will give you both the strategic context and the practical next steps. You’ll hear how Smol has built a brand so loved that customers travel across the country just to meet the team in person and why they’re still holding off on going big in retail despite the temptation.

This episode is packed with real-world insight, actionable strategy, and a glimpse into what modern DTC growth leadership really looks like. Enjoy!

Useful Links:

smol website

Connect with Neil Campbell

Connect with Hilary Strong

Follow smol on Instagram & Facebook

A small favour: If this episode inspires you to think about new ways to drive business growth, please hit FOLLOW and even leave a review! This tiny gesture means the world to us and allows us to share these nuggets of insight and value with you more often. We see every new follower and read every review, so thank you in advance!

=============================================================

Thanks to Brand Growth Heroes’ podcast sponsor - Joelson, the commercial law firm

=============================================================

If you're a founder, you already know how much of your energy goes into building the perfect product, creating standout branding and connecting with your consumers.

But don’t forget that scaling a CPG business also comes with a maze of legal complexities that can make or break your business journey. From contracts, term sheets and regulatory compliance to protecting your brand's intellectual property as you expand, it's essential to get it right.

And that starts with the right legal partner.

So we're thrilled to introduce Joelson, a leading commercial law firm that specialises in guiding the founders of scaling CPG brands, as Brand Growth Heroes' sponsor.

With long-term relationships with clients like Little Moons, Trip, Eat Natural, Bear Graze, and Pulsin, Joelson is also famous for advising the innocent founders in their landmark sale to Coca-Cola! As a female team, we are especially impressed by Joelson's commitment to championing female founders in CPG.

Not many law firms are also BCorps, nor do they specialise in helping founders navigate the legal challenges of scaling without stifling the creativity and momentum that got you here in the first place. So thanks, Joelson—we’re delighted to have you on board.

If you'd like to get in touch to find out more, why don't you drop them a line at hello@joelsonlaw.com!

==============================================

A tiny favour: If this episode inspires you to think about new ways to drive business growth, please could you click FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE on your favourite podcast app and leave a review?

This small gesture from you means the world to us, and allows us to share these nuggets of insight and value with you more often.

You won’t want to miss the next episode, in which Fiona Fitz talks with another successful founder of a challenger brand who shares more valuable insights into driving growth.

Please don't hesitate to join our Brand Growth Heroes community to stay updated with captivating stories and learnings from your beloved brands on their path to success!

Follow us on our Brand Growth Heroes socials: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Thanks to our Sound Engineer, Gyp Buggane, Ballagroove.com and podcast producer/content creator, Kathryn Watts, Social KEWS.

Show more...
4 months ago
52 minutes

Brand Growth Heroes
How People & Team Drive Tony Chocolonely's UK Growth

In this bite-sized Brand Growth Heroes SHORT episode, Ben Greensmith, Country Manager for the UK and Ireland of Tony’s Chocolonely, reveals:

  • Why out-of-home is Tony’s secret weapon
  • How their sales team of 30+ is structured to drive growth
  • A surprising revenue stream that’s doubling year on year

If you want to gobble up even more insights, don’t forget to like, follow, or subscribe Brand Growth Heroes podcast — and if you're keen for full conversation between Fiona and Ben, you can find it in our catalogue (December 2024.

#BrandGrowthHeroes #TonysChocolonely #FMCG #ChallengerBrand #MKJIgnite #Recruitment #HR #GoldenNuggets

This BGH SHORT is hand-picked by FMCG recruitment pros MKJ Ignite.


Over the past few years, I’ve become increasingly frustrated at just how HARD it is for founders to find the right people for their business.

  • There are fewer applicants than there used to be for roles in sales and marketing in CPG businesses
  • It's even tougher to find that magic mix of mindset, experience and soft skills— as well as someone who genuinely fits your culture and values.
  • And the process? It's a lot: search, connect, schedule, first interviews, follow-ups, feedback loops — all while juggling a scaling business — and you STILL might not end up with the right person.

It struck me that so many of the incredible guests on Brand Growth Heroes have shared absolute gold when it comes to building teams — how they hire, how they lead, and what they’ve learned when it all goes wrong.

So the brilliant crew at MKJ Ignite - Billy, Paul and Immy, have gone through the Brand Growth Heroes archives and handpicked some snippets from the founders of your favourite challenger brands (think Olipop, Freja Bone Broth, Child's Farm, Perfect Ted and Tony's Chocolonely), pulling out the best people insights. 
 
And as a result....BGH SHORTS: The People Series was born!

  • Short 5 min episodes. 
  • Golden nuggets. 
  • Actionable insights 

Every 2 weeks, we’ll drop a new 5-minute clip - so don't forget to HIT FOLLOW!

Because your business is only as strong as your team.

It really shouldn’t be this hard — but it is.

So let’s make it a little easier! If you're wondering whether or not you need help with your recruitment, or would like to ask for some advice, you can book a no-obligation call with Billy - or anyone on the team - 

here!

Connect with Billy Maddock on LinkedIn

Connect with Immy Southwell on LinkedIn

Connect with Paul Jones on LinkedIn

Follow MKJ Ignite on Instagram

Connect with MKJ Ignite on LinkedIn

Show more...
5 months ago
6 minutes

Brand Growth Heroes
Gut Instinct: Biotiful’s CMO on Building the Brand That Recently Sold to Müller £115M+++

In this latest Brand Growth Heroes podcast episode, we’re talking all things gut health, consumer trends, and brand-building at scale with Vince Lawson, CMO of Biotiful Gut Health, the #1 kefir brand in the UK - recently bought by MULLER!

Launched initially as Biotiful Kefir, the brand has undergone a bold transformation to become the go-to name in natural gut health, and the results speak for themselves, with nearly £90M in retail sales pre sale to Muller.

Biotiful Gut Health, was founded by Natasha Bowes in 2012 with a mission to bring ancient Kefir recipes to the UK market.  The business has grown rapidly over that period and is now the leading UK gut health brand in the diary sector covering a wide range of kefir related products in drinks, yogurts and other sectors, delivering on Natasha’s vision of improving the gut health of the UK and the world by using natural ingredients.

As CMO, Vince Lawson takes us inside the engine room of Biotiful, from leading product innovation and marketing to building a category-defining brand in one of the most competitive spaces in food and beverage. We unpack how Biotiful stays ahead of the curve with clean protein innovation, food-to-go formats, and ambient gut health boosters—and how a marketing team can become the engine of cross-functional growth.

This episode is packed with real insight on how consumer needs, product development, and commercial success intersect in a scaling brand.

And... in fact,  our very own podcast sponsor, Joelson, the leading London law firm, was the sole advisor on the successful recent sale of the business to Müller (“Müller”)!  Müller is one of the global leaders in dairy products and has identified functional health as a key driver for growth in the dairy segment of the market in which it is not currently active.


The Joelson team, led by Phil Hails-Smith (Partner) with support from Emma Vantine (Associate),  Georgia Edmondson (Solicitor) and Katie Braddell (Solicitor).

Natasha Bowes, Founder of Biotiful, commented:

“It was such a pleasure working with the team at Joelson on this transaction and over the last few years. A huge thank you to Phil and his fantastic team – they have guided me though every step of this transaction. Their reputation in the consumer space is well deserved and I would highly recommend Joelson to any founders in the consumer space who need legal support on any form of transaction.”

Phil Hails-Smith, Partner at Joelson added:

“Congratulations to Natasha on this transaction.  We pride ourselves on being the market leading corporate firm for founders. We are so delighted to have worked with a pioneering female founder who has developed an era defining brand and category based on a clear mission and vision to improve the gut health of their consumers.   It’s been a privilege to work with Natasha and her team and I’m sure that Biotiful will go from strength to strength with its new owners.”


=============================================================
A small favour: If this episode inspires you to think about new ways to drive business growth, please hit FOLLOW and even leave a review! This tiny gesture means the world to us and allows us to share these nuggets of insight and value with you more often.
We see every new follower and read every review, so thank you in advance!

=============================================================

Useful Links:

Connect with Vince Lawson on LinkedIn

Connect with Biotiful on LinkedIn

https://biotifulguthealth.com/ https://biotifulguthealth.com/

https://www.instagram.com/biotiful_gut_health/

https://www.facebook.com/biotifulguthealth

=============================================================

Thanks to Brand Growth Heroes’ podcast sponsor - Joelson, the commercial law firm

=============================================================

If you're a founder, you already know how much of your energy goes into building the perfect product, creating standout branding and connecting with your consumers.

But don’t forget that scaling a CPG business also comes with a maze of legal complexities that can make or break your business journey. From contracts, term sheets and regulatory compliance to protecting your brand's intellectual property as you expand, it's essential to get it right.

And that starts with the right legal partner.

So we're thrilled to introduce Joelson, a leading commercial law firm that specialises in guiding the founders of scaling CPG brands, as Brand Growth Heroes' sponsor.

With long-term relationships with clients like Little Moons, Trip, Eat Natural, Bear Graze, and Pulsin, Joelson is also famous for advising the innocent founders in their landmark sale to Coca-Cola! As a female team, we are especially impressed by Joelson's commitment to championing female founders in CPG.

Not many law firms are also BCorps, nor do they specialise in helping founders navigate the legal challenges of scaling without stifling the creativity and momentum that got you here in the first place. So thanks, Joelson—we’re delighted to have you on board.

If you'd like to get in touch to find out more, why don't you drop them a line at hello@joelsonlaw.com!

==============================================

A tiny favour: If this episode inspires you to think about new ways to drive business growth, please could you click FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE on your favourite podcast app and leave a review?

This small gesture from you means the world to us, and allows us to share these nuggets of insight and value with you more often.

You won’t want to miss the next episode, in which Fiona Fitz talks with another successful founder of a challenger brand who shares more valuable insights into driving growth.

Please don't hesitate to join our Brand Growth Heroes community to stay updated with captivating stories and learnings from your beloved brands on their path to success!

Follow us on our Brand Growth Heroes socials: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Show more...
5 months ago
36 minutes

Brand Growth Heroes
Brand Growth Heroes ranks in the top 1.5% of ALL podcasts globally. With +25 years' experience working for brand giants and as coach to over 400 challenger brand founders, Fiona Fitz asks the questions you need the answers to from the founders of wildly successful consumer goods brands driving transformational growth.