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.

A Rant, A Birth, and A Reminder

A Rant, A Birth, and A Reminder

12th April 2026 Opening Reflection — This Week I’m Going to Rant Right — this week I’m going to rant. Because nothing frustrates me more than bad service. And not just bad service — institutionalised...
The Reality of the Weekly Grind

The Reality of the Weekly Grind

5th April 2026 Opening Reflection    Making a commitment to writing a weekly blog is far more challenging than I first thought. In the early weeks, it’s easy. You have plenty to say — ideas,...
Adapting, Evolving, and Staying in the Fight

Adapting, Evolving, and Staying in the Fight

29th March 2026 Opening Reflection — Gadgets and Getting Older I’m a man who loves his gadgets. This week I picked up a new one — a pair of glasses with a built-in hearing aid....
Here’s a Glass to Uncertainty

Here’s a Glass to Uncertainty

22nd March 2026   This week I want to focus this blog around what I have to say is my favourite subject, which is uncertainty. I’ve spoken about uncertainty many times before on my blogs,...
The Founder’s Grind: A Week in the Arena

The Founder’s Grind: A Week in the Arena

15th March 2026 A Conversation About the Future   I had a very interesting conversation with my son Alexander this week. Alexander joined the business just over a year ago as our Commercial Director and...
The Founder’s Grind: A Week in the Arena

The Founder’s Grind: A Week in the Arena

8th March 2026 A Ghost Town in Battersea   This week I popped into the Apple shop at Battersea Power Station to get my phone sorted out. It was Tuesday afternoon around 2.30pm. What struck...
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Who Do We Really Celebrate

Who Do We Really Celebrate

1st March 2026 Opening Reflection After another gruelling day at the shop, I decided to unwind with something mindless. Nothing heavy. Nothing requiring brain power. Just background noise. I put the BAFTAs on iPlayer. And...
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...