HUNGRY.

The £600M Brand Exit Expert: How Grenade Disrupted the Chocolate Industry

Oct 13, 2025
Al Barratt, founder of Grenade, shares his journey of creating a successful protein bar brand known for its superior taste and quality. He dives into the importance of innovation, revealing how the right approach to product development paved the way for Grenade's growth. Al discusses the challenges of due diligence before major sales and how investing early with Growthpoint helped professionalize his business. He also highlights how market legitimacy can change with big brand involvement and emphasizes the importance of continuous improvement to stay competitive.
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INSIGHT

Smoke-and-Mirrors Brands Don’t Exit Well

  • Many consumer brands are built on illusions amplified by social media and metrics.
  • Buyers dig deep because most businesses fail; authenticity and audited performance matter.
ADVICE

Prepare For Brutal Due Diligence

  • Prepare for brutal, invasive due diligence when courting investors or buyers.
  • Keep forecasts, contracts, staff records and customer/supplier references impeccable to survive scrutiny.
ANECDOTE

When Due Diligence Gets Personal

  • During GrowthPoint due diligence buyers repeatedly asked why a French distributor hadn't ordered.
  • Alan answered that the distributor's son had died, showing how invasive and insensitive DD questioning can become.
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