You, Me & CPG by Haines McGregor - ‘Whatever You Do…Just Get In The Arena’ - HUGH THOMAS: Leaning Into Founding Fear With Ugly Drinks, Disruption At Heinz And Making Magic With Vita Coco And TOTMC. Pure Gold. #1

‘Whatever You Do…Just Get In The Arena’ - HUGH THOMAS: Leaning Into Founding Fear With Ugly Drinks, Disruption At Heinz And Making Magic With Vita Coco And TOTMC. Pure Gold. #1

09/20/23 • 57 min

Welcome to You, Me & CPG - the podcast series that delves deep beyond the label and learns from the people behind the products.

We’re kicking the series off with a guest who’s no stranger to launch-day success, selling 10,000 bags of coffee on Top of the Mornin’ Coffee’s very first day of re-launch, earlier this year...

With a career steeped in entrepreneurial brand spirit underpinned with a restlessness and relentless for improvement, it’s a pleasure to welcome Hugh Thomas onto the series premiere as he shares the importance of empathy, leaning into fear, and dedication to your mission.

This episode covers

● How Top of the Mornin’ sold 10 thousand bags of coffee on Day One

● Reflecting on the turbulent success and downfall of his brand, ‘Ugly

● Being an outlier and a disrupter at Kraft-Heinz and Vita Coco

● Whether the US West Coast is the birthplace of many CPG trends

● Branding as the confluence of art, science and vision

Jamie Holtum: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-holtum-85b79634/
Learn more and follow the journey at: https://www.hainesmcgregor.co.uk/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/haines-mcgregor/
https://www.instagram.com/hainesmcgregor

Welcome to You, Me & CPG - the podcast series that delves deep beyond the label and learns from the people behind the products.

This episode covers

● How Top of the Mornin’ sold 10 thousand bags of coffee on Day One

● Reflecting on the turbulent success and downfall of his brand, ‘Ugly

● Being an outlier and a disrupter at Kraft-Heinz and Vita Coco

● Whether the US West Coast is the birthplace of many CPG trends

● Branding as the confluence of art, science and vision

Previous Episode

Welcome to the You, Me & CPG Podcast

Welcome to You, Me & CPG, the podcast brought to you by Haines McGregor, a brand strategy and innovation partner to some of the biggest and coolest brands in the world.
Your host, Jamie Holtum, will take you beyond the label to uncover the brilliant minds behind your favourite products. This pod is about the personal as much as the professional - how do certain people in the industry rise so quickly? Make such creative impact? Do things with brands that we can just sit back and admire?
We'll spread across the CPG world, from food and drink to beauty and lifestyle, from the CEO to the Founder to the Rising Star. With marketing, innovation, sales & growth all hot topics.
Perhaps you're in the CPG industry, want to break into it or simply learn from it. If you're striving to get ahead, get creative and make a difference - either way this is the podcast for you.

Next Episode

undefined - ‘Does It Make The Actual Boat Go Faster?’ – OLLIE PALMER On Winning The Talisker Atlantic Challenge And How That Mentality Led him From Drinks Giant, Diageo, to Start Up, Caleño and Beyond. #2

‘Does It Make The Actual Boat Go Faster?’ – OLLIE PALMER On Winning The Talisker Atlantic Challenge And How That Mentality Led him From Drinks Giant, Diageo, to Start Up, Caleño and Beyond. #2

Ollie Palmer’s decorated career isn’t limited to startup success and roles with industry leaders, but athletic prowess.

From 10 years at Diageo to an influential journey so far with Caleño Drinks, Ollie’s adventure knows no bounds, whether in the CPG space or otherwise...

We catch up with Ollie as he shares the experiences from within the biggest drinks brand in the world, how to disrupt a space that’s ripe for the taking, and what makes the perfect background for a startup CEO.

This episode covers

The business lessons from Ollie’s remarkable rowing achievements, and humility around them
Disruption in the non-alcoholic spirits space
Sales vs marketing as a CEO’s background
Separating success from money and titles
Ollie’s inspirational approach to the ‘5 year plan’