Jubel’s Harry Neale on stacking shelves, ski trips and supply chains

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Harry Neale, Jubel

Name: Harry Neale

Job title: Head of commercial

Company: Jubel

What was your first job? I did a paper round for a few years – but my first actual payslip job was with Booths, Kendal, stacking shelves and working the deli counter. Chopped the top of my finger off in the ham slicer on week two, which meant a whole joint of honey-smoked ham was binned – but other than that I had a great time.

What’s been your worst job interview? I had a placement year as part of my degree, and in one interview, I was asked to sell a pen to the interviewers.

This was pre-Wolf of Wall Street giving us the secrets, so after about 60 seconds of making a fool of myself, one of the interviewers took the pen back and said “let’s move on”. Somehow I landed the job – but didn’t leave that interview with an iota of confidence that I would!

What was the first music single you bought? I hate to say it, but I don’t think I’ve ever bought one. Pre-spotify years, I was a YouTube to MP4 guy. I probably owe David Guetta some royalties.

“The biggest frustration as a smaller, fast-growing brand is trying to navigate your way around enormous supply chain systems”

How do you describe your job to your friends? I tend to keep it pretty top line with something like “I sell beer” – I think half of them just think I drink for a living so even that’s an upgrade. “Building the world’s best beer business” occasionally comes out if I’m trying to pretend I’m a serious person.

What is the most rewarding part of your job? Tough one. It’s been really rewarding watching team members walk through the door as fresh-faced grads and blossom into serious operators leading teams for us within just a couple of years. Probably that and seeing a Jubel in the wild still. When someone you don’t know orders it at the bar and then pitches it to their mates and bar staff for you – that takes some beating.

What is the least rewarding part? Expenses. Mind-numbing.

What is your motto in life? I wouldn’t say I have any mottos really, but I do love a quote from Harry Truman: “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” Can’t say I know a tonne about Harry Truman, but do think he’s onto something there in running teams and a business.

If you were allowed one dream perk, what would it be? We actually do it already: fully paid 100-person ski trip with the Jubel team and a load of our best customers to Snowboxx every year. It’s the best five days of the year, and we’ve done it the last three years now – that’s fairly hard to beat as a perk.

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Do you have any phobias? A few, not the biggest fan of massive spiders or sharks (who is?) – but I really hate snakes of all sizes. I don’t get why they’re here, what their purpose is and why they can’t just leave us all alone.

If you could change one thing in grocery, what would it be? I think the biggest frustration as a smaller, fast-growing brand is trying to navigate your way around enormous supply chain systems.

Primarily they are set up to work with massive businesses and well-established brands, which makes sense – but it’s incredibly painful walking into a store that stocks us on a sunny Friday evening, and there’s no Jubel left and nothing coming in over the weekend.

I tend to spend the rest of the weekend thinking about what the sales line could have been if we could crack it.

What luxury would you have on a desert island? I mean, shameless plug here, but a bottomless supply of Jubel Peach would be top of my list. Sort of how I picture retirement, sunning myself on a beach in the sun, sipping some cold Jubels…

What animal most reflects your personality? After a summer spent in our pubs and on the festival circuit, I probably most physically resemble the hippo Moto Moto from Madagascar… But if we’re going personality, maybe a dolphin? Social, loyal, seem to be having a good time and have half a brain.

What’s your favourite film and why? I think Rain Man is probably my favourite. Great film, but not sure I can give you an answer on exactly why it’s my favourite – just remember trying to teach myself to count cards after it.

Turns out I am not Rain Man, so I’ve had to make an honest living…

What has been the most embarrassing moment in your life? Perhaps fortunate that most of my embarrassing moments are after a few drinks so the memory is a little hazy, but one that stands out is after a craft beer show a few years back, tripping at the top of Liverpool Street station escalator and tumbling down past the late-night crowd. Bashed and bruised, but the jeers were the most painful.

Which celebrity would you most like to work with and why? As a Welsh rugby fan it’s got to be Andy Powell. Anyone who ends up on the M4 in a golf cart has got to be a laugh in the pub – feel like he’d throw some killer nights out if he worked for Jubel.

What would your death row meal be? I had a beef ragu once in Tuscany that I genuinely think I could eat on repeat forever. So probably that and a couple of bottles of Brunello di Montalcino would be a decent send-off.