Nicola O'Rourke, the legend behind Aotearoa's favorite brands, discusses her career and offers vital advice for building brands and businesses. Topics include the value of a great product in marketing and branding, the growth of Lewis Road Creamery through collaboration and strategic decision-making, supporting New Zealand's food and beverage industry, the challenges of capital in FMCG, and the importance of advisory boards and rotating skills in organizations.
Scaling and growing New Zealand brands globally is crucial for the success of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) startups.
Having support structures like advisory boards can provide specialized expertise and accelerate growth for FMCG startups.
Deep dives
Success in CPD New Zealand on the world stage
Nicola O'Vourke of Founders Advisory is optimistic about the future of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) in New Zealand. She believes that in the next five years, there will be significant success stories in the industry. Nicola emphasizes the importance of scaling and growing New Zealand brands globally. She highlights the need for capital, expertise, and acceleration to help FMCG startups thrive in new markets. Additionally, she mentions the value of face-to-face interactions and the energy it brings to brand building. Nicola also underscores the role of governance and advises startups to have a voice that represents the customer and consumer market orientation to create value in branded consumer businesses.
The role of New Zealand in branding
While Nicola acknowledges that New Zealand's natural resources, such as quality soil and grass, play a vital role in certain products like grass-fed butter, she points out that the relevance of the 'New Zealand' aspect varies across different FMCG brands. She states that unless New Zealand has a clear impact on the product and its consumer experience, it is not a crucial factor. Nevertheless, Nicola highlights that New Zealand has a quirky appeal and can help open doors and create unique opportunities in international markets. She also mentions the significance of leveraging New Zealand as a spiritual home and the starting point for global expansion.
The value of advisory boards in FMCG startups
Nicola stresses the importance of having support structures, such as advisory boards or advisory board members, for FMCG startups. She mentions that startups require acceleration and hands-on guidance rather than strict governance in the early stages. Advisory boards can provide specialized expertise, assist in strategic decision-making, and support the organizational sprint towards growth. Nicola also emphasizes the need to adapt the advisory board composition as the business evolves to ensure consistent value acceleration.
Defining success in the FMCG industry
For Nicola and Founders Advisory, success lies in the emergence of New Zealand FMCG brands as major players on the global stage. This could involve building highly valuable businesses that get acquired or becoming the next half-billion-dollar brand over time. Nicola envisions New Zealand's FMCG industry reaching new heights and driving growth in the country's exports. She expresses excitement about the imminent success of the industry and its potential impact on the international stage.
Nicola O’Rourke led Lewis Road Creamery into America and is now helping companies like Pals, Compostic, Comvita, Cleanery and Grater Goods as they take on the world. She discusses all aspects of her career and gives vital advice for anyone building their brand, products or businesses.