The Explosive Growth of Grenade: From Garage to Global with Juliet Barratt

In this episode of Screw It Just DO It, my friend Jeannette Linfoot sat down with Juliet Barratt, co-founder of Grenade, in a fireside chat recorded live at the Festival of Entrepreneurs. Juliet shares how she went from being a teacher who hated structure to building one of the UK’s fastest-growing performance nutrition brands and selling it to Mondelez for £200 million.

Juliet is honest, practical, and refreshingly self-aware. She talks about the reality of starting with no money, working from a freezing warehouse, and learning through mistakes. She explains why branding matters more than hype, how hiring the right people transforms a business, and how to know when to let go.

This episode is packed with real advice for founders who are scaling, thinking of exiting, or simply trying to find their next move. Juliet reminds us that success isn’t about the number in the bank but the freedom to choose how you spend your days.

Key Takeaways:
Build a brand, not just a product: Identity creates longevity.
Hire for attitude, not just skill: The right mindset drives growth.
Remember why you started: Belief carries you through the hard days.
Prepare for the exit emotionally: Purpose matters after the sale.
Define success on your own terms: Freedom is the real goal.

🎧 New episodes of Screw It Just DO It drop every Tuesday & Thursday, so make sure you follow wherever you listen. You’ll hear real conversations with founders who’ve taken a risk, built something from scratch, and figured it out along the way.

Stay connected at www.festivalofentrepreneurs.co.uk and follow @festivalofentrepreneurs for news, updates, and future events.

Real entrepreneurs. Real stories. Real strategies.

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00:42 Meet Juliet Barratt at Festival of Entrepreneurs
02:05 From Teacher to Entrepreneur
03:12 Starting Grenade with Alan Barratt
05:36 Naming the Brand and Finding Identity
08:06 Creating the First Product
10:59 The First Key Hire That Changed Everything
13:45 Scaling Up and Building the Right Team
16:26 Expanding Internationally
18:30 Deciding to Sell Grenade
21:18 Selling to Mondelez and Life After Exit
23:54 Finding Purpose Beyond Business
26:49 Non-Executive Roles and Giving Back
28:32 The Importance of Role Models in Entrepreneurship
30:12 Advice for Aspiring Founders
32:01 Closing Thoughts and Reflections

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