Meet Scott

You can find a taste of The Flava People in almost everything you eat, whether you’re strolling the supermarket shelves or ordering in your favourite restaurant. From humble beginnings in the butchery trade, this third-generation family business now sits at the very heart of the food industry, embracing innovative ideas to provide great taste at every touchpoint. We chatted to Scott about the pressures of leading an omnichannel business, and the benefits of their partnership with HURST.

My grandad started the company around 45-years ago. He was a butcher at the time, and began producing sauces and seasonings to complement the meats he was selling. Eventually he realised it was those sauces and seasonings that provided the greatest growth opportunities, and we gradually started spreading into every corner of the food industry.

We’ve evolved into a really diverse business. We still supply into the butchery trade, but we’ve also forged partnerships with restaurants and major retailers, both with our own brands and licensed brands or white labels. It’s everything from tiny sachets that you’ll find in your kitchen cupboard, through to huge pallacons of seasonings for food processing clients. We’re proud to say that some of the world’s most recognisable brands like Guinness and Yo Sushi turn to us for flavourings and innovations. 

It was all quite sudden when I became Managing Director, so it was a very steep, very challenging learning curve for me. Part of that journey involved my first encounter with HURST, after a recommendation from another professional contact. Our business was becoming more diverse and complex, and I felt that we needed a different kind of accountancy partner… someone that could give us more proactive and strategic support. We’ve been working together for around three years now, and HURST have certainly met that need – and much more.

"They don’t seem to sit on the fence. Ever. They’ll happily share an informed opinion on almost anything affecting our industry, and their advice almost always gives us a valuable fresh perspective."

Aside from the usual audit, accounts and tax support, I’ve been struck by how proactive and strategic they are. It means they’ve instigated changes or improvements that you just wouldn’t expect of an accountancy firm – whether that’s regular strategy workshops or guiding us through a restructuring in one of the riskier parts of our business.

I really appreciate the fact that they don’t seem to sit on the fence. Ever. They’ll happily share an informed opinion on almost anything affecting our industry, and their advice almost always gives us a valuable fresh perspective. They’ve been consistently curious and inquisitive, which means they’re always looking for new ways to help us move forward.

On a personal level, I know that I can pick up the phone – at any time – and I’ll always be able to have an honest conversation. It certainly helps that they work with such a variety and depth of different clients, as we’ve undoubtedly benefited from the broad experience that gives them. The Flava People has never been as big as we are today. We’re learning and evolving all the time and having a partner like HURST by our side gives us the confidence and expertise we need to go further.

HURST in three words? Proactive. Strategic. Thorough.

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To find out more about The Flava People, and their mission to deliver a taste at every touchpoint, you can visit their website at www.theflavapeople.com