Name: Tom Redwood
Job title: Founder, CEO & chef
Company: Purpose Driven Foods
What was your first job? A cleaner at Tesco! I wasn’t old enough to use the machines, so I was the one pushing the mop and bucket around on wheels. It might not have been glamorous, but looking back it definitely helped shape my work ethic.
What’s been your worst job interview? Probably one where I realised halfway through that I had absolutely no interest in the job. It quickly became clear to both sides that I wasn’t the right fit.
In hindsight it was a good lesson: if you’re not excited about something, it’s probably not where you should be.
“Food is such a personal thing – when someone tells you it’s changed the way they cook or eat, that’s pretty special”
What was the first music single you bought? Thriller by Michael Jackson. When you’re born in the ’80s, was there really anything else on the soundwaves?
How do you describe your job to your friends? I usually start by saying I run a food company… then 20 minutes later I realise they only asked how work was.
What is the most rewarding part of your job? Seeing something that started as an idea in the kitchen become a product people genuinely love. Food is such a personal thing – when someone tells you it’s changed the way they cook or eat, that’s pretty special.
What is the least rewarding part? Paperwork and spreadsheets at midnight. Every founder knows the feeling.
What is your motto in life? Be human. Be kind. And don’t be afraid to fail.
If you were allowed one dream perk, what would it be? A test kitchen by the sea. Proper wood fire, great coffee setup, and a big table for long lunches.
Do you have any phobias? Spiders, heights… and bad coffee.
If you could change one thing in grocery, what would it be? Honest labelling. It should be easy for people to understand what’s really in their food without needing a degree to decode the ingredients list.
What luxury would you have on a desert island? A proper coffee machine and a great grinder. Survival is one thing, but life’s always better with good coffee.
What animal most reflects your personality? Probably a Cocker Spaniel. Enthusiastic, curious, food-motivated, and happiest either surrounded by people or out exploring the outdoors.
What’s your favourite film and why? A difficult one as I love films, but if I had to pick it would be The Intouchables.
It’s based on a true story and it’s even in French with subtitles, which is saying something as a dyslexic. It’s incredibly heart-warming and very human, and I’m always drawn to stories that celebrate the human side of life, and you can’t beat a true story.
What has been the most embarrassing moment in your life? Pitching a babyfood concept to Boots when it was still just an idea, so I didn’t have a single answer for the technical manager who attended. Mortifying.
Eight months later I returned much better prepared and won the listing – a good lesson in more ways than one.
Which celebrity would you most like to work with and why? Anthony Bourdain would have been the dream. He had an incredible way of telling stories about food and culture that felt honest and human.
What would your death row meal be? A huge long-table feast with friends and family: great steak basted in tallow and cooked over fire, a simple salad, good olive oil, and a very, very good bottle of red.
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