20 minutes with...

DEAN ATTWELL

Building a global food supply chain business from a standing start might sound like a carefully planned journey. For Dean Attwell, it began with survival. In this episode, Dean joins Eimear Andersen to share the story behind Oakland International, from the collapse of the family farming business to spotting an unexpected opportunity in frozen storage and building from there. He reflects on how the business evolved without a clear strategy in its early years, why identifying gaps in the market became central to growth and the lessons learned from both success and failure, including early international expansion and costly missteps. The conversation explores leadership, culture and decision-making from taking calculated risk, the importance of failing fast and learning quickly, and why creating an environment where people feel trusted and supported is critical to long-term success. He also discusses the role of innovation, the changing dynamics of the food supply chain and the opportunities emerging for smaller producers and direct-to-consumer models. A conversation about building from nothing, reinvention and how opportunity often emerges when there is no plan at all. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

DARREN NICKELS

Retail technology is evolving quickly, but for many retailers the challenge is knowing which tools genuinely add value - and which simply add complexity. For Darren Nickels, that balance has shaped more than two decades working at the intersection of retail and technology. In this episode, Darren speaks to Eimear Andersen about the origins and growth of Henderson Technology, a business built from the practical needs of retailers within the Henderson Group in Northern Ireland. He explains how systems such as EPOS platforms, self-checkouts and electronic shelf edge labels have evolved from simple operational tools into critical parts of how modern convenience and forecourt stores manage efficiency, pricing and customer experience. The conversation explores how retailers should approach major technology decisions, the importance of choosing long-term partners rather than short-term fixes and why integration between systems is essential if retailers are to realise the full benefits of automation. Darren also reflects on emerging trends, from digital engagement and loyalty to the growing role of robotics and artificial intelligence in stores. A discussion about complexity, partnership and why the best retail technology is often the technology customers never notice. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

CAROLINE COOKSON

Margins are tightening, customers are more price-sensitive and costs continue to rise across the retail supply chain. In that environment, pricing has become one of the most important - and often misunderstood - decisions retailers make. In this episode, Caroline Cookson speaks to Eimear Andersen about the psychology, strategy and practical realities of pricing in today’s retail landscape. Drawing on a career that spans finance, strategy and commercial leadership at global spirits company Brown-Forman, Caroline explains why many businesses fall into the trap of chasing volume rather than protecting value and why cutting prices too quickly can often damage profitability. The conversation explores how retailers should think about value versus price, why premium pricing can sometimes increase trust and where hidden profit often sits within a product range. Caroline also discusses the idea of “reassuringly expensive” pricing, the role of promotions and how understanding customer behaviour should sit at the centre of every pricing decision. A conversation about pricing strategy, customer psychology and why the most successful retailers focus on value rather than simply being the cheapest. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

RICARDO AMORIM

Technology, data ownership and the race to control the last mile are reshaping how retailers reach their customers. For Ricardo Amorim, that shift has been more than a trend. In this episode, Ricardo speaks to Eimear Andersen about the evolution of Stuart, the B2B last-mile delivery specialist operating across the UK and Europe. He explains how services such as Iceland’s in-store “cart drop” model are blending physical retail with rapid delivery, allowing customers to shop in person and have groceries delivered within hours. As delivery moves from a “nice to have” to a core strategic function, Ricardo argues that retailers must retain ownership of their customer data and delivery channels to remain competitive. The conversation also explores compliance, including Challenge 25 age-restricted sales, and how improved technology and process design can significantly raise audit pass rates. Ricardo reflects on trust, sustainability and the growing expectation of speed — alongside emerging questions around drones and future infrastructure. A discussion about control, customer promise and why last-mile delivery is no longer optional for modern retail. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

DAVID SANDS

Family retail heritage, fresh food innovation and a growing obsession with AI might not seem like an obvious combination. For David Sands, they are all part of the same story about how independent convenience retail is evolving. In this episode, David speaks to Eimear Andersen about growing up in a fifth-generation retail family, launching David’s Kitchen in 2014 and reshaping the traditional convenience model around food-to-go, in-store production and constant experimentation. With more than a third of sales now coming from products made within the business, he explains the commercial opportunities, and the operational challenges, of scaling fresh food profitably. David also reflects on leadership and longevity in retail. He talks candidly about lessons learned managing people, the importance of community and local suppliers and why independent retailers still have an edge when they adapt quickly and stay close to their customers. Technology is an increasingly central part of that evolution. From analysing sales data to shaping new product ideas, David describes how AI is now influencing decisions across his business.  A conversation about building profitable fresh food, backing your instincts and why there are still huge opportunities ahead for independents willing to rethink what convenience retail can be. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.