We talk to William Kendall, environmentalist, entrepreneur and farmer about the future of farming. Having transformed Green & Blacks and Covent Garden Soup, William now farms organically and conventionally in coastal Suffolk. Where is farming going wrong? How do we keep food affordable? What is the difference between organic and regenerative? How will innovation transform farming? Listen to find out.
Our guest:
William farms organically and conventionally in East Anglia. He is an active environmentalist and a campaigner for better food and rural issues. He speaks and writes regularly on these issues as well as on innovation and the creation and fostering of entrepreneurial cultures in all types of organisations.
He is President of The Suffolk Wildlife Trust and Board Member at Client Earth. He is an advisor to or director of many organisations, both public and private including Cawston Press, a premium soft drinks brand, LA Brewery – a new kombucha maker and fermentation company, Samworth Brothers, a large, family owned food manufacturer and main market listed investment trust, Keystone.
William read law at Cambridge University and completed an MBA at INSEAD in Fontainebleau. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University College Suffolk. In his twenties he had short careers as an army officer, a barrister and an investment banker. Over nine years he built up The New Covent Garden Soup Company before selling it to a public company. He and several colleagues then bought the embryonic Green & Black’s from its founder and grew it to an international brand which they sold to Cadburys in 2005.
William and two partners formed Nemadi Advisors in 2000 to advise and finance early stage businesses. Over the years, he has developed experience in such diverse sectors as London restaurants, flower retailing, natural insulation, pottery, CO2 low concrete, bovine genetics and building hotel chains.
William lives in coastal Suffolk with his wife and two daughters.