Scaling, Exits, and Staying True to the Core: Rhys Harvey on Building Brands That Last

“Exit-readiness isn’t a checklist - it’s a constant state of being.”

Rhys Harvey has helped steer multiple challenger brands through acquisition (Popchips, Plenish) and is now CEO of OceanSaver. In this episode, we unpack what really matters when you’re building toward scale or a potential exit.

We talk:

• What acquirers really care about (hint: not what founders think)
• Why repeat rate is the metric no one talks about enough
• How operations and finance teams can drive brand value
• The truth about NPD - and why most of it gets mothballed post-acquisition
• What it takes to build a business that still stands after you're gone

Whether you're in scale-up mode or quietly building toward an exit, this episode is a masterclass in doing both with integrity.