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.

The Founder’s Grind: A Week in the Arena

The Founder’s Grind: A Week in the Arena

23rd August 2026 British farming has an inheritance plan. What it needs is an entrance plan We rightly worry about whether family farms can be passed to the next generation. But what chance does someone...
The Holiday Test: Does the Business Really Need You?

The Holiday Test: Does the Business Really Need You?

16th August 2026   Opening Reflection What Happens When You’re Not There? We are well into holiday season. For most employees, the annual holiday is something they look forward to. It is the reward after...
What Is Your Capacity for Stress?

What Is Your Capacity for Stress?

7th August 2026 Opening Reflection  This week I want to talk about stress. It has become one of the great subjects of modern life. Everybody has an opinion about what causes it, how much is...
Twelve Extra Years

Twelve Extra Years

 2nd August 2026   Opening Reflection This week I was reminded that it has been twelve years since my stem cell transplant. Twelve years. Seeing that number written down stopped me in my tracks. It...
Fear, Faith and the AI Revolution

Fear, Faith and the AI Revolution

26th July 2026 Opening Reflection One thing I’ve always known about myself is that I thrive on change. Where most people become anxious and run away from it, I instinctively walk towards it. That’s because...
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The Courage to Think Differently

The Courage to Think Differently

 19th July 2026   Courage Is Becoming a Rare Commodity This week I want to begin by sending my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Ann Widdecombe. I was deeply saddened by the news...
Learning to Let Go

Learning to Let Go

12th July 2026  Learning to Let Go One of the greatest lessons life has taught me is this: you learn far more about a person by watching how they react to things outside their control than...
The Hidden Cost of Running a Business

The Hidden Cost of Running a Business

5th July 2026 Opening Reflection  If there’s one thing that gets my goat more than almost anything else, it’s bureaucracy. Not sensible regulation. Not common-sense rules. I’m talking about the endless, mindless bureaucracy that seems...
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Everyone Wants to Be an Entrepreneur

Everyone Wants to Be an Entrepreneur

28th June 2026   Opening Reflection — Meeting a Fellow Disruptor This week I gave myself a little treat. I went along to a book signing by Simon Woodroffe, the founder of YO! Sushi. I’ve...