Andy Whitehead traded physics research for a technology company, sold that to Samsung, and then decided to jump into the food and beverage space with FigBrew - a coffee alternative made from roasted figs.
Unlike most early-stage CPG founders who work with co-packers, Andy has invested over $1 million into building his own production facility. He's even started his own fig farm, creating a vertically integrated operation from soil to shelf.
In this episode, we explore:
Why Andy chose to build his own production line instead of using co-packers (and when this makes sense)
The shocking sustainability statistics behind coffee (spoiler: your daily cup requires 20 trees per year)
How fig coffee uses 1/8th the water and 1/13th the carbon footprint of traditional coffee
Why "nobody pulls out their wallet for sustainability" - and what actually drives purchases
Lessons from selling his previous company to Samsung and building for acquisition from day one
How to transition from hard science thinking to the qualitative world of consumer insights
His favorite metric for measuring business health (hint: it's not what you think)
Whether you're considering in-house manufacturing, building a sustainable brand, or navigating an unconventional path into CPG, Andy's story offers a refreshing perspective on what it takes to build something lasting.
Guest Links:
FigBrew: figbrew.com
Andy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-whitehead-7653146
I hope you enjoyed this episode!
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– Nate and the Profits on Purpose podcast team
Connect with Nathan Littlewood on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanlittlewood/
Visit the Future Ready CFO website here: https://www.futurereadycfo.com/
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Welcome to the Profits on Purpose podcast, where we explore the journeys of purpose-led founders and the financial strategies that help them survive and thrive. Host Nate Littlewood sits down with eCommerce and CPG founders to unpack the real-life tension between a brand's mission and the practical realities of generating profit.