The founder of one of the North West’s fastest growing companies has been confirmed as a speaker for BusinessCloud’s FUEL Liverpool event on May 16th.
Stephen Smullen has grown Knowsley-based PB Group – which includes Protein Bargain Wholesale and five other brands – into a £30m turnover business in just five years and with zero investment.
The entrepreneur is targeting £100m turnover by 2030 and will be sharing his story at our unique FUEL Liverpool event next month, created to fuel business growth for promising startups and scaleups.
He’ll be joined by several other speakers including Michelle Laithwaite, CEO and co-founder of fast-growing premium meal prep delivery business FuelHub, which is based in Warrington.
Speaking ahead of the event Smullen said: “It’s all about passion and drive. I’ve never woken up in the last five years and not wanted to go to work. It’s my passion and I love doing what I do.
“My approach is to reinvest, reinvest and reinvest in better technology and additional staff.”
PB Wholesale is the fastest growing supplement wholesaler in the UK, distributing over 70 of the world’s best brands in sports nutrition. It currently handles around 25,000 orders per month.
Smullen said providing brilliant customer service was non-negotiable as the business – PB Group – targets £100m turnover by 2030.
He said: “About 95 per cent of our current turnover is UK-based. The Middle East and Europe are both growing markets and will be crucial going forward.”
Smullen will be joined by Michelle Laithwaite, who founded FuelHub in 2019 with her former professional rugby league player husband James.
FuelHub has been powering over 168,000 athletes across 25 elite sports in the UK – including Chelsea FC, Fulham FC, Manchester United FC, Team GB and England Rugby Union.
James and Michelle Laithwaite, FuelHub
FUEL Liverpool is a two-part event which begins with a breakfast panel where entrepreneurs and experts will share their experiences and consider the current landscape for business.
Register for breakfast panel & networking
Part two of FUEL Liverpool is an exclusive masterclass where a select group of 25+ businesses will be invited to gain direct access to experts and respected names from the world of business. Please email [email protected] to register your interest for this session.
The event is part of the official LCR Innovation Investment Fortnight (IIF) programme, held from 12th-23rd May. The IIF is an annual showcase of the distinctive approaches, world-leading assets and £2bn investment opportunities that put the Liverpool City Region at the UK forefront of place-based innovation. #LCRinnovation.
Other confirmed speakers taking part include Scott Robertson, co-founder, Haulage Hub; Adam Shore, director, Liverpool Business School at LJMU; Nicola Docking, MD, Poke Marketing; Rob Sims, CEO, Sum Vivas; Madina Barker, director and owner, CNC Robotics; and George Wright, investment manager, LCR Finance Hub.
The event is supported by Growth Platform and Liverpool Business School at Liverpool John Moores University.