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 that shape how a person thinks, acts, and leads.

And then, there’s the business side. Metcalfe doesn’t sugarcoat it—building these massive brands wasn’t easy. But he speaks with such clarity about how things like transparency, trust, and creating a culture of love and care have been at the heart of it all. It’s not just about making money—though let’s be real, that’s a nice side effect. It’s about cultivating a space where people want to be, where employees feel valued, where customers walk in and feel seen. The trick, he says? Being able to see the potential in others. Simple, but revolutionary. And maybe that’s why he’s had so much success.

There are moments in this conversation where Julian’s thoughts just kind of spiral—one minute, he’s talking about risk-taking, the next, he’s dropping wisdom on maintaining balance between work and personal life. Relationships. Hard work. Treating people with respect. He makes it sound almost easy—when we all know it’s anything but. But there’s this rawness in his words that cuts through all the fluff and gets straight to the core. He believes in audacity—and it’s hard not to feel fired up just listening to him.

And listen, if you want to hear more of these stories, the grit, the growth, the human side of it all, go check out the full conversation on The Diary of a CEO channel. Trust me, this episode is one that’ll get your brain buzzing long after you’re done listening. Oh, and before you go, like, share, and don’t forget to subscribe. You won’t want to miss what’s coming next.