160: The Rise of Hedley & Bennett: How Ellen Bennett Built an 8-Figure Culinary Empire - 8FE

This episode is part of the 8FE (8-figure entrepreneur) series, where we talk to entrepreneurs who have already passed the million-dollar mark. What if all it took to build an 8-figure company was $300 and a dream? In this episode of Beyond A Million, Brad sits down with Ellen Bennett, the visionary founder of the culinary empire Hedley & Bennett. Starting with just $300 and a passion for improving the tools chefs rely on, Ellen turned her dream into a thriving 8-figure business. She shares her journey from working in Michelin-starred kitchens to designing gear and tools that professional chefs and home cooks love. She dives deep into the challenges of scaling Hedley & Bennett, including transitioning from bespoke B2B sales to direct-to-consumer e-commerce, and why staying authentic to the brand's mission has been her guiding star. Tune in!   — Key Takeaways: 00:00 Intro  04:03 Michelin star rating system  05:58 The importance of sleep  09:23 Starting and growing Hedley & Bennett  17:21 Direct consumer vs. B2B  18:34 Balancing growth and efficiency  26:29 Stepping down as the CEO 31:26 Product roadmap  34:42 Ellen’s involvement in product development  37:56 Becoming an omnichannel business  43:32 Social media marketing and branding  49:18 Outro — Additional Resources: 🔹 Ellen’s Website: https://www.hedleyandbennett.com/  🔹 Ellen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellenmariebennett/  🔹 Hedley & Bennett on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hedleyandbennett/  🔹 Kitchen Glow Up: https://www.tastemade.com/shows/kitchen-glow-up  🔹 Dream First, Details Later: https://a.co/d/gPGFZAF    ➡️ Learn more at: https://beyondamillion.com/ ➡️ Watch full episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5hbIUyUb68J3nhHSAGDrmUxX4vgXQ4b8 ➡️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Beyondamillion?sub_confirmation=1   Let's Connect: 🔹 IG: https://www.instagram.com/bradweimert 🔹 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@beyondamil 🔹Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradWeimert 🔹 FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089061999787 —  Beyond A Million is a business podcast that reveals the scaling secrets of 8, 9, and 10-figure entrepreneurs. Every week, we share an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the best business growth strategies that work.  If you're an entrepreneur or business professional who's looking to level up & continue to scale far beyond the million-dollar mark, this podcast is for YOU! Tune in weekly for new interviews with Easy Pay Direct founder Brad Weimert and business expert guests who absolutely crush it in their area of expertise. Learn world-class marketing and sales tactics with elite-level business strategies in sales, marketing, operations, finance, and wealth building. Be sure to give us a follow wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss a new episode!