In this episode of ‘We Built This Business,’ we talk with Simon Gray, founder of Boost Drinks.
Simon shares his journey of building a challenger brand in the functional drinks space, growing it to £75 million in revenue, and eventually selling the business to AG Barr for £20 million. From starting with no formal business plan to navigating challenges like cash flow and competition, Simon reveals how he scaled his business and maintained its identity in a competitive market.
HIGHLIGHTS
1. Starting Boost Drinks: Simon discusses how he turned a university pain point into a thriving business, launching a challenger brand in the energy drinks space.
2. Scaling Up: From a small team to a £75 million revenue business, Simon highlights pivotal moments in Boost's growth journey.
3. The Acquisition by AG Barr: Insights into the deal-making process and navigating the transition after selling his company.
4. Brand Innovation: How Boost diversified its offerings with products like isotonic sports drinks and iced coffee.
5. Lessons Learned: Simon shares the challenges of leadership, including tough personnel decisions and managing cash flow in high-growth phases.
6. Future Plans: What’s next for Simon as he transitions out of Boost and explores new ventures.
PODCAST INTRODUCTION
Daniel O’Sullivan invites business owners and industry experts onto the We Built This Business podcast to discuss how they built their businesses. We explore their origins, challenges, successes, and lessons learned along the way. Running a business is hard work, so why not learn from those who’ve done it before?
PODCAST SPONSOR
Team Building Experiences is a nationwide team building company specializing in keeping things fun for businesses. From game shows to sports days, there’s something for every team!
Visit Team Building Experiences and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your next event.
Team Building Experiences Website - https://bit.ly/tbe-pod
Offer Code – PODCAST15
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Guest Website - https://www.boostdrinks.com/
Host Website – https://beacons.ai/wbtb
EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT
Episode 4 - How I Built a £6 Million Revenue Print and Promotional Business by The Age of 24 - Taylor Tassie
Episode 19 – How I Built a Luxury Events Business From Startup to Superyacht – James Clutterbuck
Episode 41 – How I Built a £7 Million Events Business From £1000 – Ben McCarthy
ABOUT THE HOST
Daniel Osullivan is the CEO of The Experience Specialists Group we have brands in the events, entertainment and media industries including Red Cactus Events, Team Building Experiences, Shizzoo.co, Football Zorbing UK, Nel Events and X Event Solutions.
CONNECT & CONTACT
Daniel Osullivan
Daniel Osullivan Linkedin Page
Email: daniel@webuiltthisbusiness.co.uk
We Built This Business