Working in the Speciality Drinks Industry: My First Few Months at Blendsmiths

Starting a new role always comes with a mix of excitement and plenty to learn. That's pretty much how my first few months at Blendsmiths have felt, except now I also have strong opinions on matcha, chai and chocolate (which I definitely didn't see coming).

It's been a really positive start. Busy, fast-paced and occasionally chaotic, but in the best possible way.

It's one of those places where you're trusted to get stuck in from day one. There's lots of momentum, plenty of ideas flying around and people genuinely want to improve things, which makes a huge difference.

No Two Days Are the Same

If I had to describe my average day in one word, it would be varied.

Most days involve analysing sales data, understanding customer behaviour, managing invoicing and credit control, and helping keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes.

A big part of my role is turning numbers into meaningful insights. It's not just about understanding what's happened, but identifying what we should do next.

Discovering the World Behind the Drinks

One thing I didn't expect was just how much goes into every product. Whether it's matcha, chai or chocolate, each has its own challenges, from sourcing and pricing to customer buying habits.

Costing has been particularly interesting. Learning how ingredients, sourcing decisions and production scale all influence margins has given me a completely different perspective on the products we sell.

I've also learnt that creating recipes isn't simply a case of throwing your favourite ingredients into a cup. The team's knowledge and creativity are incredible, producing drinks I'd never have imagined, let alone been able to create myself.

I've also realised how connected everything is. Stock levels, lead times and sales trends all feed into the numbers. You understand it in theory, but seeing it happen in real time is something else. And yes, I now notice matcha, chai and hot chocolate on pretty much every café menu I walk past.

Highlights So Far

One of the most rewarding projects I've worked on has been analysing customer behaviour, identifying customers who've quietly stopped ordering certain products, spotting opportunities to increase basket size and finding ways to re-engage accounts across the range.

It's the kind of work that genuinely helps shape business decisions rather than simply reporting on them, which makes it incredibly satisfying.

I've also discovered, somewhat unexpectedly, that I enjoy cleaning up data. There's something very satisfying about turning chaos into clarity.

And, of course, I definitely didn't expect part of my job to involve sampling hot chocolate. No complaints there.

Looking Ahead

Another recent highlight was attending Lunch! North. It was a brilliant event with loads of energy and a great opportunity to see the Blendsmiths brand out in the real world.

Even more daunting, I was trusted to make drinks for visitors. It's not exactly my usual comfort zone, but it was a fantastic experience and gave me an even greater appreciation for the skill that goes into every cup.

It's been a really strong start with a huge amount of learning. There are plenty of opportunities to add value, improve processes and make a genuine impact, which makes the role both exciting and meaningful.

Now that I feel like I've got my head around the business, I'm looking forward to getting even more stuck in. And if nothing else, I can now confidently talk about matcha, chai and chocolate—and just about make them too—which feels like solid progress.

Looking forward to what's next.