What started as a weekend hobby is now an iconic nut butter brand making big waves overseas. Fix & Fogg co-founder, Roman Jewell, says the brand is proof that seeking out expertise when it is needed is the vital ingredient in the recipe for business success.
Beyond the Wellington company’s head office and production line, Fix & Fogg also runs a popular hole-in-the-wall café in the central city. Then there’s the new production line in Auckland. They also have an office in Houston, Texas, and a jointly invested production line in Colorado.
There is plenty going on, and plenty of growth, which brings with it both risk and reward. “I think whenever you've got a business where you're trying to be the best of the best, you need to surround yourself with the best partners,” say Fix & Fogg co-founder, Roman Jewell.
“What I like is that Crombie Lockwood has understood our business as it's grown, given us the advice and policies that we need in a high-growth environment, and know their stuff, not just about New Zealand but also about the rest of the world.”
Roman Jewell, Fix & Fogg co-founder
Insurance expertise for global growth
As they export to Singapore, Australia, China, and the United States, Fix & Fogg need insurance cover with a global reach and expertise that understands other markets.
“Crombie Lockwood’s access to global coverage and product offerings have made for the perfect one-stop-shop for Fix & Fogg over the four years we have worked together,” says Crombie Lockwood Senior Broker, Dene Cable. “It’s nice to think we played a small part in helping Fix & Fogg concentrate more on the business and not have to worry about their insurance.”
Roman and his team at the Wellington Gold Awards
Building a successful brand
Awards from the Wellington business community are a far cry from what started as a ‘weekend hobby’ in 2013. Former lawyers Roman and Andrea Jewell started making jars of their now-famous range of spreads on Friday nights to sell on the weekends at local farmers markets in Wellington.
“It got a little bit of a diehard following that reverberated out to local stores and supermarkets, who then got in touch with us and asked to stock it,” Roman says. “We haven't had what I would call a huge hockey stick growth; we've just had really lovely, solid organic year-on-year growth as we've continued to build the brand, build the reputation and build our distribution.”
Today, Fix & Fogg is the second-largest spread manufacturer in the country, with over a dozen varieties in the product range.
Staying true to values
Good business goes beyond simply what you’re selling, Fix & Fogg’s foundations and actions matter as much as tasty products.
The internationally recognised B Corp certification is testament to how Fix & Fogg operate as it sets a high bar on everything from a company’s carbon footprint to food waste initiatives, staff diversity and wages.
“Two people can start something with no knowledge about food or manufacturing, or even how to run a business. And it can be grown into a household name that has amazing values,” concludes Roman.
Published in Crombie Lockwood Sure – Summer 2021
Disclaimer
The views expressed in this content are those of the author, who is also responsible for any errors and omissions. Family Business Association provides this article for your information only. The content of the article should not be taken as advice. If you wish to explore this topic, please consult an advisor who you consider to have the expertise to provide specific advice in relation to your family business.
