Business
without
bullsh-t
“Candid, no-nonsense conversations about the world of business, minus the jargon.”
EP 429 — Two brothers turn British honey into a fast‑growing drinks brand while fighting cheap imports and scaling on a shoestring.
Hive Mind Mead Co went from brewing in a garage to landing listings with Selfridges, Co‑op and top restaurants — all while protecting UK beekeeping and battling a drinks industry full of shortcuts. Kit explains the real cost pressures, the rebrand fight, and the constant juggle of production, stock and authenticity.
They dig into the practical decisions behind scaling a physical product: pricing under duty pressure, navigating retailers, managing 180 hives, and avoiding the traps that sink early‑stage drinks businesses. No fluff — just the reality of turning a hobby into a viable UK brand.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
• Price a craft product when duty dwarfs ingredients
• Decide when to rebrand and how to manage the pain
• Spot BS in food and drink manufacturing
• Use small batches as a smart marketing tool
• Scale a physical product without wrecking margins
Perfect for UK founders building a physical product or anyone curious about growing an authentic drinks brand without losing your soul.
*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*
Spotify Video Chapters:
0:00 Starting with too many products
02:30 From geologist and designer to mead makers
06:30 What mead actually is
11:00 Turning a hobby into a business
14:00 The rebrand fight: Y Valley Meadery to Hive Mind
18:00 Retailers, awards and credibility
23:00 Honey sourcing, supply and UK provenance
27:00 Bee health, climate and the rural economy
32:00 Alcohol duty and margins
34:30 Launching honey‑based soft drinks
38:00 Industry shortcuts and authenticity
43:00 Courses, community and brand building
46:00 Business or BS
55:00 Scaling a physical product
57:30 Where to find Hive Mind Mead
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"Having a dog in the office increases productivity"
Business
Bulls-t
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“We are looking at a bridging round of funding”
Translation:
I’m staring at the bank balance and we have literally run out of money.
BWB Explains: A bridging round is a quick injection of cash to tide you over in terms of cash until you close your next round of fundraising. See also “Burn Rate” and “Runway”
Meet our team…
By day partners in Oury Clark, a pioneering UK professional services firm, by night (well early evening usually) podcast hosts extraordinaire. Lawyers and Accountants, but not as you know them.
