A No-Holds-Barred Weekly Diary by Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones

Running a business isn’t glamorous. It isn’t glossy. And it certainly isn’t what most people imagine when they see the finished product on a supermarket shelf or visit one of our farm shops.

Behind every pack of sausages, every jar of seasoning, every till that rings — there are battles. Daily battles. Some you win, some you don’t. So I’ve decided it’s time to tell the truth. Every week, I’ll be sharing a raw, honest, unfiltered look at the life of a founder fighting to keep a retail business alive and thriving in modern Britain. No PR spin. No inspirational waffle. Just the reality: the highs, the lows, and the moments you wouldn’t believe unless you lived them.

You’ll see the tough decisions, the frustrations, the breakthroughs, the risks, the customer stories, and the sheer grit it takes to run The Black Farmer brand. Some weeks I’m the CEO. Some weeks I’m the cleaner, the counsellor, or the bouncer. That’s the job. And this diary is where I’ll tell it exactly as it is.

If you’re interested in business, retail, entrepreneurship, community, or just want to know what really goes on behind the scenes…Subscribe to The Founder’s Grind and follow the journey. Expect honesty. Expect surprises. Expect a few raised eyebrows. And above all — expect the truth.

Sign up now and join me on this weekly ride.

Theory Doesn’t Survive the First Punch

Theory Doesn’t Survive the First Punch

22nd February 2026. Opening Reflection   I must say, I can’t get my head around something. Why would someone spend years learning the theory of business — studying case studies, balance sheets, strategy frameworks —...
The Founder’s Grind: A Week in the Arena

The Founder’s Grind: A Week in the Arena

15th February 2026. Opening Reflection   Things remain tough. And when business is tough, I sometimes find myself asking a very simple question: Why would anyone choose to be an entrepreneur? Surely no sane person...
When Hope Comes Back in Inches

When Hope Comes Back in Inches

8th February 2026. Opening Reflection I must say, I’m glad to see the back of January. It’s been a brutal month. Business has been atrocious, but beyond that, this January has felt heavier than previous...
Why Britain Struggles With Entrepreneurs

Why Britain Struggles With Entrepreneurs

1st February 2026. Opening Reflection I was born in Jamaica, in a place called Frankfield, in the parish of Clarendon. I came to this country when I was four years old, part of a wave of...
Retail Is Human Nature in Disguise

Retail Is Human Nature in Disguise

25th January 2026.     Opening Reflection I’ve always been fascinated by retail. Not just because it’s my livelihood, but because it’s one of the purest ways to understand human nature. Sometimes I wonder that...
What Customers Don’t See (And Why This Life Isn’t for Everyone)

What Customers Don’t See (And Why This Life Isn’t for Everyone)

18th January 2026.   Opening Reflection There’s a strange illusion about retail. Customers walk into a shop, see the shelves stocked, the lights on, the coffee flowing, and assume the business is simply there — stable, solid,...
The Founder’s Grind: A Week in the Arena

The Founder’s Grind: A Week in the Arena

11th January 2026.   Opening Reflection   Ask anybody in retail and they’ll tell you the same thing: January is a nightmare. Customers go into batten-down-the-hatches mode. Christmas is over, wallets snap shut, and everyone...
A Year of Big Experiments: Predictions, Targets, and the Joy of Not Knowing

A Year of Big Experiments: Predictions, Targets, and the Joy of Not Knowing

4th January 2026.   Opening Reflection I’m going to take a leaf out of my favourite daughter’s book. (And yes, I love saying that because people look at me in horror — like I’ve just...
Learning to Live with Uncertainty: A Year in Review

Learning to Live with Uncertainty: A Year in Review

28th December 2025.   Opening Reflection As 2025 draws to a close, I’ve been thinking less about what we achieved and more about what the year revealed. Retail has a brutal way of holding up...