Simon Hurley is Managing Director at P2P Food Solutions and a long-standing member of our judging panel. The most rewarding part of his job is to really help someone and below he shares why retailers should enter these Awards...read on to find out more about Simon.
“We should celebrate excellence. Holding excellence up for people to learn from and be inspired by. These awards highlight excellence.”
Who are you? Where are you from? And what do you do?
I am Simon Hurley and am originally from Yorkshire. I support food and drink brands, retailers and hospitality businesses to grow.
What was your first job?
My first really proper job was as a Trainee Manager for J Sainsburys, amazing training, lots of lessons learned and skills acquired. I had the usual bar and retail part time jobs while studying prior to this.
What is the most rewarding part of your current job?
The most rewarding part of my job is to really help someone. It sounds so clichéd but to see someone really fly after we have worked together is so rewarding.
What have been your career highlights so far?
Setting Weetons of Harrogate up around 20 years ago and winning the original Best UK Farmshop award was a great experience but I have to say it is the latest venture I am working on that is exciting me the most, Jampa’s. A Vegan range of products that could actually make a really positive impact on people and the planet. The direction that Speciality Food and Drink is going in now with its responsible approach to people and planet, probably best highlighted by the B Corp movement is, I suspect, going to be the highlight in years to come.
What are you looking for in a winning entry for the Awards?
Someone who really gets it. They need to understand their customers, their numbers and their team. A person or business who makes the right decisions even if they’re sometimes the harder ones.
Why should retailers enter these Awards?
It is important to keep challenging ourselves. These awards make people really take a close look at what they are doing and how they are doing it. They create a chance to view businesses from a different perspective to the one of been in the business.
Why do you think these Awards are important?
We should celebrate excellence. Holding excellence up for people to learn from and be inspired by. These awards highlight excellence.
Who or what has been your biggest influence to get you to where you are today?
My initial training with J Sainsburys is still relevant today. The skills and lessons learnt in that first store in Dalston and the team that worked their still influence my actions every day. Also cooking and learning a love of food with my mum, a chef, in my early years, has never left me.
If you could give your teenage self any advice what would it be?
Build up your stamina, you’re going to need it. Retail, food production and hospitality are a physically and mentally challenging arena‘s to work in. Learn how to multi task.
What are you most proud of?
I am most proud when I look at the businesses I have helped. To see them flourish and grow and knowing that a small amount of that success is down to me is incredibly rewarding.
Which celebrity would you most like to work with and why?
Raymond Blanc I think. He is a visionary within food. Has performed for decades at the top of his profession and clearly has a huge passion for what he does. The depths he goes to to create perfection on a plate is inspirational.
Where/when are you happiest?
In my kitchen or dining table with family and friends Cooking, Talking about experimenting with or eating food and drink.
Where in the world would you tell everyone to visit?
Italy. Probably the south of the country, Puglia or maybe Sardinia. The Italians have got life so right. Eat, Drink, Relax with friends and family.
Meet our full judges line-up for 2022 here.
