From Mars to Merchant Gourmet: Richard Peake's Journey Through FMCG
- Jay Greenwood
- May 16
- 2 min read
What does true leadership look like in a world fixated on founder stories? Richard Peake, Managing Director of Merchant Gourmet, offers a refreshingly honest perspective that challenges conventional wisdom about career progression and business success.
When Richard joined Merchant Gourmet in 2020, he faced the challenge of scaling a £15 million ready-to-eat plant-based food brand. Four years later, the company has doubled its revenue to over £30 million—not by chasing fleeting trends, but by embracing authenticity, quality, and taste as non-negotiable brand values.
Richard's career path defies the typical narrative. After starting at Mars, he co-founded a premium popcorn business that showed promise but wasn't pursued. Rather than viewing this as a failure, he sees it as a pivotal learning moment that revealed his true calling wasn't as a founder. This self-awareness led him to leadership roles at Method, Lily's Kitchen, and RX Bar UK before Merchant Gourmet, where his talent for creating environments where others can excel has flourished.
The conversation dives deep into what Richard calls the "swim lane" approach to leadership—providing clear direction while encouraging entrepreneurial thinking—and why vulnerability might be his greatest strength. "I can guarantee very quickly I could hire somebody better than me at any specific thing," he admits, turning what many would hide into a leadership superpower that elevates entire teams.
For entrepreneurs and business leaders, Richard offers invaluable insights on finding opportunity in overlooked "unsexy markets," winning at the point of purchase, and balancing authenticity with innovation. His candid reflection that not everyone should aspire to be a founder provides a refreshing alternative path for those who want to build businesses without necessarily starting them.
Ready to rethink what leadership and business growth can look like? This conversation will challenge your assumptions while providing practical wisdom for creating lasting impact in any market.
Comments