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 years ago and it has now become one of Australia’s leading corporate catering businesses supply 1000’s of platters a month of delicious fair to Perth’s corporate community.

Of course it is now perfect timing to create a retail brand and packaged offer to help fuel the future growth of this fabulous business.

Lets chat with Cindy and Joe about their plans to launch their new retail brand and how they plan to diversify into a packaged retail range.

Their website here:

www.sevenoakscatering.com.au

I hope you enjoy this podcast.

This episode of the Food Mentor podcast is brought to you by Naturally Good, Australia's leading event for natural & healthy products, connecting brands with retail buyers.

Looking for the latest natural products? Then you won't want to miss the Naturally Good expo at the ICC Sydney, 3-4 June.

Over the two days, you can explore the most sought-after healthy products, connect with top brands and industry innovators, and gain key insights into the latest consumer trends.

Registration is FREE! So grab your ticket now to make sure you don't miss the retail industry's must-attend event: https://naturallygood.com.au/register-2024/

David Burns is also the founder of DJB Food Group and Creme design helping manufacturers, brands and entrepreneurs develop innovative new products and brands to supply into retail. Also see davidjburns speaker, because we love talking about this industry.

Would you like to be a guest on our show or sponsor an episode to reach your target audience?
Connect with us anytime david@djbfoodgroup.com

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/

The Parkrun story is nothing short of amazing, and in 2024 celebrates its 20 year anniversary.

Parkrun for me personally has been a key part of my life for over 10 years now.

Parkrun is a free 5km timed event where you can run, walk, volunteer or spectate for free, every Saturday morning.

Parkrun Kicked off in 2004 with 13 runners in a park in London and has now blossomed into a movement of 2000 Parkruns in 22 countries with 500 events in Australia each Saturday morning.

Meet Joanne Watkins, the event director of Australia’s largest Parkrun event at Albert Park, in Melbourne. https://www.parkrun.com.au/albertmelbourne/

Today Joanne and I chat through the Parkrun story and the many recent broken records including the 1 millionth person to cross the line.

This is a fabulous chat incorporating hilarious stories and anecdotes but of most importance the story of kindness and bringing local diverse communities together as one.

I really hope you enjoy this podcast.

This episode of The Food Mentor Podcast is brought to you by the Naturally Good Trade Show. Australia’s only natural and organic trade show, connecting brands with retail buyers and much more.

Get ready! Naturally Good returns to the ICC Sydney on 3rd & 4th June.

It’s the ultimate trade show for natural and organic products where you can shine in front of top retail buyers.

Don’t miss your moment.

All the details are in the link here.

https://naturallygood.com.au/get-involved/exhibit/

David Burns is also the founder of DJB Food Group and Creme design helping manufacturers, brands and entrepreneurs develop innovative new products and brands to supply into retail. Also see davidjburns speaker, because we love talking about this industry.

Would you like to be a guest on our show or sponsor an episode to reach your target audience?
Connect with us anytime david@djbfoodgroup.com

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 years
ago. This is a great story of how David has not only held onto this market leading position but also how he has cleverly diversified into other beverage
segments. David also chats through the importance of having a sustainability
focus as a key part of his brand. I hope you enjoy this podcast.

This episode of The Food Mentor Podcast is brought to you by the Naturally Good Trade Show. Australia’s only natural and organic trade show, connecting brands with retail buyers and much more.

Get ready! Naturally Good returns to the ICC Sydney on 3rd & 4th June.

It’s the ultimate trade show for natural and organic products where you can shine in front of top retail buyers.

Don’t miss your moment.

All the details are in the link here.

https://naturallygood.com.au/get-involved/exhibit/

David Burns is also the founder of DJB Food Group and Creme design helping manufacturers, brands and entrepreneurs develop innovative new products and brands to supply into retail. Also see davidjburns speaker, because we love talking about this industry.

Would you like to be a guest on our show or sponsor an episode to reach your target audience?
Connect with us anytime david@djbfoodgroup.com

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 large multinational organisation- the same detail applies.

Zac and I have some fun with this one given we are well qualified to get into the detail of this exciting topic.

I hope you enjoy this podcast.

This episode of the Food Mentor podcast is brought to you by Naturally Good Australia’s only natural and organic trade show connecting brands with retail buyers. Do you have an innovative product in the natural space? You can now enter the 2024 Naturally Good Awards. Easy entry, lots of brand exposure, and a chance to win a promotional package to the value of $5k, and more! Find out more or enter here > naturallygood.com.au/whats-on/awards

David Burns is also the founder of DJB Food Group and Creme design helping manufacturers, brands and entrepreneurs develop innovative new products and brands to supply into retail. Also see davidjburns speaker, because we love talking about this industry.

Would you like to be a guest on our show or sponsor an episode to reach your target audience?
Connect with us anytime david@djbfoodgroup.com

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 surrounding change strategies for organisations and budding entrepreneurs. Technological advancements are providing unique opportunities for businesses to change and adapt, and we chat through these exciting topics plus more! With the new year ramping up, this is the perfect time to consider change to improve our businesses and organisations. I hope you enjoy this podcast.

David Burns is also the founder of DJB Food Group and Creme design helping manufacturers, brands and entrepreneurs develop innovative new products and brands to supply into retail. Also see davidjburns speaker, because we love talking about this industry.

Would you like to be a guest on our show or sponsor an episode to reach your target audience?
Connect with us anytime david@djbfoodgroup.com

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 and Liam from Bae Juice, a personal branding lesson from Tima Elhajj and more recently The Coles grocery GM Leanne White.

Zac and I also chat through the rise of NUFFIN dips along with the optimal approach to develop new products and brands to help you win in 2024.

Of course we kick off this mash up with our now famous April Fools day prank and the launch of our new airline “Nosh Air”

A 30 minute powerhouse episode to inspire you into 2024.

Of course, please also take a listen to any of the 14 full episodes here.

I hope you enjoy this mash up style Podcast brought to you by NUFFIN dips.

Australia’s 1st delicious dip range in a paper tub with no preservatives.

NUFFIN is better for the planet.

David Burns is also the founder of DJB Food Group and Creme design helping manufacturers, brands and entrepreneurs develop innovative new products and brands to supply into retail. Also see davidjburns speaker, because we love talking about this industry.

Would you like to be a guest on our show or sponsor an episode to reach your target audience?
Connect with us anytime david@djbfoodgroup.com

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 seafood spice rubs really do look and taste amazing and I’m sure the splash of colour and pazaz is well needed within the current supermarket spice section.

Nana and I talk through the Ghanaian and West African culture and the plan to put this region of the world on the culinary map.

I hope you enjoy this episode of The Food Mentor Podcast.

This episode of The Food Mentor Podcast is brought to you by the Naturally Good Trade Show.

Australia’s only natural and organic trade show, connecting brands with retail buyers and much more.

Get ready! Naturally Good returns to the ICC Sydney on 3rd & 4th June.

It’s the ultimate trade show for natural and organic products where you can shine in front of top retail buyers.

Don’t miss your moment.

All the details are in the link here.

https://naturallygood.com.au/get-involved/exhibit/

David Burns is also the founder of DJB Food Group and Creme design helping manufacturers, brands and entrepreneurs develop innovative new products and brands to supply into retail. Also see davidjburns speaker, because we love talking about this industry.

Would you like to be a guest on our show or sponsor an episode to reach your target audience?
Connect with us anytime david@djbfoodgroup.com

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 fabulous career with Coles having looked after 6 different categories prior to being appointed as General Manager Grocery Merchandise almost 4 years ago.
In this chat we cover a lot of ground from the gender equality evolution and women in retail to how Leanne and the team love talking to new suppliers about new products and brands, and much more!

I hope you enjoy this podcast.

David Burns is also the founder of DJB Food Group and Creme design helping manufacturers, brands and entrepreneurs develop innovative new products and brands to supply into retail. Also see davidjburns speaker, because we love talking about this industry.

Would you like to be a guest on our show or sponsor an episode to reach your target audience?
Connect with us anytime david@djbfoodgroup.com