In just three years, Jimmy’s Iced Coffee went from being a backroom experiment in a Dorest café to a recognised brand stocked by Ocado, Tesco and Whole Foods. Their strap line is ‘Keep Your Chin Up’ and is the foundation of what Jimmy’s is all about.
We caught up with their relentlessly energetic founder Jim Cregan to discuss the inspiration behind Jimmy’s Iced Coffee. Plus, we asked him to share some top tips from his Guardian Masterclass, which is designed to help people stop procrastinating and start their own food business.
What inspired you to set up Jimmy’s Iced Coffee?
An amazing iced coffee product in Australia planted the seed in my brain to make our own version here in the UK. The determination not to go back to my old job was also enough of an incentive to get cracking!
What’s the most important thing you’ve learned in your career?
You have to be absolutely, undoubtedly, 100% committed to your business idea. Don’t rush things. Research them, analyse them, discuss them - and then move.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
‘Do what makes your heart sing.’ Kevin Lane, The Shoestring Millionaire.
Why would people want to break into the food industry?
Food is a great industry as there are so many parts to get excited about - from branding and recipe design to packaging. There’s such a wide variety of things involved in launching a new product.
What question do you get asked again and again at your Guardian Masterclass? And how do you tend to respond?
What was the worst day of your journey? My answer is, thanks for bringing that up - followed by a short description of what it feels like to be in a lot of debt, coupled with an uncertain production partner. That was the worst part of the ride!
What tips would you give to people looking to launch a new food product on the market?
Make your branding eye-catching and timeless. You don’t want to change it! I’d also advise people to ask themselves what might make their product stand out on the shelf. Does it fill a gap in the market? Or is your product better than others?
What’s next for Jimmy’s Iced Coffee?
More fun, more awesome products, more awareness, more focus and a potentially incredible partnership.
Find out more about Jimmy’s Iced Coffee on their website and Twitter page.
Fancy setting up your own food business? Join Jim for his fun and informative evening masterclass. Browse our full range of business courses here.
