Brand New Taste – Details, episodes & analysis

Alana and Lisa MacFarlane are the dynamic twins behind ‘The Gut Stuff’, the award-winning brand bringing gut health into the mainstream and educating us about the importance of our body’s 'second brain'.

Emerging from their Scottish roots, with (self admittedly) less-than-ideal dietary habits, the sisters have gone on to become champions for the power of gut health, redefining what it means to eat well. Their journey began with a landmark twin study in the UK, supervised by none other than  Professor Tim Spector, which was instrumental in uncovering the gut's critical role and its unique intricacies in each and every individual. This episode unpacks their path from unexpected findings about microbiomes to creating a brand that captures the attention of both consumers and industry alike.

Alana joins us to discuss the transformation of gut health from a niche scientific topic to a mainstream necessity, emphasising the fundamental role of fibre and how simple dietary tweaks can lead to substantial health benefits. The Gut Stuff have built a community of the world’s leading scientists in gut health, dieticians and nutritionists, bringing together their knowledge and disseminating it to the public in digestible and fun formats. 

Fresh from a global research conference and deep in the throes of gut health research, Alana shares her insights on the future of probiotics and upcoming innovations in gut health.

Whether you're a health enthusiast or just curious about the intersection of science and diet, this episode is brimming with insights, engaging stories, and practical tips from one of the twins spearheading the gut health revolution.

Find more from The Gut Stuff on their app, their website and their prime-time TV show, ‘Know your Sh*t” on Channel 4. 

If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing.

Follow Brandt and Micah:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandt-maybury/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/micah-carr-hill-34a91811/ 

Visit https://www.tastehead.com/ to learn more

Follow Alana and Lisa: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-macfarlane-931777112/?originalSubdomain=uk

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alana-macfarlane-kempner-5904b4173/ 

The Gut Stuff 

https://thegutstuff.com/ 

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/the-gut-stuff/id6444077201 

Brands Mentioned: 

JKR - https://jkrglobal.com/ 

Dram and Smoke - https://dramandsmoke.com/ 

Flo App - https://flo.health/ 

Peloton - https://www.onepeloton.co.uk/ 

Gut - Guilia Enders – https://www.waterstones.com/book/gut/giulia-enders/david-shaw/9781911344773 

The Diet Myth – Tim Spector - https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-diet-myth/professor-tim-spector/9781474619301 

Sophie Medlin - https://www.citydietitians.co.uk/team/sophie-medlin

Segun Akinwoleola, the brain (and muscles) behind The Gym Kitchen, joins Brandt and Micah to spill the beans on crafting meals that pack a tasty and protein-filled punch. 

Segun is on a mission to reinvent the face of British ready meals, providing consumers with first and foremost a delicious and convenient meal, that is *actually* nutritious and filling. 

From the early days of the brand concept and trademarking to the strategic manoeuvres that landed The Gym Kitchen in the nation’s major retailers, this episode covers it all. Segun reveals the strategies behind building a brand before launch, the importance of community, and how staying true to your vision—even when it means reimagining your product based on feedback—can lead to success in a crowded market.

But it's not just about the food. Segun opens up about the broader implications of being a black founder in the food and beverage industry, shedding light on the hurdles and highlighting the need for more representation and support. From confronting stereotypes to pushing for change, his insights offer a candid look at the landscape of entrepreneurship through a diverse lens.
 
Whether you're a budding entrepreneur, a health-conscious eater, or someone interested in the intersection of diversity and business, this episode is packed with valuable lessons, inspirational stories, and the inside scoop on what it takes to build a brand that stands out and stands for something more.




If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing.

If you have any suggestions for future episode topics, please email them to [email protected]

Follow Brandt and Micah:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandt-maybury/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/micah-carr-hill-34a91811/

Visit https://www.tastehead.com/ to learn more

Follow Segun:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/segun-akinwoleola-a0941530/  

https://thegymkitchen.com 

https://www.instagram.com/thegymkitchen/ 

Brands Mentioned:
The Mind Collective

Liquid Studio 

Liquid Death

The Black Farmer 

Rory Sutherland - The Ikea Effect

Tesco Black Action Plan

Sainsbury’s Thrive 

Strong Roots

Gym Shark

Hawksmoor

Brand Growth Heroes

Diary of a CEO

High Performance Podcast

Will it Make the Boat go Faster?

In this Best Bite, Mairi and Eliza from Mergulo, plant-based butter, talk us through their journey of getting listed in to Whole Foods, Planet Organic and over 400 Holland & Barrett stores. The share anecdotes and tips from their experience and learning of going from farmers markets in to these retailer chains.


If you enjoy this best bite, please consider listening to the full episode.


If you have any suggestions for future episode topics, please email them to [email protected]


Follow Brandt and Micah:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandt-maybury/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/micah-carr-hill-34a91811/

Visit https://www.tastehead.com/ to learn more


Follow Mairi:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mairi-hilleary-0a4bba108/?originalSubdomain=uk

https://www.instagram.com/mergulobutter/

Launching a new contender in a well-established food category is never easy, but in this conversation, Mairi and Eliza share some invaluable lessons they've learned about securing that first listing and staying firmly on the map.

Timestamps:

00:44 Introducing Mergulo
02:14 Developing the Recipe
04:00 The Strengths of Working with Friends and Family
06:37 Making Vegan Butter as Non-Vegans
09:50 Founder’s Story
13:22 Mergulo’s Biggest Challenge
16:14 Core Values
20:01 Behind the Name ‘Mergulo’
21:40 Versatility (Not Just a Spread)
23:22 Journey from Food Markets to 485 Holland & Barrett Stores
27:17 The Benefits of Sampling
30:43 The Future of Mergulo
31:48 Mergulo’s 5 Top Tips for Start-Ups
34:56 Wrap Up Questions and Recommendations 

If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing.


If you have any suggestions for future episode topics, please email them to [email protected]


Follow Brandt and Micah:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandt-maybury/

The government imposed Sugar Levy that came into effect in 2018 changed the face of the sugar-sweetened soft drinks dramatically. Drinks that used added sugar and hit a sugar content of 5% or over would have to pay 18p per litre of drink, and 24p if they surmounted 8%.
 

Listen to Micah talk about how how most brand responded to this, and the reason Cawston Press chose the route that they did.


If you enjoy this best bite, please consider listening to the full episode.


If you have any suggestions for future episode topics, please email them to [email protected]


Follow Brandt and Micah:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandt-maybury/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/micah-carr-hill-34a91811/

Visit https://www.tastehead.com/ to learn more

In this episode the guys are spilling the beans (and a little sauce) on the most common mistakes that they see time and again from new food and drinks brands entering the industry. 

From trying to please everyone (spoiler: you can't) to underestimating timelines (it always takes longer than you think), they've got the inside scoop. Plus, they'll serve up advice on everything from supplier negotiations to making sure your product and brand are a match made in heaven.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction
03:44 Trying to be Everything to Everyone 
06:32 Don’t be too Fixed to Anything 
08:39 Don’t be too Pushy with Manufacturers or Suppliers 
12:15 Thinking about the Costs Early On
15:20 Underestimating Timelines 
18:09 Don't Always Just Follow the Heard
21:56 Looking into the Legislation before you get Started
23:52 Don’t make too many Assumptions 
26:21 Understanding the Relationship between the Product and Brand
27:51 Product Developers need to be Present at the Trial 
30:50 Always have a Timeline (Stay Flexible)
33:03 The Novel Foods List
35:38 The Final Development recipe not being the recipe that comes out of the factory 
37:56 Don’t Launch with too many SKUs

If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing.


If you have any suggestions for future episode topics, please email them to [email protected]


Follow Brandt and Micah:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandt-maybury/

In today's episode, we're catching up with Zara Godfrey, the powerhouse behind Pupkip. In the few short months since its launch, Pupkip's chocolate-dipped frozen bananas have turned into a must-have, so much so that they've got a dedicated following. A single weekend had 14,000 people lining up outside Whole Foods just for a taste. Not content with just conquering the UK, Pupkip is already making a splash in Dubai too.

The Tastehead team had the pleasure of working on the product development with Zara (with many an hour spent on Zoom calls with the factory in Ecuador) to perfect the trio of flavours that have become the hallmark of Pupkip's range. And it's paid off; Zara's relentless attention to detail and top-notch standards have not only made the bananas taste amazing but also earned them a coveted Great Taste Award in their first year on the market.

Join Brandt and Micah as they discuss the brand's journey with Zara, exploring the nitty-gritty of developing the products and tackling a multitude of challenges that came up along the way. They'll dig into what it's like to introduce a frozen snacking product to a discerning UK market, unveil the complexities of imports from Ecuador, and the hoops that had to be jumped through to make it all happen. Zara will also spill the beans on the bumps in the road they faced and the game-changing strategies that helped them succeed.

If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing.


If you have any suggestions for future episode topics, please email them to [email protected]


Follow Brandt and Micah:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandt-maybury/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/micah-carr-hill-34a91811/

Visit https://www.tastehead.com/ to learn more

Follow Zara:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-godfrey-n%C3%A9e-gugen-%F0%9F%8D%8C%F0%9F%8D%AB-26051723/

https://pukpip.com/


Find Pukpip at:
UK:
https://pukpip.com/find-us
https://vegankind.com/o/pukpip-organisation


Dubai:
https://www.kibsons.com/en/shopping/search?searchText=pukpip
https://www.spinneys.com/en-ae/search/?q=pukpip


Links mentioned:


Koji, Parsons Green - https://koji.restaurant/
Gola, Fulham - https://gola.london/
Freak Scene, Parsons Green - https://www.freakscenerestaurants.com/
Diary of a CEO - https://open.spotify.com/show/7iQXmUT7XGuZSzAMjoNWlX?si=4b63b077f4a244db
How I Built This - https://open.spotify.com/show/6E709HRH7XaiZrMfgtNCun

In a special role reversal, Micah Carr-Hill, normally a co-host of the podcast, joins Brandt as a guest to discuss his role as Head of Taste at Cawston Press.

 This episode also marks a milestone as it's the first to include video recording, with Micah serving as the guinea pig to test the recording setup (thanks, Micah) which can now be found on our YouTube channel, linked below. We'd love for you to check it out and leave a comment on the video! 

Micah shares his journey from his early days at Green & Black's to his current position at Cawston Press, a brand celebrated for its commitment to natural ingredients and exceptional taste. The episode delves deep into the intricacies of flavour development, balancing mainstream appeal with niche ingredients, and the importance of cost considerations, especially when dealing with premium products.

Micah offers his top five tips for anyone looking to start or grow a soft drinks brand in 2023, emphasising the need for a well-thought-out packaging strategy and clear messaging. 

From the challenges of large-scale manufacturing to the nuances of flavour development, this episode is packed with insights that will benefit anyone in the food and beverage industry. Tune in to hear what's next for Cawston Press and why both Brandt and Micah are eagerly anticipating the culinary delights of autumn.


If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing.

 
If you have any suggestions for future episode topics, please email them to [email protected]


Links Mentioned:

Cawston Press - https://cawstonpress.com/ 

Harold McGee, on Food and Cooking - https://www.wob.com/en-gb/books/harold-mcgee/mcgee-on-food-and-cooking-an-encyclopedia-of-kitchen-science-history-and-culture/9780340831496?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=18075688485&cq_con=&cq_med=pla&cq_plac=&cq_net=x&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7JOpBhCfARIsAL3bobflvAciT-K3pYhLyDM7Ojj0odMWoaPjjx6Z9tGSeSROVqeiK_TidiMaArxaEALw_wcB#GOR003701985 

Tim Spector, Diet Myth - https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-diet-myth/professor-tim-spector/9781474619301 

Tim Spector, Food for Life - https://www.waterstones.com/book/food-for-life/tim-spector/9781787330498 

Zoe - https://zoe.com/ 

Noize - https://www.noize-restaurant.co.uk/ 

Hedone (closed) - https://www.instagram.com/hedonelondon/?hl=en&img_index=1

Dastaan - https://dastaan.co.uk/ 

Follow Brandt and Micah:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandt-maybury/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/micah-carr-hill-34a91811/


Visit https://www.tastehead.com/ to learn more

This episode is an interview with Joe Woolf, co-founder of the vegan gummy brand, Tasty Mates. Joe and Nick were early clients at Tastehead, back in 2019, when they reached out to Brandt and Micah for help in developing a new range of gummies that were plant-based, naturally delicious, and part of a brand that existed to make a positive impact in the world and the idea of us all looking after our mates.

The brand is now listed across the UK, USA, Canada and Australia by the end of the year, selling over 100,000 units every month. Not bad for a brand that launched at the start of the global pandemic. 

In this episode, Brandt and Joe talk through the strategy and struggles of securing the all-important first round of investment and the tireless work that goes into to the launch of a start-up food brand. They discuss the hard graft that the Joe and Nick went through setting up and producing themselves from their commercial kitchen and navigating the leap into large-scale manufacturing. The success doesn’t even stop at their launch into the USA, as they finish up by touching on what’s next in the pipeline for Tasty Mates, which doesn’t seem to be slowing any time soon! 

If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing.
 
 If you have any suggestions for future episode topics, please email them to [email protected] 

Find Joe and Tasty Mates at:

https://www.tastymates.co.uk/ 

https://www.instagram.com/tastymates/?hl=en 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-woolf-1a3514114/ 

https://www.ocado.com/browse?filters=tasty-mates-333142 

Links Mentioned: 

https://aquakyoto.co.uk/ 

https://www.waterstones.com/book/shoe-dog/phil-knight/9781471146725 

https://www.waterstones.com/book/do-the-kind-thing/daniel-lubetzky/9780553393248 

 Follow Brandt and Micah:
 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandt-maybury/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/micah-carr-hill-34a91811/

Visit https://www.tastehead.com/ to learn more.
 
 

This episode is an interview with Biff, the co-founder of Biff's Plant Shack. Biff and Brandt have been friends since their days spent flipping burgers at McDonald's as teenagers. Now, over 20 years later, they discuss how those formative years have shaped their careers, especially the plant-based entrepreneurial journey that Biff has been on since. 

Whilst still obsessed with fast food, he's now the Co-founder (alongside his wife, Christa) and namesake of the successful vegan junk food brand, Biff's. One of the first brands to bring jackfruit to the UK in the form of faux chicken wings, Biff's has been taking street food, food service and retail by storm since 2017, with disruptive, delicious plant-based innovations such as the first-to-market 'sugarcane bone' for their Crispy Fried Jackfruit Wingz.

In this episode, Biff and Brandt delve into the world of plant-based junk food, exploring the gap in the market that Biff discovered through his love of food and how it fuelled his success. They cover the span of Biff's journey as a brand, starting as a street food stall, entering the food delivery scene and their latest learnings and challenges of moving into FMCG retail. Biff also shares his top 5 tips for starting your own successful vegan brand in 2023.

Note: this episode was recorded back in September 2022.

Links Mentioned:
Restaurants:
Mother, Hackney Wick (now closed): https://www.instagram.com/mother.works/

Xi'an Biang Biang Noodles: https://xianbiangbiangnoodles.com/

Useful Tools:
Street Food Soliloquy, Starting and Running a UK Street Food Business: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Street-Food-Soliloquy-Starting-Business/dp/1511940050

Secret Leaders Podcast-  https://www.secretleaders.com/ 

Black Box Thinking: The Surprising Truth About Success, Matthew Syed - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Box-Thinking-Surprising-Success/dp/1473613779

Street Food USA, Netflix - https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81249665

Biffs at Sainsbury's - https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/SearchResults/biffs

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Find Biff at:
Biff's - https://biffs.co
Biff's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/biffs_uk/

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If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing. 

If you have any suggestions for future episode topics, please email them to [email protected]

Follow Brandt and Micah:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandt-maybury/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/micah-carr-hill-34a91811/

Visit https://www.tastehead.com/ to learn more.