In this episode, Chelsea Ford sits down with Elizabeth Hewson, Australian food writer, cookbook author, and founder of Saturday Night Pasta, to unpack how a personal ritual turned into a nationally stocked product brand.

What began as a simple act of self-care, cooking pasta at the end of a long week, has evolved into a business now sitting in 400+ stores across Australia. Elizabeth shares how her “patchwork” career across restaurants, media and brand building has shaped a business grounded in comfort, quality and honesty.

We explore the realities of scaling from kitchen to shelf, from launching with limited-edition drops to building out a seven-SKU range, and partnering with distributors like Cartel & Co to rapidly expand from 50 to 200 stockists in just six months.

The conversation dives into what actually drives sell-through in retail, why brand and packaging matter, how margins and data access work with distributors, and the operational shift required to grow beyond a founder-led business. Elizabeth also reflects on the role of mentors, manufacturers and collaborators, including Archie Rose, and her commitment to Australian-made ingredients, transparency and taste.

A grounded look at what it takes to build a food brand that people come back to, again and again.

Guest info:

saturdaynightpasta.com.au / @saturdaynightpasta

@elizabethhewson

Host info:

foodpreneursfestival.com / @foodpreneursfestival

chelseaford.com / @chelsea.ford.co

Connect with POH:

principleofhospitality.com / @principle_of_hospitality

For Brand Strategy, Design & Creative Support:

principledesign.com.au / @principledesign

Kicking off our first ep From Hospitality to Household, Host Chelsea Ford sits down with Lachlan Ward, CEO and partner of Melbourne specialty coffee roaster ST. ALi, reflecting on the brand’s 20-year journey and its role as an early pioneer in Australia’s specialty coffee movement.

From its beginnings in South Melbourne to becoming one of the country’s most recognisable coffee brands, Lachlan shares how ST. ALi built a reputation for quality, innovation and accessibility. The conversation explores how the business selects café partners based on shared values, and why expanding into major grocery retail was a natural step, driven by demand for high-quality coffee at home and the opportunity to reach customers beyond café walls.

Chelsea and Lachlan unpack the realities of entering retail, from understanding sales velocity and shopper data to navigating concerns around cannibalising café partners. Lachlan explains how ST. ALi maintained its premium positioning, resisted discount-driven growth, and instead focused on bringing new coffee drinkers into the category.

They also discuss shifting consumer preferences toward more balanced, milk-friendly flavour profiles, the growing demand for decaf, and the rise of cold coffee and concentrates. Along the way, Lachlan shares insights into gifting-led product innovation, inspiration drawn from coffee culture across Asia, and what’s next for the brand, including expansion into Singapore.

Thoughtful, honest, and commercially grounded, this episode offers valuable insights for founders, operators, and anyone interested in the evolving intersection of hospitality, retail, and consumer packaged goods.

Guest info:

stali.com.au / @st_ali

Host info:

foodpreneursfestival.com / @foodpreneursfestival

chelseaford.com / @chelsea.ford.co

Connect with POH:

principleofhospitality.com / @principle_of_hospitality

For Brand Strategy, Design & Creative Support:

principledesign.com.au / @principledesign

In this episode, Renee Buckingham sits down with renowned pastry chef, author, and Great Australian Bake Off judge, Darren Purchese.

From a food-obsessed childhood in the UK to elite kitchens in London, Darren reflects on the unexpected journey that brought him to Australia and shaped an extraordinary career. Known for his work across The Great Australian Bake Off, MasterChef Australia, bestselling cookbooks, and now his creative platform StudioKitchen, Darren shares why pastry became his calling, and how precision, structure, and understanding why things work underpin everything he does.

The conversation explores mentorship, specialisation versus versatility in modern hospitality, and how Darren has evolved beyond the restaurant to build a sustainable, creative life in food through teaching, storytelling, and digital influence. Thoughtful, generous, and grounded, this episode offers insight for chefs, creatives, and anyone building longevity in the hospitality industry.

Guest info:

@darrenpurchese

studiokitchen.com.au / @lovestudiokitchen

Connect with POH:

principleofhospitality.com / @principle_of_hospitality

For Brand Strategy, Design & Creative Support:

principledesign.com.au / @principledesign

A big thank you to Pay.com.au for sponsoring this episode and for their continued support of Australia’s hospitality industry.

Pay.com.au, is a payment platform that rewards your business for doing what it already does every day: paying suppliers, rent, utilities and more. Learn more at Pay.com.au, today!

Mentioned in this episode:

Pay.com.au