Building One Of The UK’s Fastest Growing Coffee Brands | Vikki Hodge (The Ultimate Founder Ep 3)

Building a fast-growing brand isn’t just about momentum. It’s about decisions, discipline, and learning through every stage of growth. In this episode of The Ultimate Founder, we sit down with Vikki Hodge, co-founder of RAVE Coffee, to explore what it really takes to build one of the UK’s fastest growing coffee brands. Starting in 2009 with a small roasting setup, Vikki and her team built RAVE Coffee into a recognised brand through persistence, strong values, and a deep connection with their customers. In this conversation, we explore: • How RAVE Coffee started from scratch • The different phases of growth and what each requires • Why cash flow is often the biggest constraint • Hiring and building the right team • Lessons learned through mistakes • Building a brand customers genuinely connect with • Balancing growth with founder life This is an honest look at what it takes to build a business that lasts. Because when the founder evolves, the business evolves with them. — Subscribe for weekly conversations with founders building real businesses. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction – The Ultimate Founder 00:15 How RAVE Coffee Started (2009) 02:25 Early Days & Building the Business 06:47 The Different Phases of Growth 07:47 Hiring the First Employee 09:06 The Cash Flow Reality of Growth 11:31 Learning Through Mistakes 14:07 Balancing Founder Life 15:53 The Biggest Challenge as a Founder 16:15 Customer Experience & Service Lessons 18:35 Vision for the Future 22:52 Culture & Building the Team 24:39 Building a Brand Customers Connect With 24:57 Advice to Her Younger Self 26:32 Learning From Experience & Growth 32:33 Founder Balance & Long-Term Thinking 38:42 The One Lesson Every Founder Needs