Since linking up with LittlePod a decade ago, Colin Mordi has established himself as a leading figurehead for BAME founders in the food and drink industry. Having set up Food Sauce Media and launched his popular Spill the Beans networking events in London, Colin is helping founders from black and ethnic minority backgrounds to connect with supermarket buyers, investors and industry insiders. Colin continues to take inspiration from the help, support and advice he received from Janet and, keen to find out more, Paul gave him a call this week. These are his words:

I have been working in the food and drink industry for the best part of a decade. I’ve learnt a lot during that time, not least that founders from black and ethnic minority backgrounds face significant challenges in trying to bring their products into the mainstream. We did some research and the statistics spoke for themselves. Our research found that just 7.1% of BAME founders in the food and drink space get start-up funding and just 0.02% of them are women. The black pound is worth billions to the UK economy each year so it’s obvious that something doesn’t add up.

It was from this research that our Spill the Beans events were born. I’ve been to lots of different networking events over the years, but there was nothing out there that was tailored for BAME founders in the food and drink industry. We found a niche and have filled a gap and our events are proving popular. We’re helping to open doors, getting the word out there and speeding up the process. I love to work with food founders from under-represented groups. It’s so rewarding to see that attitudes are changing, although there’s still a long way to go.

Spill the Beans are networking events in which we put people together in the same room and help them to start building relationships. We put BAME founders in front of supermarket buyers, retailers and investors to help them. We put together panels of people who have been on this journey themselves. Our events raise awareness and open lines of communication. People want different things – a supermarket listing or investment or just the chance to meet and collaborate with other people from black and ethnic minority backgrounds. We make that happen.

I’m passionate about helping people to realise their potential and get to where they’re trying to go. I’ve been there myself and I draw on that experience. In the beginning, Janet and LittlePod did this for me. She asked me difficult questions and was someone I could bounce ideas off. Janet was a big help to me, mentoring me and helping me on my journey. I’m trying to take this forward and use that experience to do the same for BAME founders in the food and drink industry. I know what it’s like when you’re first starting out. You need someone who believes in you.

Since those first conversations with Janet, I’ve grown. It has been a long journey. I think about where I’ve come from since I was running small-scale events for food bloggers, testing things out and seeing what did – and didn’t – work. It has all been built on relationships, getting to know people and working out how best to focus our efforts. We didn’t set out intending to focus on BAME founders. But that is how it has developed and where it has taken us. We have been working with some of these people and companies for years. But it’s only now that it is really starting to take off.

I’m inspired when I see products that people were selling from their homes and garages being stocked by the big retailers. There are no guarantees that you’ll end up on the supermarket shelves. But it’s great to be able to say, “Do you want to get to where this company is? Do you want to know how they did it? Come along to our next event.” We’re putting people together, making connections and doors are opening, albeit slowly. I’m so grateful to everyone who has supported us – including LittlePod – and helped us to reach this point.

LittlePod sponsored and supported some of our earliest events. I remember when Janet provided us with natural vanilla paste to use at a Pancake Day event for food bloggers and there were other events when she helped us with shortbread biscuits and vanilla ice cream. She was a great help in the beginning and I want to do the same for other people. BAME founders might need help setting up their brand or maybe some marketing assistance is required. This is where we come in and help to put the building blocks in place, just like Janet did all those years ago.

It can be frustrating for people. I speak to all the big supermarkets and they’re often receptive to my ideas, but they still need to be more proactive. There are loads of amazing products out there. But there is limited shelf space – I get that. It’s dog-eat-dog in the food and drink space, not least for BAME founders, and much more could still be done. That’s why we’re so passionate about Spill the Beans and so keen to keep our networking events going. We’re just working on our third one and, moving forward, we want to do a big conference – a summit. It’s so exciting.

I’m always telling the people I work with that small brands and companies can grow and achieve big things. LittlePod has proved that. Janet is a legend – she has done so much, I find it hard to keep up – and LittlePod has achieved great things over the years. This is what I’m taking forward into the work that I’m doing with BAME founders. It will take time but we will get there. We just need to stick together, support each other and continue on our journey. There are some amazing BAME founders and brands out there. Follow Food Sauce Media – and watch this space!