Brand Growth Heroes – Details, episodes & analysis

Listen and learn from Joanna Jensen, the founder of Child's Farm!

This multi-award-winning natural skincare brand was founded (like 99% of businesses born to female founders) from Joanna's own need for something that didn't exist in the category at the time: a bath time solution for her child with medically diagnosed eczema.

Created in 2010, Childs Farm was the number-one brand in the category by 2019 (ahead of Johnson's Baby, Baby Dove, and Aveeno).

Joanna scaled the business to £20 million and decided the time was right to source additional funding for growth, but instead sold to PZ Cussons, which owns brands Imperial Leather, St Tropez and Carex.

She describes herself as a driven workaholic, but she is also a brilliant mentor and advocate of female founders and female-founded businesses. She is also an investor in some of the businesses we've had on the show, including Freya Bone Broth and Hunter and Gather (look for their episodes on the show page of your favourite podcast player)

During their chat, Joanna gives us many of what Fiona calls "those £500k ‘aha’ moments", including advice on margins, cash flow, when to hire and at what level, what to look for in your team, and more.

Fiona’s challenge - how do we all get to the point where we're clear that the solution we're offering doesn't exist out there? Then, we can enter any negotiation, whether with a buyer or an investor, and we feel just as confident as Joanna does.

By the way, if you're listening to this on Spotify, you'll find a place where it says ASK A QUESTION! You can now ask Fiona a question, and she will be able to answer you. So, if you have any questions about this episode or anything you thought helpful, please let Fiona know!

Useful links:

Childs Farm website

Childs Farm Instagram

Childs Farm Facebook

EIS Association

Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme

Stop It by comedian Bob Newhart

If this episode inspires you to think about new ways to drive business growth, don't forget to click FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE on your favourite podcast app and leave a review!

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. Plus, your small gesture will be truly appreciated.

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 across our socials: Brand Growth Heroes on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X.

Sign up for the latest news and information on the Brand Growth Heroes Accelerator Programme here.

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

$500M: OLIPOP explodes the USA Soda Market

Join us for Fiona Fitz’s recent conversation with OLIPOP Co-Founder & President David Lester, recorded live at the Bread and Jam Festival.

OLIPOP Co-Founders David Lester and Ben Goodwin landed on the foundational recipe for “a new kind of soda”, redefining how consumers perceived the category. OLIPOP has successfully persuaded consumers to swap out sugary, familiar favourites for healthier alternatives.

In colourful cans with vintage logos and fantastic flavours, OLIPOP aims to smash its target of $500 million in sales in 2024.

Listen to this episode and find out how they've done it.

David reveals:

The eight-year journey behind OLIPOP's rapid growth, explaining that despite its apparent surge since the 2018 launch, the company actually underwent a crucial four-year trial process beforehand.

The importance of balancing taste with health benefits and the rollercoaster of emotions that comes with being a founder.

We all expected this interview to be about how he and Ben grew the business. In fact, David offers candid insights on ego, vulnerability, and the true meaning of success.

If you are still alive then you are succeeding.

Useful links:

https://drinkolipop.com/

Bread and Jam Festival

If this episode inspires you to think about new ways to drive business growth, don't forget to click FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE on your favourite podcast app and leave a review!

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. Plus, your small gesture will be truly appreciated.

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 across our socials: Brand Growth Heroes on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X.

Sign up for the latest news and information on the Brand Growth Heroes Accelerator Programme here.

Thanks to our Sound Engineer, Gyp Buggane, Ballagroove.com and our social media manager/podcast producer, Kathryn Watts, Social KEWS.

Get ready for a dose of entrepreneurial truth bombs as the vivacious trailblazer, Amelia Christie-Miller, spills the beans on one of the blunders she made whilst venturing towards business triumph! Bold Bean Co.

YOU too can be featured on Brand Growth Bloopers! Just send me a WhatsApp on +447418605547 and tell me the following:

• Your name
• Your brand website and Instagram handle
• A quick outline of your brand growth blooper, for example, 'manufacturing disaster, wrong ingredients' or 'no laptop power at a Tesco buyer meeting' etc
• What's in it for you? If you are chosen to feature on the show, you'll have the opportunity to share your brand growth blooper story as well as sharing your website, instagram and LinkedIn handles to thousands of listeners around the world. You could even do what Simona Deifta did in one of our first bonus episodes, and share a coupon code so that listeners can buy your product with an exclusive discount!

So that you don't miss your favourite brands talk about how they grew their inspirational businesses,
click the Follow button beside Brand Growth Heroes on your podcast app (on apple podcasts it's three dots like this (...)

Follow Brand Growth Heroes here on Instagram, Tiktok, Linkedin

Become part of the Brand Growth Heroes community!
Sign up here for news and information on Brand Growth Heroes Accelerator Programme
Email Fiona for a 1-1 session: fiona@fionafitzconsulting.com
See how Fiona can group-coach your senior commercial and marketing teams internally: Fiona Fitz Consulting

 As the founder or leader of a grocery brand, have you ever thought it would be GREAT to pool your central costs with other brands like yours?

Follow Brand Growth Heroes here on Instagram, Tiktok, Linkedin

I certainly considered it when I was launching GU Chocolate Puds in France years ago, and as a result,  I created a shared field sales team with Innocent France for the French market, and it was certainly something worth doing for the period of time it worked for both businesses.

I wanted to explore what this looks like today, so in this next episode, I talk to Ben Arib, founder of Rebel Kitchen, and more recently Nurture Brands, a cohort of eight better-for-you brands - Rebel Kitchen & Myracle Kitchen, Primal Pantry, Doisy & Dam, Emily, Jax Coco, Indie Ba - that share the same platform (and equity) in order to mutualize a lot of their costs.

Ben explains how the Nurture Brands' shared model works, why he started it, and all the economics behind it.

So that you don't miss the leaders of your favourite brands talk about how they grew their inspirational businesses, click the Follow button beside Brand Growth Heroes on your podcast app (on apple podcasts it's three dots like this (...)

Become part of the Brand Growth Heroes community!
Sign up here for news and information on Brand Growth Heroes Accelerator Programme
Email Fiona for a 1-1 session: fiona@fionafitzconsulting.com
See how Fiona can group-coach your senior commercial and marketing teams internally: Fiona Fitz Consulting

Renée Elliott is the original founder of much-loved UK organic retailer Planet Organic...and now she's back: to rescue the business out of administration. At the time of recording, we are 3 weeks into this rescue deal. All the latest insider info is right inside this episode, along with some invitations to suppliers to join Planet Organic on their new journey, as well as information on Renée's upcoming women's retreat (www.womentree.uk).

Have you ever messed up and felt like you were the only founder in the world to make such a stupid mistake?
 
Simona Deifta, female powerhouse and founder of the brilliant sauces and dressings Nojo London, shares one of the biggest brand growth bloopers she's made along the way to getting national listings with Ocado, Co-Op, Wholefoods and Amazon.

YOU can be featured on Brand Growth Bloopers! Just send me a WhatsApp on +447418605547 and tell me the following:

• Your name
• Your brand website and Instagram handle
• A quick outline of your brand growth blooper, for example, 'manufacturing disaster, wrong ingredients' or 'no laptop power at a Tesco buyer meeting' etc
• What's in it for you? If you are chosen to feature on the show, you'll have the opportunity to share your brand growth blooper story as well as sharing your website, instagram and LinkedIn handles to thousands of listeners around the world. You could even do what Simona did, and share a coupon code!

So that you don't miss your favourite brands talk about how they grew their inspirational businesses,
click the Follow button beside Brand Growth Heroes on your podcast app (on apple podcasts it's three dots like this (...)

Follow Brand Growth Heroes here on Instagram, Tiktok, Linkedin

Become part of the Brand Growth Heroes community!
Sign up here for news and information on Brand Growth Heroes Accelerator Programme
Email Fiona for a 1-1 session: fiona@fionafitzconsulting.com
See how Fiona can group-coach your senior commercial and marketing teams internally: Fiona Fitz Consulting

Hear how Marisa and Teddy learned from their big-green-explosion-mistake, whilst preparing for their first-ever show - the London Coffee Festival!

If you'd like the chance to be featured on Brand Growth Bloopers, please send us a WhatsApp on +447418605547 and tell us the following:

• Your name & email address
• Your brand website and instagram handle
• A quick outline of your brand growth blooper, for example 'manufacturing disaster, wrong ingredients' etc
• If you are chosen to feature on the show you'll have the opportunity to share your brand with our audience including what you make, who you’re for, and your website, instagram and LinkedIn handles.
• Every brand that is featured on the Brand Growth Blooper bonus episodes will go into a draw with the chance to win a place on the next Brand Growth Accelerator programme (formally The Growth Strategy Programme) in October 2023.

Click the Follow button beside Brand Growth Heroes on your podcast app (on apple podcasts it's three dots like this (...)

Follow Brand Growth Heroes here on Instagram, Tiktok, Linkedin

Become part of the Brand Growth Heroes community!
Sign up here for news and information on Brand Growth Heroes Accelerator Programme

See how Fiona’s group coaching programmes can help develop your senior commercial and marketing teams internally: Fiona Fitz Consulting

Perfect Ted, the natural energy drinks brand powered by matcha green tea, has taken the UK food and drink industry by storm.

Despite launching just 18 months ago, Marisa, Teddie, and Levi have grown their business to a run-rate of £5M, secured a national listing with Tesco UK across three different in-store categories, and even won offers from all five dragons on Dragon's Den.

What's more, they've accomplished this by successfully taking a niche ingredient that they are passionate about into the mass market.

Make sure you get the latest from Brand GrowthHeroes -> Click the follow or ...  dropdown button beside Brand Growth Heroes on your podcast app now!  You can also follow Brand Growth Heroes here on Instagram, Tiktok and Linkedin.

In this episode, Marissa and Teddie chat with Fiona about their journey to success. They discuss the biggest mistakes they've made, how they struggled with positioning their brand and the role of matcha, and how they ultimately hit on the winning solution through their work on The Growth Strategy Programme. They emphasize the importance of focusing on product benefits rather than just ingredients and reveal the advice they would give to any founders preparing for a pitch to investors, buyers or Dragons!

The duo also share their experience on Dragon's Den and how it was by far the biggest risk they've taken to date. They talk about the impact the show has had on their sales, and the personal investment necessary to grow their business. Additionally, they discuss the benefits of having a strong multi-channel customer base and reveal how they secured their first Michelin star listing.

Finally, Marisa and Teddie answer the question everyone wants to know: what it's like to have Dragon and serial entrepreneur Steven Bartlett as a mentor!!

Tune in to hear their inspiring story and valuable insights into building a successful brand.

Become part of the Brand Growth Heroes community!
Sign up here for news and information on Brand Growth Heroes Accelerator Programme
Email Fiona for a 1-1 session: fiona@fionafitzconsulting.com
See how Fiona can help develop your commercial and marketing teams internally: Fiona Fitz Consulting

Perfect Ted Instagram
Perfect Ted Tiktok
Perfect Ted website
Teddie Linkedin
Marisa Linkedin

Mid-Day Squares is the Canadian functional chocolate sensation that EVERYONE in the food and drink industry is talking about.

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Heroes podcast

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Launched in 2018, this family-led business is planning to disrupt the $8 billion dollar health bar market in the USA.

But they're also disrupting what Food & Bev marketers define as best practice, in terms of approach to Social Media!

Forbes 30 under 30 co-founderJake Karls talks Fiona through:

• How he, his sister Lezlie and brother-in-law Nick had been 'swinging and missing' with other startups before Mid-Day Squares was conceived...
• How they ended up with such a great product market fit...
• How they decided on the 1 MASSIVE way the brand would 'show up' to the world...
• How they built the momentum, energy, and hype that means their product is PULLED off shelf...
• Why an understanding of the entertainment world - and story-telling-  is so important to marketers....
• Why Jake didn’t originally want to get involved in this family business...
• His pitch for the brand to 'show-up' as a blend of the best of The Kardashians, the best of Shark Tank, and the best of Elon Musk...
• How to break through the biggest barrier to every F&B business -  the 'Attention Barrier'...
• How you need to be unapologetically yourself, even if 50% of people are going to dislike you...
• The 3 things you need to tell an amazing story...
• The three pillars around which the Mid-Day Squares business is organized...
• How therapy has been the answer to help them run the business successfully...
• How they personalized their relationship with their consumers in the early days, and how they continue to do that at scale...

Want to work with Fiona?
Email Fiona for a 1-1 session: fiona@fionafitzconsulting.com
See how Fiona can help develop your commercial and marketing teams internally: Fiona Fitz Consulting

Mid-Day Squares Instagram
Mid-Day Squares Tiktok

Click the subscribe or 'bell' button beside Brand Growth Heroes on your podcast app to make sure you get the latest from Brand Growth Heroes podcast

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CPG Founders: Want to know the secret *three NEW must-haves* that investors are insisting on in the current economic climate?

Verlinvest is the investment company behind your favourite insurgent brands like Tony's Chocolonely, Oatly, Mutti, Vita Coco and Who Gives a Crap. 

Their investment - and their team - is helping to build some of the world's largest consumer brands. 

In this episode (recorded a few months back), I speak to Director Ben Black and I get some top advice for founders looking for funding.

But most importantly...we'll let you in on a secret: 

There are THREE NEW THINGS that investors are looking for in today's economic climate. These are not listed here, you’re going to have to listen to the show!

And as a bonus…you'll also learn:

1. At what point in time do you need to be showing profitability in your business plan?
2. What a consumer revolution is and why it matters
3. What Fiona means by 'understanding your consumers’ ‘inflation-friction’  and why it's KEY
4. What VCs actually DO to help founders other than offer money
5. How you know that you're not trying HARD enough....

I hope you enjoy this latest episode and learn as much as I did recording it!

Want to work with Fiona?
Email Fiona for a 1-1 session: fiona@fionafitzconsulting.com
See how Fiona can help develop your commercial and marketing teams internally: Fiona Fitz Consulting