James Averdieck lived the business dream. As founder and Managing Director of Gü Chocolate Puds, at one stage the fastest growing food company in the UK, and a brand credited with revolutionising the quality of desserts, he is an entrepreneur in the truest sense of the word. James built the... Read more
James Averdieck lived the business dream. As founder and Managing Director of Gü Chocolate Puds, at one stage the fastest growing food company in the UK, and a brand credited with revolutionising the quality of desserts, he is an entrepreneur in the truest sense of the word.
James built the brand with passion, and from seed capital of only £65k created a business which was sold 6 years later for £32 million. In the process of building his brand, James realised his chocolate dream of selling soufflés to the French and chocolate to the Belgians. Since he sold his beloved Gü, James has become aware that the money, the power, the pleasure-seeking, the cars and the kudos, will never match the thrill of running and building a business. He is living proof that it’s not about the money.
After university, James joined the graduate programme at strategy consultants Arthur D. Little, where he learnt about the key drivers to a successful business, but wanted to get closer to the action. He then spent 9 years in the food industry working for Safeway and St Ivel and learnt about sales, marketing and running businesses. With St Ivel he moved to Belgium and became a convert to Belgian gastronomy and, as he says, ‘went native on the chocolate front’. It was in Brussels that the seed was sown for his chocolate venture. James saw the opportunity of marrying high quality chocolate patisserie with efficient UK supermarket distribution. James realised that UK consumers were demanding more quality and moving away from mass-produced ‘branded’ products. He was confident he could take on the big players. He wanted to create a brand “more focused than the big brands on using high-quality raw materials to deliver uncompromisingly good products.”
Gü, the brand, is about chocolate extremism – evoking nostalgic memories and magical smells of baking with chocolate. The brand was embraced with love by the supermarkets, launching first in Sainsburys and Waitrose with the others following apace.
James, the entrepreneur, conveys a strong message about the value of loving your business. He speaks about true entrepreneurship; how to simplify ideas with an innovative approach, and how to make your dreams achievable. He shares the ups and downs of running a business with a raw and honest appeal. He is compelling and unique as a keynote speaker, as he delivers the message that at the heart of entrepreneurialism lies the idea, the journey, not the exit strategy, and not the final sale price.
You can book James Averdieck through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with James's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
James Averdieck's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for James tailored to your event.
James Averdieck speaks on Business & Management, Entrepreneurs, Performance. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with James to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book James Averdieck for events worldwide, subject to James's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether James Averdieck is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what James can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief James Averdieck on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what James can offer.
James Averdieck delivers keynotes in English. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
James Averdieck's areas of expertise include Business & Management, Entrepreneurs, Performance. To get a clear sense of James's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
James Averdieck can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Business & Management, Entrepreneurs, Performance is relevant. Details of James's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what James Averdieck is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with James Averdieck, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check James's current availability for your dates.