Ben's Farmhouse’s Post

Dive into the tales of The Villages' finest – aviators to entrepreneurs. 🎙️ Explore mastermind groups, brewery camaraderie, and the joy of aviation in our latest episode.

🍻Coffee (or beer chugging) conversations🍻: The Return of the “Pub”. South Africa’s New Old Tradition Remember when franchised pubs were dark, sticky, and smelled like regret? Well, it seems like South Africa is flipping the script! The classic “drinking hole” is making a major comeback, but this time with a twist: upmarket vibes, family-friendly menus, quirky interiors, and even places where you can sip on a craft beer and maybe keep an eye on your kids without needing a second pint to cope. The earlier 2000s saw many franchises in this category closing, and we’re now seeing a wave of exciting, fresh concepts in the drinking and dining scene. It’s as though franchisors found the perfect recipe for: Good food + Good drinks + Playful atmosphere = Pubs that actually don’t suck! But here’s the real question: Is it sustainable? 🤔 💸 High setup costs? Check. 🏘️ Landlords? They're betting big on these places being the new community hubs. And what about the security risk associated? 🍔 Family balance? Oh, it’s a tightrope walk! Kids can play in the ball pit while dad gets his IPA... but will they keep it that way when the costs start piling up? 🦹🏻♂️Franchisor support? Are franchisors the unsung heroes that’s are making the difference in new busines formats, better infrastructure and clever gamification? Is the investment worth the return, or are we seeing a new generation of “Instagram pubs” that may not age as well as a good whiskey? So, what’s your take—are these trendsetting establishments here to stay?

Our journey through local and international markets has been a rewarding experience! 🌍 From South Africa to global exhibitions, we've gained valuable insights, built connections, and grown as entrepreneurs. Excited to share more of what we've learned along the way! #MarketJourney #BusinessSuccess #GlobalMarkets #Entrepreneurship #Networking #TradeShows #BusinessGrowth

One way to boost your profits is to keep just enough stock - so your product is fresh and stocktaking easily maintained.

Getting Swizzler into a big sports venue was a dream of ours since the food truck days. But we had no idea how it worked. We tried pitching at competitions, cold outreach, showing up in person. Nothing. We shelved it. Never thought it would happen. Plus, we had our hands full trying to keep our first restaurant afloat when COVID hit just a month before we were supposed to open our doors. We kept our heads down. Focused on staying alive. We worked on adding as much value to our guests and the community as possible. We didn’t sacrifice quality. We tweaked and tinkered with the menu as we learned what people wanted. And then, guess what? They called us. The stadium folks came by the shop without any notice. We never even knew they came. But they were asking us to join the lineup. Fast forward to today, we’ve operated FIVE concessions stands across THREE major sports venues. And now you can see what it’s like behind the scenes getting set up for one of the craziest days of the year: Opening Day at Nationals Park (where we operate three different stands!). P.S. we’d never be able to operate multiple stands at this volume across multiple properties while maintaining our quality standards without the frozen hand-cut fries we developed for ourselves. And now we’re starting to make available to other chefs and operators! Send me a message if you’re interested in learning more. #smallbusiness #entrepreneurship #entrepreneur #foodservice #restaurants #stadiums #hospitality #burgers #fries

𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Let's end the week with a very inspiring video about the founder of Surrey Hills Grocer who bounced back from failure and now running a string of successful restaurants in Singapore. 🔥 It's a story of falling down but picking ourselves up again. 💸 It's a story that entrepreneurs can lose everything in a relatively short time despite building it for very long. 👨👩👦👦 It's about the power of having the right support. In her case, her family. But for others, the family or closed ones may not understand our struggles. Thus, finding the right community and support is so important. 🚫 Once bitten, doesn't not necessarily means twice shy. I've eaten in Surrey Hills last year thanks to May Cheng's recommendations and this year again when my friend wanted to celebrate my belated birthday with me. It's not easy running an F&B in Singapore as we are spoilt for choices and there are simply too many competition. Thus, chancing upon this interview, especially now that I am an entrepreneur myself, gives me the needed boost for the weekend ahead. I hope it spurs you on too. #NotTheUsualMentor #mentoringmatters #mentoringprogram #keephustling #nevergiveup #resilience #entrepreneurship https://lnkd.in/exP9XsHD

https://lnkd.in/eCMHcZXs An unparalleled tale of #BusinessBrilliance that left me both proud and inspired. Delve into the extraordinary journey of Acipenser - Madagascar https://lnkd.in/ehdUVAkR where #FrenchEntrepreneurs dared to pioneer a #LuxuryIndustry in an unexpected place: one of the world's poorest countries. Witness how they defied odds to cultivate exquisite #Caviar in #Africa, a feat once deemed impossible. Discover the allure behind their success, serving #Michelin Starred restaurants across #Europe. Explore the captivating story behind African caviar - its challenges, its allure, and the intricacies of raising sturgeon for the coveted 'black gold.' I'm so glad you succeeded. I have a principle: I will never eat at a restaurant where the employee cannot become a customer with his own income. It is also admirable that you defend the rights of your employees fairly and touch the lives of families. Let people live so that #Trade can live. So, investors and experts scoffed at the idea at first, huh? In Anatolia, the cradle of civilization and the birthplace of money, there is a saying: 'The true worth of gold is known only by the goldsmith. #startup #commodities #Entrepreneurship #EconomicGrowth #Innovation #Leadership #GlobalTrade #MarketTrends #CorporateCulture

Where does the name "Union 38" come from? Naming a business makes you think a lot. You want it to mean something, represent what you do, and be available to purchase across so many domains. 38 Union Street East was my address growing up. You'll find it in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It's the home where we lived when I decided I wanted to become a chef. It's where my Mom shook me awake as a snoring teenager at noon when I was supposed to work the breakfast shift at 07:00. It's where Christmas cookies were decorated each year sat around the dining room table. It's where Grandma rolled her grocery buggy over to cook for every Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving. It's where I tested my first creations, like the unconventional Yellow Curry Turkey for Christmas dinner after returning from a backpacking adventure in SE Asia. It's where I put the finishing touches on the wedding cake I made when my brother tied the knot. I also quite like the definition of "Union" in the context of my business: "the action of joining together or the fact of being joined together" "a society or association formed by people with a common interest or purpose" And lastly, I've decided to finally take the leap and follow my entrepreneurial urges in my 38th year. I love the way Union 38 has taken shape so far and look forward to the journey ahead. ==== I love helping hospitality teams deliver great food Appreciate a follow, 🔔 ring, or connection (Ryan Brown) if you find value here Lots more to explore at www.union38.com

👉 Here’s how Nando's UK & IRE went from being worth £65,000 to £1.2BN... Meet Robert Brozin and Fernando Duarte ⬇️ 🧠 Two friends who were about to make the wealthiest discovery of their entire lives. Originally 👀 the pair worked for Brozin’s Father’s electronics business in South Africa, but things were about to change! ⏳ Way back in 1987, Fernando took Brozin to a small chicken restaurant in Johannesburg called ‘Chickenland’ 🍗 Brozin was so impressed 🙌 with the restaurant’s flame grilled chicken, that he and Fernando bought the restaurant between them for a cool £65,000 💰 ✍ The restaurant was then re-named 'Nandos', after Fernando himself and his son, called Nando! But, the story doesn't end there ⬇️ 👉 At the start, they actually struggled to get into some countries, including the UK; which is why they were ultimately bought by the Enthoven family in 1992. The craziest part? 👀 Robby Enthoven (Managing Director of UK Nandos) came up with the idea to order at the till and sit down to wait for your food - it revolutionised their business model! Nando's UK & IRE started with just two restaurants in 1992, and currently stands at more than 400 restaurants in the UK 🇬🇧 Moral of the story? You never know where your next billion-pound business idea could come from 😍 it could just be down the road. 🤔 What do you think of the story of Nandos? Share your thoughts below! 📲 And whilst you're here, if you're looking for a great LinkedIn account that shares the latest: ✅ social media news ✅ campaigns ✅ inspirational stories ✅ and all around goodness you're looking for me - so drop me a follow and let's connect if you're in the creative field or looking for creative services! #nandos #nandosuk #franchise #restaurants #contentcreation #insightful #inspirational #socialmediamanager #diaryofaceo #business #marketinginsights

About six years ago I was in Nottingham, looking for a dog (but that’s a different story). First time in town, we stepped into the closer pub and that day, I discovered BrewDog. The atmosphere was electric, unapologetically punk, and unlike anything I had seen before. I was hooked - not just by the beer, but by the brand’s rebellious spirit. I started looking for BD pubs in London, and later on, I even became an Equity for Punks crowdfunding investor (a very small one, if you’re curious - I invested around £110). Fast forward to today, and the BrewDog I fell in love with feels like a distant memory. If I think about the brand promises... - BD promised to be carbon negative - yet that goal has quietly disappeared. - BD was once proudly a B-Corp, committed to social and environmental standards, but they’ve since dropped that status. - BD's founder, JW, repeatedly said that he would rather "set fire to his money than spend it on advertising". He also said that advertising is "shallow, it's fake and we want nothing to do with it". And yet, one day, I saw their ads covering London buses and the tube walls. Internally, things look even worse. Reports of a toxic work culture and employee dissatisfaction have emerged, directly contradicting the values they claimed to uphold. Employees were paid the living wage plus a share of the profits. Now, BD pays minimum wage - just like everyone else. Recently, on the BD's internal forum, which I'm part of, being a small investor, someone added "we were told Brewdog refused to profit from human rights abuse and now it's opening a bar in Dubai and making deals in China." BD was once a symbol of rebellion but today it feels like the brand has lost its way. Its brand equity is nearly gone by compromising on every single promise it once claimed made it stand out from the big guys. From punk to junk. Yet, I still find myself at BD pubs in London from time to time, enjoying my Punk IPA and reflecting on how easily a loved brand can decline. #branding #beer #branddecline #brewdog