Retail Ready Podcast: Recent Episodes
Ben Whyatt
A destination for anyone looking to learn about food, new brands, manufacturing, trends and insights. The Retail Ready podcast will be full of knowledge bombs, conversations and discussions into an ever changing industry.
Hear from the founder of Funday Sweets, Daniel Kitay. In todays epsiode Daniel drops numerous business knowledge bombs and shares his story about how Funday Sweets can now be found in over 4000 distribution points in Australia.
Hear from the founder of Feel Good Foods, George Giannakopoulos.
Feel Good Foods came to be in 2009 when we started selling milk alternatives from the back of a truck to the local Melbourne cafe market. Today they continue to deliver an awesome range of alternative food and bev brands to hundreds of cafes, independent grocers, and gourmet stores across Victoria and Tasmania.
Hear in todays epsiode the jourey, the lessons, the ups and downs and a costly container during Covid!
Enjoy listening to how Scott set up Raw C. Raw C's mission is to bring you Australia’s best tasting, all-natural coconut water, coconut milk and coconut oils.
In 10 years, Scott has managed to gain majority share hold of a huge category. Hear about Scott’s journey and enjoy the several knowledge business bombs he drops throughout this session.
Roz turned an ice cream hobby into a thriving business, that’s also giving back Lawyer and scientist Roz Kaldor-Aroni has turned her ice cream hobby into a thriving business. As the venture grows, she is also giving back to communities in Australia and abroad.
Listen to how Gordon built a complete meal replacement business in Australia then quickly took it multinational.
The idea started while Gordon was studying and needed a healthy shake that contained all the nutrients he needed. Gordon then started making this complex smoothie meal for his friends and family who really enjoyed it too. That's when the light-bulb moment came... he thought: "why can’t I make this for everyone else to enjoy and benefit from!?". From this moment the hard work to develop vybey commenced and alongside our extensive team of food scientists & nutritionists, we produced a great tasting ready-to-drink meal fit for the global market.
Check vybey out here - https://vybey.com.au/
Suzanne empowers product-based entrepreneurs to build and grow a successful business, focusing on profit first and having the time to enjoy a life you love.
Suzanne unknowingly has helped save my own business, thousands of dollars. Every day I find her insights and knowledge fantastic and I am not even a client of hers. Suzanne has also grown her own business, Sol Breads from $800k to $30m.
Enjoy the epsiode.
Welcome Alex Swift, Commercial Business Director of Salad Servers. Salad Servers can be found in many retail stores in the fresh produce section. Hear Alex talk about the journey of the family business and how it has adapted to the changing consumer.
Welcome Cian Dawson, the co-founder of Gymbod. Gymbod is now launched nationally in Coles and has a fantastic start up story behind it.
In this epsiode we talk and laugh about the Gymbod journey.
It has not gone all smooth sailing, enjoy.
Welcome Hayley Westoby who is the founder of Gambit Collective.
In todays epsiode we talk about:
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Personal branding, what do people say about you when you leave the room?
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The power and opportunities of Linkedin
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Workplace culture and quiting your job.
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Fitness
I wanted to dedicate an episode to highlight my first year in business with Doggylicious and summarise what I have learnt as well as provide some stats as a lot of you guys have followed this journey since day one.
To start things off, here are some Doggylicious headline stats from year 1 in business:
- $75K in annual sales.
- 13,000+ units have been packed by hand.
- 104,000+ cookies visually inspected before being pack and consumed by dogs.
- 450+ hours on my feet have been spent packing cookies.
- We had several Key Loyal Partners that believed in Doggylicious this year (Eastern Distributors, Health Magic, Pet Circle, Catch, Go Vita, Coles Local, OTR).
- Over 100+ 4 or 5 Star Reviews on com.au.
- 2 Additional products launched, Yoghurt Drops and Carob Drops.
- Over $30k of sales from LinkedIn networking.
- 2,202km driven to drop of stock.
- 1 neighbour trying to close down my business.
- Zero times I wanted to give up.
I think I could have talk to Co-founder of Heaps Norma, Peter Brennan all day. If you love hearing from brands which are disrupting markets then you will want to hear this episode. So many topics were discussed but hear how Heaps Normal is making huge waves in the non alcoholic beer market.
It is always good to chat with David Burns. He has so much passion for the food industry and in this episode we talk about 2 new businesses he has set up, Creme and Food Mover. We also chat about Naturally Good where you can see and hear David talk in the Business Summit Session.
So much fun and insights in this podcast. In this episode I chat with, David Andrew who is a leading Australian entrepreneur that has redefined the national health and nutrition sector. Driven by innovation and a desire to create a world where health is not a sacrifice, The No Nasties Project and Naked Life Beverages CEO and Founder David Andrew is a true entrepreneur at heart who is not afraid of disrupting the market.
It has been 2 years and I had missed Scotty Tulloch that much we got him back on the show. We chatted about what Farmer Jo has been doing as they have been going from strength to strength and are now playing in more categories that just cereal. Hear from straight talking Scott about the industry, innovation and everything else with a few swear words thrown in.
Growing up my dad used to take me to school, pick me up, do the cleaning and make the dinners while my mum was working full time as a teacher. It never dawned on me that this was not the norm but what also never dawned on me because like many males I had my eyes and ears closed was the discrimination that women back then and even now still receive.
International women’s day is a fantastic day to hear the unbalance between genders that still exists today. In this episode I touch on why my mum was such a strong figure in helping me see women should be on the same playing field.
There seems to be an unspoken rule in the start up world that the number of social media followers you have equals the level of success of a business.
Having watched for years numerous brands chasing likes, pay influencers and sponsors posts it makes me wonder if they are making any profit.
It’s always good to know early that likes don’t pay the bills. If you are focussing 2 hours a night on a post and not on your product in the early days then you have your sh*t in the wrong order. In this episode here my thoughts and what I have been up too over the last 2 weeks.
The stuff that goes through my head gets very interesting at times. This week I realised being a category manager is like playing tinder with businesses. It’s been a few years since I did some serious swiping right trying to find the “one” but what I love is that category managers are playing this tinder every day.
Hear my reasons why in todays episode.
Today I talk about my breakfast with the co-founder of Catch.com.au, Menu Log, Scoupon and Luxury Escapes. It was great to sit down and absorb learnings from a individual who was created one of the best online stores in Australia. I also discuss my 2021 Goals that I have finally locked in and ready to tackle, they are mainly business but a also have a 60KG dumbbell thrown in for a bit of fun.
The breakfast category has had a bit of a crap time over the last few years and it is not going to be all rainbows and butterflies in 2021 either. We are on the cusp of another diet fad. Offices around the country will be talking about "Intermittent Fasting" or "IF, 16/8, On and Off Diet" if you want to give it a cooler name. In a nut shell all it means is that you miss breakfast but for some reason its now becoming a popular diet to follow and preach. Just when we were getting over the stupid Keto Diet.
In this short podcast, I briefly explain my views and the impacts it has on the category and cereal brands.
Nootropics are going to be a big business in helping individuals to get those 1% improvements. Whether you are a biohacker, gym goer or just someone who wants neural improvements then you will want to learn more about what Daniel Stone, Co-founder of Neuratech has to say.
Josh Howard created the brand, Single Use Ain't Sexy around 8 months ago and it has already stormed to the top of my "Brands to watch out for in 2021". He is getting rid of standard plastic hand soap dispensers. Single Use Ain't Sexy has dissolvable tablets that consumers add with water in their dispenser to create non-toxic hand soap. The amount of products which are made from 90% water is incredible and this product will definitely disrupt the industry.
We're back for another year and in this episode I tell you my key trends to keep in mind this year, why Subway won’t be around in 5 years and what will be a future key callout on packaging.
A huge thank you for listening to this podcast. I just wanted to do some thanks you, shout outs and a review of my 2020 goals. I will be back next year with more insights, more guests and more knowledge bombs to help Australia be the best food industry in the world.
Have a great break everyone.
If we all just listened more we could achieve more. This is just one knowledge nugget Guy and I discuss in achieving more business with customers. Guy has over 20 years experience within the food industry and in this episode he delivers some valuable knowledge and wisdom.
RTC foods were one of the first suppliers I met in my starting career in the FMCG world. We worked on one of my favourite projects however it took nearly 3 years to launch. Todd and Jackson have moved a lot quicker with other projects and in this episode we also talk about their new range of flexitarian meat range, +Plant which has just launched in Harris Farms.
So good chatting to suppliers who are willing to push boundaries and bring great products to market.
Thrive Collective is a boutique FMCG consulting group who caught my attention at the start of the year. George and Christian work with start up and medium size brands to help them get shelf presence and their product in front of buyers.
They currently represent brands such as Bae Juice who just got national distribution in Woolworths, plus Zero Foods and BodyBlendz.
Usually around this time it is always good to reflect on the year that has been so you can learn, adapt and go into the next one stronger. In this episode I touch on my thoughts on what a COVID normal within food trends look like currently and my personal learnings from the year.
I have dealt with and worked with a lot of account/business development managers however I can only remember a handful and I was trying to work out why. It then dawned on me it was down to two reasons.
- Their relationship was more personal than transactional.
- They did whatever they could to make my job easier.
I am dedicating this podcast to some of the awesome account managers I have met and also the tips, tricks and personal traits they have used to make them the first person I would call.
Keen to know what the flavour trends of 2020 have been and how COVID affected them? Also learn what flavours will be popping up in 2021?
Also learn from a professional flavourist how flavours are made. Always good to learn and hear from the guys at Essential Flavours in Melbourne.
Consumers want to know the story behind your product. No story means no emotional connection to your brand or product. What are you doing to tell your brands story?
Also in this episode I talk about my early days in Australia as it was 7 years ago last week that I decided to book a one way flight to Australia because I needed a change and a new challenge.
She's back! It is such a pleasure to have the insight queen Jodie Minotto from Mintel back on the podcast. I love chatting to Jodie as she is full of incredible insights and lives the food and beverage world that everyone is heading into.
In this episode we discuss the latest insights from Australia due to COVID19 but we heavily touch on the impact 2nd generation immigration in Australia is having on the food and beverage scene.
2020 has been an awesome year for dogs. They have never had so much company from humans due to lockdowns and restrictions. In this podcast we talk to Arianne Sackville who founded Bell and Bone. A premium health focussed pet range.
In this episode we chat with co-founder of Eloments tea, Julie Hirsch. Julie has such an awesome energy and a story to match. Julie is also 2020 Telstra Business Woman of the Year which is an incredible achievement and we discuss how she got the call up for this in this podcast.
In this episode we Lachlan Powell who is the co-founder of I am Grounded. I am Grounded make some very tasty snack bars which use coffee fruit. Coffee fruit is a bi-product of the coffee industry and Lachlan found a way to turn it into a sustainable healthy food ingredient. Really loved chatting to Lachlan about the start up life, upcycling, food waste and a lot more.
In this episode we chat to co-founder Adam Zuchetti of Paws N All. We talk about the online pet market opportunity, how he set up a tailored pet specific business and business in general.
You always know when someone from Mintel comes on the show it will be full of some amazing knowledge bombs. Jodie Minotto who heads up the team at Mintel discusses topics such as mental functionality, bio-hacking, trends for the future and so much more. It was awesome to have the insights from Jodie on the show.
A year ago I met Tim, co-founder of Bae Juice, he was selling Bae Juice from the back of his car to anyone who gave a sniff at it. Over the last 12 months I have seen him put so much energy into growing the brand and it has paid off. In October, Bae Juice will be going nationally with Woolworths. Hear how Tim responded and what the journey has been like since we last caught up with him.
In todays episode it’s a personal one where I discuss how Covid has turned off my creativity. Why you should level skip leg day in business. Why I see Dyslexia as strength and how diversity in the workplace could bring new ways of working and learning.
In today’s episode hear from two heavy hitters in the industry who are have shook the beverage industry up within Australia and taken their goods to the other side of the world. I don’t think they will stop there on this Nexba journey and it was a pleasure to have them on the show.
It was great to hear about the Nexba journey and get an insight into the business and also how 2020 has been for them.
In today's episode we chat with Craig Matthews who is the founder of Stock Box Online. A new online marketplace where brands can become visible to a whole new market instantly.
Stock Box Online allows retailers to order new products in one easy method. Doggylicious just recently launched on there and we are very excited to see how the platform goes and allows the brand to become more visible to an extended audience.
Visit https://stockboxonline.com.au to find out more. Or Contact Craig on - craig.ma@mystockbox.com.au
Today I am joined by Nicholas Georges who is the CEO of KOKO Black. KOKO black sells some of the most mouth-watering chocolate products both in physical stores and online. It is safe to say KOKO black got hit hard during COVID which hit over one of their busiest periods, Easter.
It was on Nicholas to steer the company in the right direction and this podcast is an amazing insight into how KOKO black responded
In this episode I am joined by Mat Stillone who has been on this show in the early days talking about his journey within the supplement and business world.
Having Matt on is not a sign that I am running out of guests (just yet) but it’s a sign that Mat has literally been one of the busiest individuals during COVID and has been smashing out some awesome NPD and is venturing into the plant based meal worlds with the brand Flexible foods.
We discuss his new venture, business, mindset and everything else in-between. Always good to have him on the show and check out his new brand, Flexible Foods.
2020 has been a shocking year for most businesses. Snack proud is one that has suffered tremendously since nobody is snacking in the office environment as much. In this episode Ashleigh talks about her growth then crash but how she adapted her business model due to the changing circumstances.
We also talk about snacks and snacking trends. Ashleigh knows her stuff about what snacks work and has the insights and data to prove it.
Check out her business here and order your staff a box: https://snackproud.com.au
Today’s episode is all about which marketplace you should be looking into or launching on to grow your business online.
I am joined by founder of Merchant Spring, Paul Sonneveld. Check out Merchant Spring here: https://merchantspring.io
Paul is full of insights and knowledge when it comes to this space and if 2020 has told us one thing, it’s definitely worth having an online presence for your business.
In today’s episode I just wanted to touch on a few points as a few people have sent through the same messages/questions and I want to use this podcast to assist anyone thinking of starting their own thing and give them the confidence to give it a go.
Whey Hey is a UK based brand that make delicious treats that are good for you too. Damien’s first launch was one of the first protein low sugar ice creams on the market. This episode had me in stitches throughout, it was one of the funniest episodes to date. Damien tells about the highs and lows of growing Whey Hey which is now in most major retailers across different categories. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did recording it.
Laura Murray works solely with food and beverage companies to help grow their online and social media presence. Laura, founder of Berry and Wolf provides some key insights on how small to medium sized businesses can take advantage of the different platforms.
Heloise works with brands to drive sales via one of the best e-commerce stores in the world. I wanted Heloise to come on the show because I honestly believe Amazon will become one of the biggest players in Australia over time but are very much just slipping under the radar with a lot of brans and businesses at the moment.
In this episode hear how to dominate in this space and what to start preparing to become a Amazon seller.
In today’s episode who has got a great story to share regarding how a trip to Expo west which got cancelled last minute turned into a positive for the company and for Australia.
Upon returning, Chris and the Bickford team adapted their production facility to start producing hand sanitiser for the COVID19 crisis response. It is an incredible story how this company along with many others in Australia had to adapt very quietly to keep jobs and stay relevant to the market conditions.
We also discuss the Bickford story, their brands and beverage trends which I found very fascinating as we tend to focus a lot on the food aspect on here.
In today’s episode I am joined by Michael Fox who is the founder of Fable Foods. If you have listened to this podcast from the start you will know that I am a huge supporter of the innovation that is happening with the plant-based industry. Fable foods has created a product which is one of the most innovative products to date within this space, it is that good Heston Blumenthal has it on his restaurant menu. They have made a meat alternative from mushroom which Michael will go into more detail about is this episode.
I have tried this product and it is amazing, soon to be released in Woolworths so you will be able to try it too.
For now, sit back , relax and enjoy Fable Foods incredible story.
Kate Johansson, founder of Koja has taken over the Retail Ready Podcast. At the weekend we met up and she asked the questions. For 58 episodes I have asked guests about their journey, Kate has flipped the table now you can learn about my journey in the FMCG industry, why I came to Australia, my time at Coles, how I became Innovations Manager at Scalzo and the most recent news, how and why I launched my own brand, Doggylicious.
So much fun and I hope you guys enjoy hearing my journey to make this industry one of the best in the world.
Learn more about Doggylicious by visiting: https://www.doggylicious.com.au - Australia's first dog run and owned company.
In today’s episode I am joined by Alex Freudmann who is the Managing Director of Dan Murphy’s. Alex has been someone I have known for a few years and really enjoy his leadership style and drive; it was therefore great to have Alex on the show where we discuss a whole range of topics. From his journey from being declined as a shelf stacker at Tesco’s, to GM at Coles and now MD of Dan Murphy’s, we talk about his leadership style and the lessons he has learnt along the way but we also discuss how Dan Murphy’s has coped and adapted to the COVID19 outbreak. It was incredible to hear the behind the scenes projects that went out during the panic buying and how Dan Murphy’s supported local business and individuals during this crazy time.
For now, sit back , relax and enjoy episode 57.
Episode 56 is now available with Grounded Foods – The story of a plant based cheese company. In this episode I chat to Grounded Foods founder Veronica Fil and key investor, Andrew Ive. Grounded Foods which was born from pure chef wizardry by Veronica's partner Shaun makes the most incredible looking cheeses using cauliflower and hemp.
Their business growth wouldn’t have been possible without the investment from Andrew Ive from Big Ideas Investment who we also have on the show. Veronica and Andrew met in Melbourne and it just took Andrew 5 minutes to realise that Grounded Foods was a business to invest in.
This is a great story and I hope you enjoy. Here is episode 56.
Steve has created iRise Drinks while being a full time carpenter. A drink to help you recover after a being on the drinks. He is fascinated in nootropics and has created a beverage to help support recovery, mental alertness and overall wellbeing.
Check the brand out here: https://www.irisedrink.com
In this episode it was great to chat with Francesco Franceschinelli who works in Italy within the food and beverage sector. In this episode Francesco discusses what the impact of COVID19 had on his business, what trends he is seeing in Italy and what is happening in his world now that restrictions are easing up.
A huge thank you to our main sponsor Huff and Puff, check out the product at Dan Murphys and other retailers across Australia - https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_ER_2000003244_HPOR10/huff-puff-pork-crackle-original-flavour-25g
From turning down investment from Shark Tank season 1, Kate has been on an amazing journey. Even in these crazy times it’s great to see some brands such as KOJA growing.
KOJA has just been launched nationwide in Coles supermarkets and I feel Kate has only just started on her amazing journey to deliver great products and improve the health of the nation.
Such a great episode where Kate tells all and delivers numerous knowledge bombs about starting a business and fighting off the competition.
TurtleTree Labs is a Singapore-based startup which is making milk through cell based methods.
The company has created patent-protected technologies to make full-composition, full-functionality, full-flavour milk referencing humanely selected dairy cow cells then mimicking the natural process of milk production in the lab, essentially making real milk without the pollution, inefficient use of land, water and energy (natural resources), pathogen and disease risk, and tangled regulatory politics.
Turtle Tree Labs is a sustainable cell-based food tech 3.0 startup which is addressing an US$716B global dairy market and environmental crisis with ‘clean milk’.
Today I am joined by Kaye Graham who founder Health Magic, a distributor in Melbourne.
Kaye has a huge passion for healthy brands and in this episode, we discuss Kaye’s personal journey, from starting a business going door to door with products under the pram of her newborn. Kaye also discusses what brands need to think about before working with a distributor and key future opportunities she is being asked for from her customer within Australia.
It is always good to have Tony Hunter on the show. Tony is a food futurist with one of the sharpest minds who looks at trends from a multi angle approach. I chat to him today to get his knowledge and understanding as to what this virus has done to the industry and consumer behaviour in the short and long term.
Check out more of Tony's stuff here: https://futuristforfood.com
In episode 50, I am joined by the director of Drakes Supermarket, John-Paul Drake. JP is leading the growth Australia’s largest independent supermarket chain, which was created by his dad, Roger Drakes.
John Paul is not an individual in retail who hides behind a desk, but you are more likely to catch him in front of a camera giving his views on the Australian retail space or on his own podcast, Ducks don’t get cold feet.
It was an absolute pleasure hearing John Paul talk all things retail and his journey to date, I think I found someone who is as passionate as retail as I am.
I am joined by Master Pastry Chef and Chocolatier and co-founder of Cacao, Tim Clark.
Tim has worked locally and internationally at the highest level and competed in many prestigious competitions, most notably representing Australia at the 'World Chocolate Masters' in Paris. Tim has made show-stopping cakes for the likes of Nelson Mandela, Rachel Griffiths and Buzz Aldrin. Along with working on bespoke chocolate collaborations with renowned Australian designer 'Leona Edmiston', Tourism Victoria, Etihad airways and the Australian Open of tennis.
Cacao launched in 2003 our philosophy was simple: to create beautiful hand crafted chocolates, macarons and pastries.
This episode was recorded while I was in Auckland a few weeks ago and I got the chance to meet up with Ruth Muller who is the research, development and marketing inventions director at Frucor.
We touch on so many topics in this podcast from adult socialisation beverage innovation, what is innovation and neurodiversity.
Ruth last year found out she is Dyslexic and has spent her 20 years in the FMCG space playing to the left-brain workplace rules. Now she is learning how to build on her right brain strengths and is loving it.
It was amazing to chat to Ruth who sees the world how I do as I found out I was dyslexic at 23 after struggling through school and exams. Ruth is now using her new dyslexic superpower to charge to way forward on creating a welcoming workforce for everyone and how she can help her team build on their strengths even when the normal world typically sees them as a disability.
So many knowledge bombs were dropped in this episode and I am sure you will take something from this episode.
Hey Everyone. Welcome back to the retail ready podcast episode 47.
In today’s episode I am joined by Alan Barratt who founded sports nutrition start-up, Grenade.
Grenade was launched in 2010 by Alan and his wife Juliet with $500 in the bank and has now become a global sports nutrition brand. Their great tasting protein carb killa bar sells over 1.5 million bars in the UK which outsells the big names such as mars and cadburys.
Grenade has been my favourite sports nutrition brand for many years, so it was amazing to chat to the very funny but also very knowledgeable Alan about his journey, business and some very random things in-between.
In today’s episode I am joined by Cinzia who is the owner and founder of Smoothie Bombs. An idea which started to try and get some healthy nutrients into her daughter before school and before she knew if this single mother of two, started on her Smoothie Bomb business adventure and is now bringing in over $1m in online sales.
In this episode you realise it has not been all plain sailing for Cinzia who goes into detail about Cybersquatting and why all start-ups should follow her tips so you don’t have to go through the legal battle Cinzia and Smoothie Bombs faced.
Really enjoyed talking to Cinzia as she had so much information and told a great story of a brand which started with products being rolled by her own hands.
In today’s episode I am joined by Steve Chapman, who is the founder and CEO of Shine Drinks. Shine can be found in over 5,000 outlets within Australia and is Australia’s first smart drink due to the inclusion of Nootropics.
Nootropics are a huge growing market. Nootropics are drugs, supplements, and other substances that may improve cognitive function, particularly executive functions, memory, creativity, or motivation, in healthy individuals.
In the last 12 months I have been diving into this world to assess future product opportunities however Steve has been in this world for over 5 years and created one of my favourite drink beverages which can be found in over 5,000 outlets within Australia.
Hear Steves entrepreneurial journey and how Shine has become a huge disruptor within the beverage space. I really enjoyed hearing Steves passion and knowledge on this episode, I am sure you will too.
In 2019 I was asked to present on a talk by Westpac on food trends. At the end of the presentation I put up a slide with 3 product/trend predictions for 2020. In this episode I just wanted to touch on these in more detail and also for the individuals who were not their can also get some knowledge bombs.
It will be interesting at the end of the year to see where the 3 mentioned trends and ingredients got too and something, I will definitely follow up with myself for a later podcast episode.
Enjoy the show guys.
The global nonalcoholic beverage market is expected to reach a record value of $1,650.28 billion by 2024, according to a recent report from Zion Market Research, while the consumption of alcohol around the world fell 1.6% in 2018, according to IWSR Drinks Market Analysis.
In today’s episode I am joined by Steven Lawrence who is the founder of Brunswick Aces.
Brunswick aces is a beverage brand which makes amazing alcoholic and non-alcoholic gin.
When Stephen set up Brunswick aces with a few very next door neighbours there was only around 4 non-alcoholic spirit companies around, fast forward a couple of years and there now is over 40, this just shows what a growing market the non-alcoholic beverage space has become and it will only grow bigger.
Such a great story by Stephen and I hope you check out his products at your next event.
In today’s episode I got to hang out with David Burns, who is the founder of DJB food group. David works with start-ups to medium sized businesses to really help them grow. Using his extensive knowledge of the industry and passion David can assist with optimising sales, reducing risk & eliminating the chance of wasting precious time & money.
David has put some great content out this year for anyone to read on LinkedIn and in this podcast, we talk about how to avoid the common mistakes David sees start up and small businesses do, plus the trends and opportunities David sees in the 2020 ands beyond.
In today’s episode I got to hang out with Tony Hunter, a Food Futurist. While most people my age are following celebrities, I follow trends and people of influence within the retail and food world and Tony is someone I stop and listen to when he speaks.
Tony uses a host of platforms, insights and knowledge to advise companies, clients and investors what the food industry will look like in 10, 20 and 30 years.
I honestly loved recording this episode with Tony and I already know I want to get him back on the show again this year.
In today’s episode I got to hang out with Brad and Jeanie who are the founders of the brand, GoodMix but also expert Farmers Markets.
Due to my failed first attempt at a farmers market late last year and more planned for 2020 I wanted some knowledge from the guys who do this for a living.
In this episode the guys tell you about their journey which has lead them to creating a fantastic cereal brand and having several successful markets which help boost their sells of the products in the areas close by to the markets, which the retailers love.
Jeanie has a pdf available with top tips on running a farmers market which I will be having a read off and if you do too then please reach out.
Also apologies at the end, the audio failed for the last 60 seconds but I provide a ending summary with the guys details if anyone wants to get in touch.
I hope you enjoy the episode as much as I did, But for now, chill out, switch off the world and listen to episode 40
Visit the guys here: https://www.goodmix.com.au
In today’s episode I got to hang out with Denise and Sara from Colmar Brunton. Colmar Brunton is one of Australia’s largest customised market research companies. They help clients deliver better products, services and communications.
The insights and knowledge Denise and Sara have is crazy which I why I wanted them on this podcast.
In this episode we touch on a load of different topics but we focus on the Millennium monitor https://www.millenniummonitor.com which has its own website. I was fascinated when I first came across this platform.
The Millennium Monitor is a unique social trends monitor that explores the patterns and implications of change in social values, Denise explains it fantastically in this episode and definitely worth a listen.
In today’s episode I got to hang out with Carmine Ventura. The managing director of South Food Group.
South Food Group is a third generation, Italian family operated small goods manufacturer with a huge focus on premium high-quality products such as prosciutto, salami, ham, bacon and specialty snack foods.
The business is really booming in their protein snack department, especially their pork crackle range, crackle and co which can be found in Dan Murphys.
Sometimes we forget with all the news about vegans and plant based products that the meat market is still booming and it was great to hear Carmines opionion and knowledge in his space.
Check them out here: http://www.southfoodgroup.com.au
But for now, chill out, switch off the world and listen to episode 38
In today’s episode I got to hang out with Ally Mellor who is the founder of Locako.
In 2 years Ally has created over 20 lines within the Keto, Low Carb market. Ally is not done there she has a whole new range coming out in 2020.
Ally was one of the first brands to see the Collagen trend, she was one of the very first brands to create a collagen bar which can be found along with her other SKUs in health, independent stores as well as online.
Ally is a real start up and explains her journey so far. It was a huge pleasure to chat to Ally and hear her story and what the future brings.
For now, Switch off, chill out and enjoy episode 36.
In today’s episode I got to hang out with Mike Lee who is Mr Food Innovator.
Mike is all about food innovation. He is the founder of Alpha Food labs which works with medium to large FMCG companies to help them stay ahead of the curve in innovation. Mike also has two sister companies, Food Tech Connect which merges what’s happening in food and technology space, I highly recommend signing up to their free bi-weekly newsletter for awesome insights and what’s going on in this space, and the third company Mike runs is the Future Food Market. Mike uses platforms which are used in the car industry to help explore the future of food in 5 to 10 years through concept stores and product concepts.
Mike is full of insights, information and delivers numerous awesome knowledge bombs about his world. Was great hanging out with a forward thinking in the food space and I hope you enjoy this episode.
In today’s episode I got to hang out with Paula Hannagan who is the founder of Bounce in 2004 after getting inspiration from a holiday in New York. Bounce is a company which changed the game in snacking especially with their range of bounce balls.
Paula tells all in this episode about her journey and the learnings along the way. I believe this is a must listen to any new brand or business starting out.
Bounce is now a global brand with new breakfast bars coming through in Australia. I loved chatting to Paula and I hope you enjoy this episode too.
Switch off, chill out and enjoy episode 34.
In today’s episode I got to hang out with Dan Pope, who is sales manager of Manilife. Manilife is a UK based peanut butter company which has some high-end customers such as Waitrose and Harrods.
Dan tells the fantastic story of Manilife in this episode with a bit of comedy thrown in too.
Manilife uses single origin high quality peanuts unlike a lot of its competition. It’s a great story and to think they were selling peanut butter from Dans backpack only 2 years ago is incredble.
It was great to chat to Dan and hear about Manilifes journey. When you finish the episode, please head on over to iTunes and leave a review.
Switch off, chill out and enjoy episode 33.
In today’s episode I got to hang out with Shaun Malligan, the co founder of Kooee! Kooee is an All Natural Jerky snacking company based in Tasmania, Australia.
Shaun is an Australian who was living in the USA when he started making his own jerky to snack on. It then turned into a side hustle when more and more people started to try it and pay for it.
Along with the way Shaun met Andy, who then become the other co-founder of Kooee! and set up a factory in Tasmania making jerky and growing a brand which can be found in Dan Murpys, Woolworths and various other retailers.
In today’s episode I got to hang out with William Cook, the co founder of Harvest Box. Harvest box has been around in Australia for over 10 years which started off as a subscription-based home snacking delivery business after seeing the success of the Graze business model in the UK. After years of adaptation and evolving, Harvest box can now be found in the major retails too.
If having a healthy snacking range which exports to several other countries wasn’t time consuming enough. William also set up a new business venture, Ocean Australia which we discuss in detail too.
Tim is the founder of Bae Juice, a drink to help prevent hangovers. While on a trip to South Korea to meet his future in laws and a few big nights on the drink. Tim realised the powers Korean Pear Juice and knew he needed to bring it over to Australia and create a great brand around it. This is exactly what Tim did. In the episode you will not only laugh out loud but you will learn a story of persistence, determination, mistakes and what the lengths a start-up will go too to grow their brands profile.
Switch off, chill out and enjoy episode 30.
In today’s episode I got to hang out with one of the sassiest female entrepreneurs I know. Jordyn Evans who is the Founder of Mingle took time out of her day to tell me her story. Very soon you will see the Mingle seasonings in over 500 Coles stores in the herbs and spice aisle. Jordyn created Mingle only 3 years ago after seeing a gap in the market one Sunday afternoon. Mingle has seen tremendous growth to date, with over 40,000 followers on Instagram and great online sales. Jordyn was selected to be on the Chobani and the Melbourne Accelerator Incubator Programmes where she is gaining fantastic business support to help her grow.
Mingle is definitely shaking things up and I loved hearing her start up story. So inspiring and motivating for any female or entrepreneur wanting to grow that idea of theirs.
Switch off, chill out and enjoy episode 29.
Welcome back everybody. You are on episode 28 of the retail ready podcast. Thank you for giving up your time to listen to my show. If you are enjoying the podcasts, please make sure you leave a review, or get in contact with me directly as I am loving what you guys are thinking about each episode.
In todays episode you will get a science lesson on fibre, prebiotics, probiotics and the powers of BarleyMax.
BarleyMax is an Australian super grain which has more health benefits than Oats. You might find it in products on the supermarket shelf and the ladies at Healthy Grain discuss why it should be in more products.
Enjoy
Welcome back everybody. You are on episode 27 of the retail ready podcast. Thank you for giving up your time to listen to my show. If you are enjoying the podcasts, please make sure you leave a review, or get in contact with me directly as I am loving what you guys are thinking about each episode.
Also, if you are listening and have a brand, business or story within the grocery space and want to be on the show, get in contact with me. Also great to hear from new people and hear their stories.
In todays episode, we are stepping away from the food world and into the world of Magnesium. I am joined by Lee Harold, the founder of Amazing Oils.
Amazing Oils is an Australian family business which just focus on different magnesium based application product that are applied onto the skin, whether via a roll on, spray or cream.
I personally use Amazing oils on a weekly if not daily basis because it helps muscle recovery and rests my legs after a long day. We even used the baby range when my daughter was born to help her rest at night.
Lee and his family are a business with great principles and created magnesium oils to bring benefit to peoples lives. I am sure you will love this episode as much as I did recording it.
In todays episode we discuss all things Coles Online. It is a platform which has grown year on year and is not slowing down any time soon. We talk to Jason Potts who has worked within Coles Online for 7 years. Jason discusses black out stores, the avocado effect, being agile and why you should always listen to the customer.
Enjoy episode 26.
In the first part of the podcast you will hear how Quin, in 1977 left his job after 15 years and and decided to set up Scalzo foods from the spare room in his family house. We discuss the early days of Scalzo foods, how business was done, hurdles in the early days and Quins journey to now.
Fast forward 40 years from 1977 and Quin is still in the business but has handed the reigns over to his son and now managing director, Michael Scalzo who we chat to in the 2ndhalf of the podcast.
Here we discuss how business and food was in Michaels blood from a very early age, how he deals with the pressure of running a $450m business, his latest investment in the first southern hemisphere plant based protein facility and the future direction he is taking the Scalzo business.
In todays episode I am joined by Vicki Nguyen who is the founder of Jomeis Fine Foods. Which started off as a side hustle while she was teaching Yoga full time, Vicki saw an opportunity to grow a brand. After a couple of hurdles and a failed product, Vicki has a range of Nutritional Lattes that not only taste amazing, look amazing but have great health benefits.
Vicki is just full of energy and was so much fun recording this episode. I definitely want to get Vicki back on the show to talk about the future of her brands product and the podcast she has set up too.
Please let me know what you thought of the episode and leave a review on iTunes. Here is episode 24 with Vicki.
In todays episode I am joined by Matthew Parry, the founder of the Good Crisp Company. When Matt was based in Adelaide he saw an opportunity to create a crisp which ticked several health banners. After pushing his product into retailers here with some success, he felt the US market was a bigger opportunity.
With a great product and a vision, Matt uprooted his family to the US and built his empire over there too.
In this episode we took about the difference between the US and Australian market, Matts journey in the US which has landed him in Walmart and Wholefoods stores. Matt drops some great knowledge bombs for start-ups to take on board and we discuss the role Amazon has within the grocery space.
Please let me know what you thought of the episode and leave a review on iTunes. Here is episode 23 with Mat.
In todays episode I am joined by Mathew Slavica who is the founder of Digital Stand. In 2013 Matt saw the huge opportunity of creating a social media agency to help brands spread there awareness via social media. People thought he was crazy thinking social media would be a popular platform than the older traditional methods, but he has indeed proved them wrong.
In this episode we discuss social media platforms, what good looks like, what platforms generate brand awareness, how social media provides valuable insights on your consumer and we discuss Tik Tok, which is the biggest growing social media platform at the moment.
Please let me know what you thought of the episode and leave a review on iTunes. Here is episode 22 with Mat.
In todays episode I am joined by Paul Benhaim, who is expert in the field of hemp & cannabis. Paul is part of the biggest growing global trend at the moment, which is CBD. Paul has been working in this field since 1993 after leaving university.
Paul is the founder of the Australian Hemp Foods company and is Chief Information Officer at Elixinol Global which is a public traded company on the ASX.
Paul has been someone I have wanting on the show since I started this podcast and it was an absolute pleasure hearing about Pauls journey and the future of hemp and cannabis in from a global level and the future it has in Australia.
In today’s episode I am joined by Peta Shulman, The founder and creator of the Goodness Me Box Business.
Peta created Goodness Me Box, 5 years ago with $20k in savings and has grown the business to be the biggest online health subscription service which sends secret treats to households across Australia.
In the episode we took about her amazing journey, the changing consumer, doing business online, social media, the new ear of marketing and food trends in Australia.
With over 95,000 followers on Instagram, Goodness Me Box is disrupting the way brands can be noticed and purchased. I loved chatting to Peta and I hope you enjoy this episode too.
In todays episode I am joined by one of Australia’s most influential individuals within the food industry, Adrian Cester.
Adrian is the founder of Flavour Makers which produces the brands, celebrate health, passage to India and Australian Organics company along with a range of products for other brands and private label.
If running a $150m dollar business which has offices in the states and over 200 employees doesn’t keep Adrian busy, he also has a Italian vineyard, cider brand and works with Australian farmers to grow Organic produce.
In this episode Adrian discusses his journey and passion for creating great food using as much Australian produce as possible.
Adrian is without a doubt an amazing business man but for me he is an been an even greater mentor. Adrian took the time out last year and provided some great career advice when I needed it and I will forever be grateful for that.
I hope you guys enjoy this episode as much as I did recording it over a lovely prosecco .
In this episode I just want to go into a bit more detail on how I spot trends and opportunities through the different platforms I use. These methods I use can be used If you are a large multi-national business or just someone who wants to create a product in their kitchen, the process is the same.
One thing I want to point out very early is that, I can safely say is that if you are visiting supermarkets for trends then you are a few years too late but we can go into this in more detail later.
In this episode called The Retailer and the supplier. I wanted to provide you with some knowledges which might just help any supplier listening and any individual working in the retail space too.
Here are my 5 key insights and findings you will hear in this podcast:
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Not every manufacturer is making double digit margin.
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“Retailers can make or break suppliers”.
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Decision makers have never set foot in a factory most of the time.
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Relationships are key.
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Getting your product on the shelf takes time.
I hope you enjoyed these snippets of insights. One thing I am realising when I speak with more and more suppliers is that we are all in the same game. We face the same headaches and there is a great connecting and energy. Some suppliers are just on different levels but the end goal is the same and that is to create amazing products.
Hayley using her dietetic background and love for food realised there were some of the most nutrient dense superfoods in Australia’s very own back garden. Hayley has worked closely with Aboriginal communities and farmers to help bring the likes of Davidson Plum, wattle seed, mountain pepperberry and lemon myrtle to top chefs and food brands such as remedy kombucha, Koko Black, Archie rose, Charlies cookies and Byron bay cookies to name a few.
I was very impressed and inspired with hearing Hayley’s story. She saw an amazing opportunity, which faced numerous hurdles and headache but persisted and her persistence now allows many people to now bring new flavours and health benefits to there products.
Enjoy listening to the Retail Ready Podcast.
Todays guest is Sharon Natoli who is an author, public speaker and runs her own business whereby she works with medium to large business and brands. This episode she was just dropping the knowledge bombs.
In the episode we discuss Sharon’s latest book she wrote, Food for a better future – a new direction for the global business of food which is a must read for anyone working in the food industry who deals with the end consumer. We also tap into Sharons 30 years of knowledge of the industry and discuss the ever changing landscape of the food world and the role health plays in this.
Contact Sharon at: https://www.sharonnatoli.com
On todays episode I spoke with Nick Sheridan. Nick is the founder of 99th Monkey which is a nut butter brand based in Melbourne.
All Nicks nut butters are made in small hand crafted batches and taste amazing. By some at www.99thmonkey.com.au. His brand can be found in over 700 stores as well as Coles Local too.
The nut butter market has just blown up globally. Peanut butter is still the largest shareholder, but room has been made for almond, cashew, brazil and more niche blends. Consumers are realising the health benefits, taste and versality of using them.
As always please give feedback and a rating on iTunes.
On todays episode we spoke with Mat Stillone. Mat is the founder of Integrity Foods which manufacturers for some of the biggest supplement brands in Australia.
Australians are some of the world’s largest consumers of dietary supplements. The sports nutrition market alone is worth over $1 billion and growing.
Mat is enjoying his own piece of this industry too with his own plant based protein range, Botanica which can be found in Aldi, health stores and online.
Mat has gone from being a single dad on centre link to growing a $12m business. The passion Mat has for the industry is amazing and this episode was a pleasure to do.
You are listening to the retail ready podcast, and this is Epsiode 13. Enjoy.
On episode 12, I got the chance to talk business with Jamie Thurin from Slim Secrets. Slim secrets was founded by his mum, Sharon in the early 00’s and has grown to not only be a product you will find in Australia but also in 10 other countries.
In this episode we discuss with Jamie all things export, protein, social influencers and get to know how this brand has been so successful.
You are listening to the retail ready podcast, hosted by Ben Whyatt and this is Epsiode 12. Enjoy.
Uplift Foods founder Kara Landau is a business lady with guts. She has created a brand which focusses on improving the internal health of the consumer. Known as the gut guru, Kara is a qualified dietician but also CEO, COO, CFO and many more titles while she grows her business in Australia and America.
Found out more from Uplift and Kara here: https://upliftfood.com
Conor Reynolds saw a opportunity to improve the health of office staff and created a business around it. Snackwize delivers healthy snacks straight to the office.
In this episode we talk business, what makes a healthy snack and the future opportunities within the business.
Learn more about Snackwize here:
http://snackwize.com
One of my favourite episodes to date. Justin also known as Mr Insights was dropping some serious insight knowledge bombs. A must listen to anyone in the food business.
If you want to get in contact with Justin or Jacqui from the episode, then please get in touch.
jnunns@mintel.comor visit, www.mintel.com
Hear how this Australian business went from selling a couple of products into a local café to now an to now one of Australia's best and biggest family owned brands. In today’s episode I got to chat with Michael Carp, owner and managing director at Kez’s Kitchen.
Keen to learn more about Kez’s Kitchen? Click on their site here:
https://kezs.com.au
Retail Ready is a destination for anyone looking to learn about food, new brands, manufacturing, trends and insights. The Retail Ready podcast will be full of knowledge bombs, conversations and discussions into an ever changing industry.
8 reasons why you and your business should be using LinkedIn
LinkedIn to some people is a boring platform and it wouldn’t even make it to many peoples first page of apps on your smart phone. In 2019 LinkedIn has 610 million users, compared to 1.74 billion users for Facebook and 1 billion for Instagram.
Based on the numbers above it makes sense for many individuals or even businesses not to even spend time creating content, searching for leads or actively using the LinkedIn platform. This is a huge missed opportunity. Below are my reasons why in 2015 I have spent the majority of my time using LinkedIn as my preferred platform but also building a profile with a network of like-minded individuals.
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LinkedIn has 610 million users, roughly 250 million of these are active monthly, however only 3 million share content on a weekly basis. That’s just a touch over 1% of monthly users. (Source: Accuagency).
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It’s nice not to be looking at individuals with duck lips every second photo who think they are models trying to sell a unresearched fat loss supplement.
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91% of marketing executives list LinkedIn as the top place to find quality content. (Source: Sophisticated Marketers Guide To LinkedIn)
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Only 1 million users have published an article on LinkedIn. That works out to be under 0.2% of users taking advantage of voicing their knowledge, promoting their business or stating information about their job and passion.
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LinkedIn tends to have very few keyboard warriors. If you ever read comments on Instagram or Facebook, some people can just be nasty! I find LinkedIn is a platform which debates don’t turn into bullying or personal attacks. Whether this is because the clientele is of a higher education or the individual can be tracked down via their place of work, making it riskier on that individual.
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It’s a platform where you connect with like-minded individuals who I can learn from, reach out too and associate yourself with.
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There is very minimal religion and political views posts.
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LinkedIn is the best and proven social media platform to generate new leads (Source: Hubspot). I have had projects become successful due to help from LinkedIn connections which would have otherwise been cancelled.
Not matter what platform you or your business use to generate leads or connect with new individuals if you have a LinkedIn account then let your first step be to get a profile picture.
This alone will help you generate 21x more views and 36x more messages and only takes a couple of clicks and sets you up on the right path (Source: Expanded Dramblings).
Retail Ready is for individuals and companies looking for food industry help. I want to make Australia to biggest platform for food trends, product development and change consumer eating behaviours.
In todays episode we chat to the straight talking Scott Tulloch who along with his wife created the brand Farmer Jo.
They went from selling a few units into cafes around Sydney, to a farmers market and are now in one of the major retailers in Australia. Scott explains the journey the brand has been through and where its going.
Retail Ready is for individuals and companies looking for food industry help. I want to make Australia to biggest platform for food trends, product development and change consumer eating behaviours.
In todays episode we chat to the straight talking Scott Tulloch who along with his wife created the brand Farmer Jo.
They went from selling a few units into cafes around Sydney, to a farmers market and are now in one of the major retailers in Australia. Scott explains the journey the brand has been through and where its going.
We chat up with Jess Gordoun from Coles Supermarkets in todays episode. We chat about the current and new food trends she is looking to launch into her new format store, Coles Local in Australia.
We also talk about how Veganism is not going away and the success of some of her new vegan launches. Tune in and let me know what you think.
Please follow my food passion, as well as my other passions, coffee, tattoos, gin and my family life at Instagram. Click here to my Insta Page
Retail Ready is for individuals and companies looking for food industry help. I want to make Australia to biggest platform for food trends, product development and change consumer eating behaviours.
I have been on both sides of the fence and know what it’s like dealing with category managers. So here are my top 13 hints, tips to make the best outcome when organising a meeting, presenting and following up to get your products on the retail shelf.
Here they are:
- If you don’t get on with the category manager, don’t expect your product to go anywhere. It pays in products sales to get on with them.
- Category managers are busy. Expect only a 30 minutes meeting and expect them to be late, you have 20minutes to impress.
- They aren’t interested in your factory certificates or heritage, they want to know costs, margin, promotional activity and how you are going to grow their category.
- Need something, don’t just sent one email and leave it.
- Your voicemail probably won’t get listened too.
- Be prepared to have a different buyer every 6-12 months.
- Expect an email at 10pm and on weekends.
- They are switched on individuals, don’t lie about costings, volumes or product info. It will bite you back.
- Samples are essential but bring a box for them to take them in. Nothing worse than balancing samples.
- Be human. Show some emotion. It shouldn’t be all about commercials and business.
- Send them a personal hamper before your meeting.
- Send a post meeting email that night or next day with costings, product info and next steps.
- The Ultimate Winner - Have a product that good that they contact you and not you pushing it to them!! If you have this and the right commercials, unstoppable combo.
Please follow my food passion, as well as my other passions, coffee, tattoos, gin and my family life at Instagram. Click here to my Insta Page
Retail Ready is for individuals and companies looking for food industry help. I want to make Australia to biggest platform for food trends, product development and change consumer eating behaviours.
In episode 2 I will let you in on when innovation works within retail and why you should think about the customer at all times. You will also learn how sliced bread was not a success when it first launched.
Please follow my food passion, as well as my other passions, coffee, tattoos, gin and my family life at Instagram. Click here to my Insta Page
Thanks for giving me a listen, I hope you stay around for plenty of epsiodes, otherwise it’s going to get very lonely with just me and my microphone.
Lets crack on with what’s in store for Episode 1. In this episode I just wanted to provide some background as to who I am, why I am doing this podcast, what’s to come and why they will be a great learning tool for anyone in the food industry.
So let’s start off with who I am.
I am a qualified nutritionist, ex-personal trainer, gin and coffee lover, tattoo enthusiast, dad, soon to be husband, but also a passionate foodie, supermarket fanatic, and a seeker for amazing new products and brands.
I work as a full time Innovation Sourcing manager for a very well respected and passionate food manufacturer based in Melbourne, Australia which I absolutely love.
Learn more in the episode, available on Spotify and iTunes.