Emile Berndard 1 jpg

What was your first job? Washing dishes at my local carvery in Wales.

What’s been your worst job interview? I have never actually experienced one. If you work in kitchens you don’t usually get interviewed, you just shake hands with the chef and if you survive the trial shift you usually get the job.

What was the first music single you bought? Wild Wild West by Will Smith, on cassette no less.

How do you describe your job to your mates? We make being adult more fun by creating new and exciting ways of eating and drinking. My job is to make the things we dream up a reality.

What is the most rewarding part of your job? Seeing people genuinely have fun and making memories at a Smith & Sinclair experience.

What is the least rewarding part? Anything tax-related. Either that or admin.

What is your motto in life? I’ll give it a go!

If you were allowed one dream perk, what would it be? A Nando’s Black card - there is no higher perk.

Do you have any phobias? Clowns. I hate clowns. I have no idea why they’re still a thing!

If you could change one thing in grocery, what would it be? We always want to disrupt, so to shake up the food and drink aisle is already on our to-do list.

What luxury would you have on a desert island? Either a monkey butler or an endless supply of clean, clear ice.

What animal most reflects your personality? A gibbon (also in looks).

What’s your favourite film and why? Donnie Darko. I like the fact that it’s open to interpretation. I feel the same about Inception.

What has been the most embarrassing moment in your life? Between having a mum that openly offers relationship advice to friends and sharing a room with four brothers as a child, I’ve luckily learnt to have superhuman levels of shamelessness.

Which celebrity would you most like to work with and why? Celebrity chef Grant Achatz is one of my personal heroes and in my opinion the most innovative chef/mixologist alive today.

What would your death row meal be? My sister’s jerk chicken with peas and rice. I’d happily ­welcome death after it.