Q & A with Rachel Kettlewell, Founder of Fearne & Rosie

What do you love most about the brand you’ve created? 

I love that at Fearne and Rosie we have created a purpose driven brand that delivers on taste as well as health.

I love meeting our customers and hearing the things that they love about Fearne & Rosie.

Have you always wanted to work in this industry?

Not at all… I don’t think I really knew working in food was an option! I was a teacher before I founded Fearne & Rosie.

I’ve just always wanted to help other people which perhaps sounds a little ridiculous… but it’s true.

What are you most proud of? 

I’m definitely the most proud when I see the way the work that we do impacts on other people.

Working with schools, with charitable partners like FareShare and BBC Children in Need

On a personal note, I’m proud that an idea I had for better quality jams now has a place in people’s homes and that I’m starting to build a business that can help to make a positive impact. 

What advice would you give to someone keen to start a business but unsure where to begin?

Talk to your friends. Friends are great to share ideas with they’ll be your biggest cheerleaders, your harshest critics and the ones who’ll remind you to keep going especially when it does get tough and you start to question your own sanity… ha!

Who is one of your biggest inspirations – either professionally or personally?

Personally, it’s my parents and my grandparents who have always shown me that it is important to work hard but that ultimately family comes first.

Professionally, I’ll say Pip Murray of Pip & Nut fame, Emma Heal who is flying at Lucky Saint and Giles Brook, our first Fearne & Rosie investor who always inspires me to push everything a little further and work to be the best that I can be.

If you could attribute your success to anyone who gave you your big break?

We wouldn’t be where we are today without the early support and continuous backing of Waitrose and partners.

The team there go above and beyond to help and I’m grateful for all of the time and additional support we have had as a small supplier.

What’s the hardest thing about your job?

When things go wrong or I know that people aren’t happy.

We are a small, tiny business and despite our best endeavours we can’t do everything.

I find it hard when I’d like us to do things differently but at the moment we are too little to do all the things we hope we can do one day.

Which part of your job do you most enjoy?

Ahhh- anything to do with people. Hearing customer feedback, spending time with our retail partners and working with our team. I’m happy when other people are happy.

Do you find it easy to balance work and play?

I’ve recently changed my working pattern to officially reduce my hours over the school holidays.

The plan is that this will mean I have more time with my children and a little less guilt about balancing work commitments.

I think it’s important that I model flexible working in business but also to my children… wish me luck!