Alantra and Brand Growth Heroes are teaming up once again to offer a crash course for fmcg challenger brands in scaling up while navigating industry challenges.
Founders can now register their interest to apply for the ‘Mini MBA’, with applications opening on 6 January 2025.
Now in its second year, the BGH MBA aims to equip founders with the knowledge, skills, strategies and plans necessary to accelerate their brand’s growth.
Mid-market financial services firm Alantra is once again sponsoring four places on the course, which will run for 12 weeks from 23 April.
Law firm Joelson and consumer intelligence specialist NIQ have also come on board in 2025 as new partners for the MBA and are partially funding four places.
Fiona Fitzpatrick, who runs the BGH accelerator and hosts the associated podcast, will lead the 12-week programme.
Alantra will host sessions for the course at its London HQ. The firm’s head of UK food & beverage Charles Lanceley will also offer personalised mentoring sessions.
“I’m thrilled to be launching the 2025 Brand Growth Heroes Mini MBA powered by Alantra and excited to welcome registrations from a new group of challenger brands from across the CPG sector,” Fitzpatrick said.
“I’m over the moon to welcome Joelson and NielsenIQ as new partners. As industry experts and amongst the leading firms in their respective fields, they will provide invaluable support to the founders on the programme.”
Lanceley added the firm was looking forward to collaborating once again with BGH. “Fiona’s CPG industry expertise is unparalleled, and the BGH Mini MBA is not just a learning experience, it’s a catalyst for transformative growth,” he said.
“We at Alantra are thrilled to support and mentor the next cohort of remarkable brands as they embark on their journey to scale and succeed.”
Ten challenger brands completed the inaugural mini-MBA this year: Bold Bean Co, Fix8 Kombucha, Meurisse, Pärla, Better Nature, Chimac, Cuzena, Fearne & Rosie, Pukpip and X-Lite.
The Mini MBA is open to privately owned, consumer-facing CPG brands of any size. It is built around 10 challenges, with participants engaging in a series of weekly online learning sessions, interactive group workshops, personalised mentoring sessions and webinars led by guest speakers.
Guest speakers in 2024 included Oddbox co-founder Deepak Ravindran; Simon Devonshire, a serial entrepreneur and former entrepreneur in residence for the UK government; Phil Murray, commercial director at Harlands Accountants; Maxine Laceby, co-founder of Absolute Collagen; and Al Overton, former supermarket buyer and an expert in helping brands to grow.
Fitzpatrick has worked with blue-chip CPG groups such as Nestlé and Premier Foods, as well as the likes of Gü, Chobani, Strong Roots and Oddbox. She founded the Brand Growth Heroes Growth Strategy Programme and the Brand Growth Heroes podcast and has been a lecturer in food business strategy at UCD Smurfit Business School for 10 years.
Joelson MD Phil Hails-Smith said: “We’re delighted to be supporting the Brand Growth Heroes Mini MBA programme. We love working with ambitious challenger brands, being a trusted business advisor, and helping them achieve long-term growth.”
Rachel Havers, UK small and medium business team manager at NIQ, added: “The combination of NielsenIQ’s understanding of consumer behaviour and market trends with the Brand Growth Heroes Mini MBA’s support for scaling challenger CPG brands creates the UK’s most exciting platform for category mastery and brand growth.”
Founders have until 26 January 2025 to apply for the MBA and can find the application form here.
No comments yet