A natural challenger brand: Huib van Bockel of Tenzing

After eight years as Head of Marketing for Red Bull UK and Europe, Huib van Bockel walked away to build something the industry told him couldn't work - an energy drink made entirely from nature, with 60% less sugar, and no artificial ingredients. Every manufacturer he approached said it wasn't commercially viable, but he found one willing to try. Today, Tenzing is the third-biggest energy drink brand in Tesco, and number one in London universities and climbing, proving that you can take on the "big dogs" of the soft drinks world.

Former Red Bull marketer Hub Van Bockel tells the story of founding Tenzing, the low‑sugar, all natural ingredient energy drink inspired by Himalayan brews and named with the blessing of Tenzing Norgay’s family. The episode covers Huib's idea, starting-up, early business development and pivoting on flavour, building and growing with communities, retail partnerships, winning major listings (including Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, ASDA) and minority investment by Heineken.

Listen to this episode to find out:

• Why every soft drink from apple juice to Red Bull has 11% sugar — and why Huib refused to follow the formula
• The overlooked advantage small brands have that Coca-Cola and Monster can never replicate, no matter what they spend
• How Tenzing grew by embedding in communities and the next-generation for who believe that "run clubs are the new nightclubs"
• The winning go-to-market approach Huib wishes he'd used far more when starting out

 

Find out more about Tenzing, buy online: https://tenzingnaturalenergy.com/

Connect with Huib on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/huib-van-bockel-8454834/

 

Books mentioned and recommended in this episode (affiliate links): 

Daniel Kahneman ‘Thinking Fast and Slow’  https://uk.bookshop.org/a/15792/9780141033570

Richard Branson ‘Losing my Virginity’ https://uk.bookshop.org/a/15792/9780753519554

Phil Knight ‘Show Dog’ https://uk.bookshop.org/a/15792/9781471146725

 

-- Thanks for listening to Curious Business, the business podcast that brings you fresh insights, experiences and ideas to help you think differently about your business and marketing. My name is Stephen Morris. I help start-ups and scale-ups gain clarity, take action and ignite real momentum in their marketing and pipeline generation. If you'd like to know more, book a discovery call or sign-up for my monthly newsletter - The Prompt. If you'd like to talk about how a podcast can build reach, enhance authority and fuel your pipeline, visit www.curiousbusiness.co.uk.