What a debut! Paul Brown as our first speaker for The Growth Hub
We had the pleasure of having Paul Brown, founder of BOL Foods, as our speaker for our first Growth Hub event. Paul is a huge fan of Juice and our community, offering support that goes far beyond just finance.
Before the event, Paul asked us what we wanted him to talk about, and honestly, all we wanted was for him to be real—share his entrepreneurial journey, the highs and lows, and how he made it to where he is today. While there’s often a lot of glamour associated with success, we all know the road is filled with challenges, and I knew our founders would really connect with that honesty.
And wow, did Paul deliver! His talk was incredibly inspiring for everyone in the room. He shared how his early experiences led him into the FMCG world, including his background at Innocent Drinks before founding BOL and growing it into the UK’s fastest-growing plant-based business.
Here’s a quick summary of Paul’s story:
Paul originally pursued a career in sports until a snowboarding injury shifted his focus. This led him to immerse himself in the Californian lifestyle, sparking his passion for fresh, healthy, and exciting food. That passion soon became a career when he joined Innocent Drinks, where he stayed for 14 years, eventually becoming the Director of the food division. During his time at Innocent, Paul launched the iconic 'Veg Pot', a product that redefined the UK ready meal market by introducing the first-ever fresh, healthy food option in that space.
In 2015, Paul left Innocent to embark on his new venture—BOL. BOL was founded with a purpose-driven mission: to help busy people feel their best through a triple bottom line approach—people, planet, and profit. Since then, BOL has made headlines by pivoting to 100% plant-based products and becoming one of the first UK FMCG brands to achieve B Corp status.
Nine years into their journey, Paul and his team continue to lead the category, driving innovation and excitement in the plant-based space. Their latest product range has been a game-changer for consumers.
After his presentation, Paul opened the floor to questions, which quickly turned into an engaging discussion where everyone had something to contribute. This, without a doubt, was the highlight of the evening. At Juice, we aim to build a community where everyone can learn from each other and forge new connections.