Fireside Chat with Stu Macdonald, founder of ManiLife
Building a Food Brand: An Honest Conversation with Stu Macdonald and Bonnie Chung
What does it really take to build a successful food and drink business?
Join Stu Macdonald, founder of award-winning peanut butter brand ManiLife, and Bonnie Chung, LSE Generate's Food & Beverage Entrepreneur in Residence, for a candid fireside chat exploring the realities of building, scaling and sustaining a consumer food brand.
Since launching ManiLife, Stu has grown the business from a challenger startup into one of the UK's most recognisable premium peanut butter brands, securing nationwide retail listings, building a loyal customer following and disrupting an established category with a distinctive product and brand. Along the way, he's navigated the challenges every F&B founder faces: from cash flow to operations, from retail to hiring, including supply chains, competition and the relentless demands of growth.
Joining him is Bonnie Chung, entrepreneur, founder and food industry expert. As LSE Generate's Food & Beverage Entrepreneur in Residence, Bonnie has spent years building and advising food businesses, supporting founders through the practical realities of product development, market entry, brand building and scaling.
Together, they'll have a deep, honest and unfiltered conversation about what life is really like behind the scenes of a growing food business.
If you're launching your a food product, growing a consumer brand, or simply curious about the entrepreneurial journey, this session will offer hard-won lessons, practical insights and a rare opportunity to hear two experienced food entrepreneurs discuss the realities of building a business with complete honesty.
Bring your questions and prepare for a conversation that goes far beyond the headlines.