Bees' Knees Comms-Cast Pinstone, Catherine Linch

In this episode of the Bees' Knees Comms-Cast, Harry Mayhew of Ember Snacks delves into how their commitment to natural, healthy ingredients and meat provenance is transforming the snack industry. Hear Ember's story – from a Suffolk family farm to a beacon of sustainable snacking.

B Corp Month has been the perfect reason for us to bring back our Pinstone podcast with a new look and new name. We’re super exited to share our first episode where Catherine speaks to the founder of a fantastic B Corp company really shaking up their sector, but for now, here is a taster of what's to come.

The Agri Food Comms-Cast is back for episode 5 of season 4! This month our host, Catherine Linch, welcomes managing director of Glebe Farm Foods, Rebecca Rayner.
They are most famous in farming circles for taking a hardline stance against multinational Oatly who attempted to sue them over the name and branding of Glebe’s PureOaty oat milk. In this true ‘David and Goliath’ story, Rebecca offers the point of view of the family owned independent, which gained the support and trust of the consumer to not only win the case, but capitalise on the marketing opportunity to give immense leverage to the emerging brand.
Rebecca delves into the farm’s gluten-free oat milk ‘farm to fork’ journey, with growing, milling, processing and marketing all handled directly by the company – a rare thing in today’s often extended supply chains

In this month’s episode of the Agri Food Comms-Cast, we’re delving into the audio channel of podcasting; two years on from launching the Agri-Food Comms Cast.
Host Catherine Linch welcomes Johann Tasker, chief reporter at Farmers Weekly and co-host of the Farmers Weekly Podcast. Johann joins us to discuss how their podcast is structured and its range of focus, format, and frequency.
Alongside them is marketing director at The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and sustainable marketer Gemma Butler who is also host of the ‘Can Marketing Save the Planet?’ podcast, who explains the role for podcasting within a wider content strategy.
They also explore the techniques for captivating an audience and we even get an insight into some of their favourite podcasts. Definitely worth a listen for anyone considering producing their own podcast.

The Agri-Food Comms Cast was first broadcast on Earth Day 2022, and delves into the opportunity for businesses to engage more proactively with the environment.
In episode three, season four of the podcast, our host, Catherine Linch, is joined by founder of Sustainability Impact Agency, betternotstop, Hannah Cox, who is also a B-Corp Ambassador and B Leader.
They are joined in conversation with inspirational business woman Carmen O’Neal, founder of gin producers, 58 and Co, a Certified B Corporation.
The B Corporation Movement is a certification open to ‘for profit’ companies to undergo a rigorous assessment to show they meet high social and environmental standards, along with transparency and accountability.
Becoming a B-Corp is proven to have a positive impact on business and staff teams, as well as benefiting the environment and wider society.
In the podcast, we ask why businesses choose this path, and how to make the transition authentically – and importantly, avoid ‘greenwashing’.  We also explore the communications opportunities for improving internal engagement and how brands can add value and improve customer perception and loyalty.
As a team, Pinstone are excited to begin their B-Corp journey, and look forward to the proactive and positive impact the team can have on society and the climate.
See attached below for more information.
UK B-Corp Performance Research Report November 2020
UK B-Corps performance review

The Agri-Food Comms Cast delves into the value of ‘asking the audience’ and the approach behind the AHDB’s Shape the Future ballot.
In episode two of season four of the podcast, our host Catherine Linch is joined by Roseanne Thomas, Director of Communications at AHDB.
The Shape the Future ballot provides the opportunity for 100,000 farmers and growers in the UK to have their say and influence where funding is directed.
While knowing your audience and using market research is a staple for the comms industry, It’s the first time in its history that the levy board has ever taken this approach.
We ask if it’s a change that’s needed to AHDB’s activities; or is it more the case that they need to do a better job of reaching out to raise awareness and make what they do more accessible to those that fund them.
We also challenge Roseanne on how the AHDB intends to roll out the findings from the ballot once the results are in.
The Shape the Future ballot intends to help AHDB glean insight into the needs of farmers and growers and aid funding decisions going forward.