My Alternative CV: Grubby’s Martin Holden-White on mice, plant-based and Austin Powers

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Name: Martin Holden-White

Job title: Founder

Company: Grubby

What was your first job? A commis chef in a French restaurant.

What’s been your worst job interview? My first trial shift in a theatre. For context, I was claustrophobic back then, and they asked me to man the lift, which was having problems. Not a great start to working life.

What was the first music single you bought? Nickelback’s How You Remind Me. Tune, to be fair.

How do you describe your job to your friends? With great difficulty. They often ask, “but what do you actually do?” Being a founder is weird – your job changes all the time and you have to adapt to a lot of different situations you find yourself in.

“We’re helping to make plant-based eating more accessible and convenient for people”

What is the most rewarding part of your job? Seeing the team achieve so much more together than we could as individuals – collaboration is everything. It’s also incredibly rewarding to know we’re helping make plant-based eating more accessible and convenient for people, having now delivered over two million meals.

We’ve turned many a meathead into regular Grubby subscribers, which is pretty cool. Plus, we’ve donated over 250,000 meals to children in poverty through 1MoreChild, so it’s great to know we’re making an impact beyond our day-to-day work.

What is the least rewarding part? Fundraising. It’s bloody awful. Sleepless nights and nearly going bust twice – not fun.

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What is your motto in life? Make every day count. Also, if you start arguing with yourself about doing exercise, you have to go – whatever the weather.

If you were allowed one dream perk, what would it be? Free on-site 1Rebel fitness classes. They’re great, but a bit of a rip-off.

Do you have any phobias? Mice – it’s a recent thing. I got scarred from a previous job when we had them in the office, I think.

If you could change one thing in grocery, what would it be? Couriers doing their job properly.

What luxury would you have on a desert island? Sky Sports.

What animal most reflects your personality? Maybe a cat – I feel like I’ve had about nine lives and I’m still going strong. Plus, cats are agile, and as a founder, you’ve got to adapt constantly.