Founder, City Pantry, on holiday entrepreneurialism, The Lighthouse Family and delivering flowers

What was your first-ever job? Selling cans of fizzy drink on holiday one summer in Greece. The beach club we were staying at was selling cans for quite a mark-up on the local shop a five-minute walk away. I exploited the opportunity.

What’s been your worst job interview? I have only ever had one successful proper job interview, so I guess most have been pretty bad. I am not sure what I said to the manager of Tesco when I was a student, but he turned me down.

What was the first music single you bought? Lifted by Lighthouse Family. This interview was something my nine-year-old self did not take into consideration!

How do you describe your job to your mates? If forced to get it into a sentence I would say: “I run a company that is disrupting a very large, boring catering industry by connecting small amazing food vendors with large corporate businesses.”

What is the most rewarding part of your job? Working with people (our vendors) who really love what they do.

What is the least rewarding part? Over-promising and letting people down; it’s been a very good early lesson to do what you say you are going to.

If you were allowed one dream perk, what would it be? A private jet.

Do you have any phobias? I get really sweaty palms and nervous before public speaking.

If you could change one thing in grocery, what would it be? I would get rid of checkouts and have auto billing as you leave.

What luxury would you have on a desert island? A Kindle with unlimited books and battery life.

What animal most reflects your personality? A bat.

What’s your favourite film and why? The Royal Tenenbaums: it just really appeals to my sense of humour.

What has been the most embarrassing moment in your life? Valentine’s Day one year at school: I went out to deliver some flowers very early in the morning to a secret crush. The problem was the lucky girl’s mother heard the noise in the garden and assumed I was trying steal their car, so I was caught red-handed… and red-faced.

Which celebrity would you most like to work with and why? Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall - I think he just gets it.