How do you turn just £27 into a billion-dollar business? Grenade founder Alan Barratt joins Ben Hanlin to reveal the incredible story behind building one of the UK's most successful nutrition brands.
From almost losing his house to creating the hugely successful Grenade Carb Killa protein bar, Alan shares how he disrupted the chocolate industry, challenged some of the world's biggest brands and built a business valued at over $1 billion.
In this episode of What's The Trick?, Alan reveals how his investors initially rejected the idea for Grenade's protein bars, why the first 50,000 bars sold in just two hours, and how an unusual marketing strategy helped turn a small supplement company into a household name.We also explore his friendship with Sir Richard Branson, the business lessons he's learned on Necker Island, and an unexpected legal dispute between Alan and Ben involving the Grenade trademark.
From entrepreneurship and branding to marketing, business growth and taking risks, this episode is packed with insights for anyone looking to start or scale a business.
This episode is for:
- Creatives (writers, performers, content creators)
- Business owners and entrepreneurs
- Speakers and presenters
- Anyone looking to improve communication and idea generation
⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00 The Risk That Built a Billion-Dollar Brand
00:13 Introducing Grenade Founder Alan Barratt
01:10 How Grenade Started
06:41 The Marketing Stunt That Changed Everything
10:51 Down to £27 and Almost Losing Everything
12:44 The Idea Behind Grenade's Protein Bars
21:20 A Quick Message From Ben
24:13 Two Years Creating the Perfect Protein Bar
26:48 When the Investors Rejected the Idea
29:27 Selling 50,000 Bars in Just Two Hours
36:51 Getting Grenade Into Tesco and Petrol Stations
44:46 The Petrol Station Owner Who Fired the Wrong Staff
46:44 Competing Against Coca-Cola, Mars and Red Bull
50:41 The Legal Dispute Between Ben and Alan
57:11 Richard Branson, Necker Island and Billionaire Lessons
1:02:30 Alan Barratt's Fast Five
1:08:30 The Real Secret to Entrepreneurial Success
1:09:25 Ben's Final Thoughts
About Ben Hanlin: Ben is a magician, presenter, and keynote speaker who helps companies create engagement, connection, and memorable experiences. He hosts corporate events and interviews world-class creatives on this podcast.
About the podcast: "What’s The Trick?" explores how creative people think, create, and turn ideas into reality.
Topics covered include creativity, communication, storytelling, content creation, performance, and building creative careers.
🎧 Listen / Watch:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BenHanlin
Apple Podcasts: https://linktr.ee/benhanlin
Spotify: https://linktr.ee/benhanlin
📩 Work with Ben: https://www.benhanlin.com/
FOLLOW BEN:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM0oXTRP-zWlJ_IiNykTLag
Instagram: http://instagram.com/benhanlin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/benhanlin
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@benhanlin
🎤 FOLLOW AL BARRATT:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/al_barratt/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/al-barratt-101b1731/
How do creative people turn ideas into reality?
Ben Hanlin breaks down the mindset, process, and decisions behind it.
","author_name":"Ben Hanlin"}