Nik Sinclair
MD, Sinclair Condiments, on Vanilla Ice, lugging carpets and making ketchup for a living
What was your first-ever job? Working in a carpet shop on a Sunday when I was still at school. I worked hard and after school I took a full-time position and worked my way up to management.
What was the first music single you bought? To the Extreme by Vanilla Ice, on vinyl.
How do you describe your job to your mates? I like to tell people I make ketchup for a living. Most of my mates have been on this journey with me and know how much hard work I’ve put in.
What is the most rewarding part of your job? Going into my local Morrisons and seeing people picking our products up and putting them in their baskets is an awesome feeling.
What is the least rewarding part? Owning a new small business means loads of different roles. I go from dealing with high-level buyers to cleaning the toilets or doing the books.
What is your motto? I don’t have a motto per se but I do always try and find the positives in any situation.
If you were allowed one dream perk, what would it be? Travelling the world to research new flavours and ingredients. Hopefully that dream will become a reality soon.
Do you have any phobias? I’m really scared of snakes and fairground rides!
If you could change one thing in grocery, what would it be? I’m really pleased to see a lot of the big supermarkets getting behind smaller UK brands. I hope this will continue.
What luxury would you have on a desert island? A wine cellar so I could kick back and relax under a palm tree.
What animal most reflects your personality? A crow. They’re fearless, intelligent and can solve problems.
What has been the most embarrassing moment in your life? Working at the carpet shop involved some pretty heavy lifting. I would spend most of the day bending down picking up carpets and lugging them to people’s cars. One day my trousers decided they’d had enough and split from the waist down. My shift finished early that day.
Which celebrity would you most like to work with and why? Stephen Fry because he’s funny and very intelligent and I reckon we’d have a good laugh.
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