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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Victoria Lawson – Making form-filling a distant memory
Sometimes the simplest ideas are the most transformative. Victoria Lawson, Founder and CEO of Wholepal, has created a platform that’s quietly revolutionising how suppliers and wholesalers share product data — removing the spreadsheets, the errors and the hours of wasted time that once defined the process.
In this conversation, Victoria shares her journey from FMCG account manager to tech founder — and how a single frustration sparked an industry-changing idea. Victoria talks about:
How a daily admin headache led to the creation of Wholepal
Why 99% of new-line forms come back inaccurate or incomplete
How AI and machine learning can transform efficiency without replacing people
Overcoming fear of change in a relationship-driven industry
Building a tech team based on talent and fit, not gender, in a traditionally male space
Facing personal and professional challenges on the road to growth
And her mission to make form-filling a distant memory for good
A fresh, inspiring and practical discussion about innovation, resilience and why the human touch will always matter — even in an AI-powered world.
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Fourth-generation retailer Kevin Hunt leads a family business that began in 1946 and now runs 23 local community SPAR stores. In this powerful and often candid conversation, he shares what it really takes to keep an independent business thriving nearly 80 years on.
Kevin talks about:
Growing up among shelves stacked with sugar and joining the family firm at 13
The hard work and risk-taking that have defined three generations of Hunts
How supermarkets threatened their survival in the late 70s — and how the family fought back
Why constant reinvestment and local identity are essential to staying relevant
The partnerships with local butchers that transformed his stores
The human side of leadership: valuing 500 employees, visibility and loyalty
And the growing crisis of violence and abuse in convenience retail and his message to government about the need for real deterrence
A grounded, heartfelt episode about resilience, community and what it truly means to be an independent retailer in 2025.
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For nearly 30 years, James Lowman has been at the heart of the Association of Convenience Stores — 19 of them as Chief Executive. He’s steered the organisation through major change, from the rise of convenience retailing and new government regulation to the turbulence of COVID.
In this wide-ranging conversation, James reflects on his journey from public affairs manager to CEO and the evolution of the UK’s thriving convenience sector.
He talks about:
The moment he joined a fledgling ACS in 1996 — and how the convenience sector defined itself for the modern era
Early policy battles and what’s really changed (and hasn’t) in how government works with retailers
Why influence is an art, not a science — and how to make people listen and act
What sustained leadership looks like after two decades in the same role
How data transformed ACS’s credibility and voice with government
The human side of the job — from building community to surviving the intensity of the pandemic years
And why he believes local shops aren’t a thing of the past, but “absolutely part of the future.”
A thoughtful, grounded and very human look back at a career spent shaping one of the UK’s most important retail sectors — and a rare moment of reflection before James moves on to new horizons.
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For more than 30 years, Debbie Robinson has helped shape UK retail, leading major high-street names while championing people, communities and sustainability. In this episode, she shares how purpose and values guide her leadership as CEO of Central Co-op, which is one of the country’s largest independent co-operative societies.
Debbie talks about:
A conversation about purpose-driven leadership, community resilience and why people remain at the heart of every great retail story.
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Eimear Andersen is joined by Mike Severs from Volumatic. Mike has spent more than a decade making cash handling simpler, safer and smarter for retailers of all sizes.
They explore why cash is still vital in a digital-first world, how retailers can balance efficiency with customer choice and the technology that’s helping frontline colleagues feel more confident at the till.
You’ll hear about:
Mike also shares why he’s convinced cash will still matter decades from now and why retailers ignore it at their peril.
Follow the show for more conversations, and if you enjoyed this one, a quick review and rating makes all the difference and would be hugely appreciated.
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20 Minutes With… Michael Lorimer, CEO of DCS Group
Michael Lorimer leads one of the UK’s most remarkable distributor success stories. In this episode he talks about balancing global brands with a thriving own label and how people, values and community sit at the heart of DCS’s growth.
He reflects on 31 years of consecutive expansion at DCS Group, moving into food distribution and the vision behind their new customer innovation centre. Along the way he shares candid views on government policy, sustainability and why developing talent will shape the company’s next chapter.
It’s a clear snapshot of where the business is going — all in just 20 minutes.
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In this episode, Eimear Andersen is joined by Michael Fletcher, a leader who has shaped the UK grocery and convenience sector for more than three decades.
From starting out at Tesco in the 1990s to now guiding thousands of independent stores across the country, Michael brings a wealth of experience and a passion for retail that shines through every conversation.
Michael shares:
This wide-ranging conversation is full of practical insights and big-picture perspective from one of the sector’s most experienced voices.
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20 Minutes With… David Walker
In this episode, Eimear Andersen is joined by David Walker, tech and data specialist and CCO of Cerve. David is helping the food and drink industry unlock the power of real-time insights – cutting waste, saving costs and reimagining how supply chains operate.
David explains how APIs – the digital “pipes” that allow data to flow seamlessly between systems – are transforming purchasing, selling and compliance for wholesalers, manufacturers, retailers and operators. By replacing outdated manual processes with accurate, automated data, businesses can free up people, reduce errors and focus on growth.
He shares how smarter data use can:
reduce food waste by giving startups and operators better visibility of stock and supply
cut costs and redeploy teams into value-adding roles
speed up promotions and increase turnover through real-time insights
lay the essential foundations for the future use of AI in the industry
David also demystifies AI for food businesses, emphasising that “perfect, accurate data must come before AI”. He offers practical advice on how businesses can start small – by mapping their current processes and using simple tools – before diving into more complex strategies.
Looking ahead, he predicts a revolutionary shift: manual tasks replaced by AI agents, admin teams evolving into growth-focused roles and data seamlessly connecting the entire food system from farm to fork. His closing advice to industry leaders: don’t chase shiny solutions – take stock, review where you are and build carefully towards “food 2.0.”
A fascinating conversation that highlights the scale of opportunity – and the urgency – for food and drink businesses to embrace data and technology.
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20 Minutes With… Stuart Holmes
In this episode, Eimear Andersen sits down with Stuart Holmes, who has spent more than 25 years in the drinks and coffee industries with brands such as Bacardi, Campari and Illy, before stepping out to create his own consultancy.
Stuart shares his journey from corporate life to founding The Power of Five, a consultancy designed to help FMCG businesses – from founder-led start-ups to SMEs – find clarity, focus and sustainable growth. He reflects on the challenges brands face when trying to scale, from moving too fast and burning cash, to holding back and missing opportunities.
Drawing on his years at the helm of some of the world’s best-known spirits and coffee names, Stuart gives practical insights into:
how consumer behaviour shifted during and after the pandemic
why premiumisation and sustainability continue to shape the coffee market
what makes a brand stand out in an ultra-competitive sector
the power of people and culture in driving long-term success
He also talks about his role in creating a consultancy cooperative – a supportive network that connects FMCG consultants, combining niche expertise with real-world, recent experience.
Looking ahead, Stuart highlights exciting developments in the low- and no-alcohol space, the influence of health-driven brands, and the role of technology – including AI – in shaping the FMCG landscape. His advice to founders is simple: keep your plan clear and adaptable, surround yourself with the right people, and act with authenticity.
A conversation rich with perspective, this episode offers encouragement and practical takeaways for anyone navigating the food and drink sector today.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
