Exeter alumni go onto enjoy a variety of careers but the menu of jobs they have to choose from is full of rich opportunities in the food and beverage industry. We caught up with four alum who have gone on to savour the treats and challenges that working in these careers has brought and how their time at Exeter whet their appetites for all that was ahead.
Jeni Reve (Psychology, 2013) – Founder of Butter Bike Co.
First up is Jeni, who after graduating started her career in PR and marketing in Exeter, then London. Having worked both agency side and in-house with F&B, retail and hospitality clients, she thrived working with ambitious and creative food businesses, inspired by their passion for provenance, quality and innovation. While working full time as a marketing manager for a well-known food brand Jeni began a side hustle creating adventurously flavoured nut butters, selling them locally and delivering to customers by bike: Butter Bike Co.
Since its inception in 2019, Butter Bike Peanut Butters has grown from ‘hobby’ to a national brand supplying key names in the UK’s premium grocery space including Selfridges, Whole Foods Market and Harvey Nichols, as well as much-loved independent delis, farm shops and lifestyle stores across the UK. Their products have scooped coverage with The Telegraph, Observer Food and FT, and have collected awards including the prestigious Guild of Fine Food’s Great Taste stars.
Reflecting on the business Jeni shares, “I love coming to work each day to tackle something new, no day is the same and the challenges of running a business mean I can wear so many different ‘hats’ without being confined to a single role. Being part of an industry which faces so many challenges as we move into an uncertain future impacted by climate change, food insecurity and prolific UPFs, is risky yet rewarding. I work with a product I love – it’s delicious, both nostalgic and innovative, and also really good for you – what’s not to love.”
Find out more about Butter Bike via their website, follow them on Instagram at @butterbikeco, and keep up to date with Jeni on LinkedIn.
Daisy Anderson (MSc Sustainable Development, 2020) – Founder and Executive Chef of ROOBARB’S
Daisy set up ROOBARB’S in 2020 having completed her masters where she learnt about the problems with the current food system; from production, to imports, to food waste. Daisy knew that she wanted to do something that made a difference. She developed the idea for ROOBARB’S over many months, with the main focus on surplus produce; in January 2020, Daisy had her first market stall selling soups in Falmouth, Cornwall.
Fast forward to early 2025, after years of hard work, location changes, different jobs and self-doubts, Daisy has now been running her own business on and off for four years, and she’s now taken ROOBARB’S full time in South London. Hosting events, catering, small batch pantry making; all with seasonal produce at the forefront. Every small idea really does start somewhere!
Speaking about her journey, Daisy reflected on what she’s most proud of, “that people are choosing me. To cook for them in an incredibly busy, skilled and talented hospitality industry. They are choosing my food over others, they are choosing a supper night in a cafe over a restaurant, they are choosing my pantry products over bigger suppliers, they are trusting me to cook on their special (and sometimes most important) days. Don’t get me wrong, there are days where it’s incredibly hard, but people showing up, orders for events coming in through my emails on a daily basis, breakfast pots in cafes selling out, receiving messages asking to cater for an event based on recommendation. That’s the stuff that makes it all worth it. To make food shine. And I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
Find out more about ROOBARB’S via their website, follow them on Instagram at @roobarbsfood and keep up to date with Daisy on LinkedIn.
Keelan Waldock (Sports and Exercise, 2022) – Founder of BWOWNIES
Since graduating Keelan has been on a mission to build the best brownie brand in the world. Like many, his university experience was disrupted by the global pandemic. But in hindsight, he believes it was the best thing that could have happened to him. With the world locked down and e-commerce booming, Keelan’s side hustle quickly turned into a full-fledged brownie business – one that became a full-time job before he’d even graduated: he hasn’t looked back since.
It was Keelan’s nan that suggested he should start selling his family-favourite homemade brownies and create a small business. Whilst at university he relaunched the business complete with a website he built himself, and Keelan sent out a box of BWOWNIES out to Joe Moruzzi, the founder of PLEESECAKES with a letter explaining the story so far. This was shared on Joe’s social media and overnight BWOWNIES blew up with orders and followers increasing. So Keelan’s new small goal is making BWOWNIES into a household name, selling in shops throughout the UK, and eventually taking over the world with BWOWNIES. Simple, right?
Reflecting on the madcap experience that entrepreneurship has been Keelan says, “From catching the attention of ‘Dragons’ Den’ and Steven Bartlett to tricking my university lecturers with a viral April Fools’ campaign about a BWOWNIE McFlurry collab with McDonald’s, it’s been a wild ride. But my proudest moment? Building BWOWNIES alongside my degree, with the sole aim of going full-time the moment I graduated. We’ve come so far, but the journey is just getting started. I can’t wait to create even more unforgettable moments on this mission to build the best brownie brand in the world.”
Find out more about BWOWNIES via their website, follow them on Instagram at @bwownies and keep up to date with Keelan’s career on LinkedIn.
Jamie Wild (Management with Marketing, 2013) – Co-Founder of Feragaia
This year Feragaia was chosen as the top pick in Non-Alcoholic drinks by the New York Times but Jamie’s involvement in this distilled unapologetic alcohol-free spirit made from 14 land and sea botanicals, began back in 2018, leading to the brand’s launch in late 2019. Jamie was inspired to start Feragaia after working in the alcohol industry for many years and feeling strongly that the playing field needed to be levelled to create more confidence for drinkers in alcohol free.
Feragaia – the name means “wild Earth” in Latin and Greek – is the result of a year of tasting and testing by Jamie and his partner Bill Garnock, aiming to challenge negative preconceptions with a truly authentic and confident alcohol-free spirit. It’s also made at a real distillery (and Scotland’s first alcohol-free distillery) which is rare in this category. The project also combines two of Jamie’s greatest passions – the coastline and drinks which make a difference to people’s lives.
The company’s bottles are made from recycled, recyclable glass, and feature a recyclable cap; quite rare for spirits. Packaging is plastic-free and FSC-certified, and the botanicals are all composted after distillation. Environmental care and sustainability are at the heart of the business, as Jamie shares, “I set out to redefine alcohol-free for drinkers by creating Feragaia, an unapologetic 0.0% Free Spirit distilled in Scotland’s first alcohol-free distillery. Our environmental commitment extends from recycled glass bottles to locally sourced botanicals that are composted after distillation. We’ve reduced our supply chain to just 10 miles and partner with organisations like Seawilding. The meaning behind Feragaia—’Wild Earth’—reflects our mission to reconnect our drinkers to the natural environment. While proud of our B Corp score of 85.8, this is just the beginning. My vision is for an industry where transparency and authenticity isn’t the exception, but the norm.”
Find out more about Feragaia via their website, follow them on Instagram at @feragaia and keep up to date with Jamie’s career on LinkedIn including his work at James Wild Sculptures which was supported by a grant from the University of Exeter.
Congratulations to Jeni, Daisy, Keelan and Jamie on all their success so far in their ventures – we’re very proud of you all and can’t wait to follow along with the next chapters of your careers!
We’d love to hear news from our alumni so do always feel free to reach out via email at alumni@exeter.ac.uk, DM us on socials or tag us in your posts. And if you’re interested in finding out more about what other alumni have got up to since graduating, look at our Alumni Profiles website.