Julian Metcalfe: How He Built Two $3 Billion Brands Against All Odds

In this raw, eye-opening episode of The Diary of a CEO, Stephen Bartlett sits down with Julian Metcalfe—yes, the founder of Pret A Manger and Itsu, two billion-dollar companies that have become household names in the food industry. We’re talking about a man whose entrepreneurial journey is as bold as it is inspiring. Seriously, it’s a rollercoaster.

Julian takes us through the grit and grind of his life. But this isn't your standard business story. We’re diving deep—past the glossy success, past the shiny billion-dollar brands, straight into his soul. He opens up about the painful scars of his childhood, the suicide of his mother, the fractured relationship with his father—experiences that, in a way, sculpted him into the visionary he is today. These aren’t just anecdotes—they’re the kind of gut-wrenching moments  ...