Retail Ready Podcast

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: - Personal branding, what do people say about you when you leave the room? - The power and opportunities of Linkedin - Workplace culture and quiting your job. - 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 Elements tea, Julis Hirsch. Julie is has such 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.