Reinventing Popcorn: Brand Management & Market Strategy
In this episode of Management Meets, Katie speaks with Faye Jawad, University of Bath School of Management alumna and founder of KRNL. Having officially launched her savoury popcorn brand in July 2026, Faye went from popping kernels in her kitchen to selling out soon after launching the brand and capturing the attention food retailers and thousands online.
Faye discusses the reality of wearing every operational hat as a solo founder, from hand-packing boxes to graphic design. She highlights the power of mentorship, drawing on insights from fellow School alumnus and former podcast guest, Harry Symes-Thompson.
Key topics:
- Moving from personal recipe creation social media to commercial food production
- The role of peer mentorship and alumni networks in validating early-stage entrepreneurial concepts
- Bootstrapping vs. venture capital: strategies for stretching initial exit capital before seeking outside investment
- Overcoming imposter syndrome and the pressure of brand prestige when making early career choices
- Reimagining the healthy food marketing by pairing nutrients with aesthetic design
Creators and Guests
Host
Katie Calvert-Jones
Passionate advocate of the value a strong and engaged community can bring, and the far-reaching results that can be achieved. Loves hearing, sharing, and joining-up individual stories between professionals to enable ongoing learning and success.
Producer
Becky Toogood
Becky Toogood is the Alumni Engagement Communications Officer for the University of Bath, School of Management. With a first-class degree in journalism and a marketing background, Becky has experience in digital, print and multimedia communications. Working in higher education, Becky likes to showcase those leading innovation in their respective areas to celebrate success in the community, whilst inspiring others.
