The Food Mentor
For those of you who know me, you would know I love working in this wonderful food industry, but I also love talking about it!The Food Mentor Podcast unravels innovative, insightful and insprirational stories from individuals and businesses from the food industry. If you are interested in developing or growing a food or beverage brand/business or you are a retail, food service, hospitality, distribution company or even a food industry service provider, then we have you covered. One thing is for sure when listening to The Food Mentor podcast, you will always meet someone interesting (virtually) and learn something new - guaranteed!
Episodes
31 episodes
Episode #31 - Big news for the convenience store and travel industries with the launch of the new “hot snacking” brand Go Snack.
In this episode of The Food Mentor Podcast we are chatting with the founder Milo Gaffney about this exciting new hot snacking brand Go Snack. Go Snack provides hot snacks conveniently packaged specifically for the convenience and tr...
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20:25
Episode #30 - Meet Jamie and Kim the founders of ILOVEUBABE XO exclusive womens collagen infused chocolates.
Hi everyone welcome back to The Food Mentor Podcast, I'm David J Burns your host.I’m delighted today to chat with Jamie and Kim the founders of ILOVEUBABE XO exclusive womens collagen infused chocolates.Perfect for gifting, beauty...
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25:26
Episode #29 Pistabella Pistachio Spread - the new spread that’s turning heads and taste buds.
It’s always very exciting in the food industry when a new segment comes along.Pistachio nuts are not new but Pistachio Spread certainly is.I’m delight today to welcome Fuad Baker the Sydney based founder of Pistabella Pistachio Sp...
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Episode 29
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24:04
Episode #28 - Lets celebrate Cubbyhouse Canteens 1st birthday. Bec and Narelle Thompson, the powerhouse sister duo chat through the highlights of their frantic first year as a start up.
Meet Bec and Narelle Thompson. The powerhouse sister duo who this month are celebrating their first birthday for the Cubbyhouse Canteen retail venture.The Cubbyhouse Canteen brand is a childrens lifestyle brand supporting youth mental he...
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26:56
Episode #27 - Meet Arianne Sackville: Founder of Bell and Bone, Revolutionizing Pet Health with Natural Nutrition
In this episode of The Food Mentor podcast, I’m chatting with Arianne Sackville, founder of Bell and Bone, a pet food brand all about healthy, natural ingredients for dogs. Arianne shares her career journey, beginning with her university days a...
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21:30
Episode #26 - Meet Juliet Barratt Co Founder of one of the UK's most successful FMCG brands Grenade.
It’s not often you get the opportunity to chat with a successful brand co founder that sold to a multinational for 200 Million Pounds just 10 years after launching their brand in the UK.The brand is of course Grenade. Launching in the UK...
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24:21
Episode #25 Meet Marie Hatzimihalis who founded Honest Gum 10 years ago in 2014.
Today we are talking all things chewing gum.But not any old chewing gum. A big welcome to Marie Hatzimihalis the founder of Honest Gum (other wise known as The Gum Girl) Honest Gum is the new frontier of chewing g...
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27:42
Episode #24 Meet the fascinating Tony Hunter, one of the worlds leading Food Futurists.
Today we are chatting with an industry colleague of mine Tony Hunter.I met Tony about 5 years ago and I must say my first chat with him was extremely fascinating to say the least.Tony lives in Brisbane here in Australia and is a F...
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34:56
Epsiode #23 Meet Brendan Lane Mullins the Australian at the helm of one of Asia’s leading hotels The Seminyak Resort and Spa in Bali.
This episode of the food mentor podcast takes a slight twist into the hospitality and hotel management world.On a recent business trip to Indonesia I met a fantastic Australian Brendan Lane Mullins the General Manager of Bali’s leadi...
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24:27
Episode #22 Meet Milo Gaffney - The Founder and Managing Director of Australia’s Outback Pie Company.
There’s never a dull moment in the food manufacturing world and this story is no different.Milo Gaffney has just celebrated his 20th Anniversary of The Outback Pie Company, having founded the business at the end of 2003 with his family.<...
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22:40
Episode #21 Meet the founders Joe and Cindy of Sevenoaks Catering and the all new Sevenoaks Foods retail brand. This Perth based couple are embarking on a journey to launch a retail brand after 10 years as a leading Perth corporate catering company.
Welcome back to the food mentor podcast I’m David Burns your host and today we are chatting to a delightful couple Cindy and Joe who are based in Sunny Perth, Australia. Cindy and Joe established Seven Oaks Catering 10 ...
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24:08
#19 The Parkrun 20 year journey is an amazing story of bringing local communities together to promote great physical and mental health. Today I’m chatting with Joanne Watkins the event director of Australia’s largest Parkrun at Albert Park.
In this crazy food and hospitality industry, (and for any industry for that matter), looking after our mental and physical health is critical. Introducing Parkrun https://www.parkrun.com.au/...
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27:36
#18 - Meet David Freeman the CEO and founder of H2COCO, one of the first coconut waters on the market here in Australia launching back in 2009. We chat through the journey and lessons learnt along the way!
Today I’m chatting with David Freeman, the founder and CEO of H2COCO. David is the pioneer of coconut water here in Australia having launched in 2009 so almost 15 yearsago. This is a great story of how David has not only held onto this mark...
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28:36
#17 - In this episode our hosts David and Zac outline the new product and brand development process. How much should it cost, how long should it take and what are all the key steps to reduce risk and get everything right first time.
We get asked this question a lot.How long does it take, how much does it cost and what is the best process to develop a new food/ beverage product from scratch? Regardless if you are a budding entrepreneur, a small - medium business or a...
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25:00
#16 - With a New Year comes new opportunities, with change being a key element on everyone's minds. This episode covers just that, with change management expert Friska Wirya from Fresh by Friska.
In this episode we are delighted to be chatting with Friska Wirya from Fresh by Friska.Friska has a wealth of experience in change management consulting and is a renowned thought leader in this space. She shares with us her key insights ...
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16:15
# 15 - In this Food Mentor episode we have mashed up the key highlights of our inaugural podcast year - 2023. Take a listen to these pearls of wisdom from some of our favourite guests throughout 2023.
Throughout 2023 Zac and I were very grateful to have met and chatted with some fabulous insightful guests.This mash up includes 2022 AFR fastest growing business David Andrew from Naked Life, The founder of Karma Bites Ashwin Ahuja, Tim ...
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26:49
#20 Yet another fabulous start up story. Introducing Nana Kwarteng who has developed a fabulous new brand Nana Africa. Nana Africa combines the flavours, colours and aromas of Ghana, West Africa.
Nana Kwarteng is a delightful Ghanaian lady who has lived in Melbourne for 20 years.She has always been very passionate about bringing Ghanaian flavours, aromas and culture to Australian shores.The initial range of Nana Africa meat and ...
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26:59
#14 - Meet Leanne White - Coles Supermarkets General Manager of Grocery Merchandise. What a fabulous insight into the world of one of Australia’s largest retailers - Coles Supermarkets
I was lucky enough to work with Leanne White at BP Australia between 2006-2009 during a transformational period. We were both with Coles at the same time also.Leanne is very talented and it’s absolutely no surprise she has enjoyed a fabulou...
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24:34
#13 - This is a fabulous thought provoking chat with Tima Elhajj from Tima Media about utilising your personal brand, purpose and then unlocking amazing content to engage with your desired audience and customers.
This really is a fabulous thought provoking chat with Tima Elhajj which challenges the norm for entrepreneurs and CEO’s when it comes to their personal brand and purpose. Tima says that when you are clear on these two pieces i...
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27:48
#12 - Surprise and delight in 2024 and beyond with new products and brands that get noticed! David and Zac from DJB Food group share their views on the categories and segments to play in for 2024 and beyond and how best to go about it.
In 2023, the clients we work with will have achieved 50mil in retail sales from products and brands we have helped develop in the prior 12-24 months.How?Because we know where to play and then how to pull the pin on the differentia...
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34:48
#11 - Meet Bec & Narelle, the founders of startup Cubbyhouse Canteen, the newest children's lifestyle brand just about to launch into retail
Cubbyhouse Canteen is Australia’s favourite Children's lifestyle brand which since 2010 has promoted kindness, community and connection to young people and their families through the Union Street Park Café in Armadale, a suburb in the South...
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23:05
#9 - Meet Tim and Liam, the co-founders of Bae Juice, a Korean pear juice drink you consume before you drink alcohol so you feel a little better the following morning.
In this episode we chat with Tim and Liam about their 4 year journey from idea to raising capital and kicking off in the USA. This really is a perfect example of the optimal path to take when it comes to developing, growing and then scali...
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33:52
#8 - Today DJB Food Group's Zac Smith chats with David J Burns about the importance of "brand" within the food industry.
In David's view, a great product is entry to the start line and a great brand is what will bring success.After listening to this podcast please check out our downloadable "7 secrets to developing a great brand " PDF in our Creme Design l...
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21:19
#7 - Meet Josh Klein from Social Status. Australia's leading social media agency developing winning digital strategies for the food and beverage industry.
In this episode of the Food Mentor Podcast we are chatting with Josh Klein, the founder and managing director of Social Status.Social Status is a Melbourne based social media agency developing fabulous unique content for local and intern...
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29:51
#6 - Meet Steve Plarre - CEO and generation #4 of Fergusson Plarre Bakehouses. If you run a bakery or cafe then this episode is for you given Fergusson Plarre was established in 1901.
Today we are chatting with Steve Plarre the CEO and generation number 4 of Fergusson Plarre.A fabulous listen for any cafe, bakery, retail store, food brand or manufacturer! This is great story of rich family heritage dating ...
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21:36