From Meal Kits to Matcha: Patrick Drake’s Delicious Journey to Purposeful Entrepreneurship
In this episode of our podcast, "Just Curious..." PRN's co-founders Nicky and George sit down with Patrick Drake—TV chef, author, co-founder of HelloFresh UK, and now the visionary behind wellness brand Autonomy. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build a disruptive business from scratch and stay true to your values along the way, this one’s for you.
Patrick’s story begins in a London housing estate with a sponge and a bucket, cleaning cars at eight years old. Fast forward to 2012, and he’s dressed as a carrot in train stations to launch the then-novel concept of meal kits with HelloFresh. His early hustle paid off—today, HelloFresh delivers over a billion meals annually across 18 countries.
What’s striking about Patrick is his insistence that businesses need a face, which is critical to brand building and integral to the future of PR. He understood instinctively that customers connect more deeply with people than with logos. By building his personal brand—through YouTube, TV shows and his 60 Second Chef series—he injected soul into HelloFresh, setting a precedent that today’s influencer economy has fully embraced.
Now in the US building his new business, Autonomy Foods, Patrick is rewriting the morning ritual. Tired of sugary, filler-laden alternatives to milk and matcha, he created a superfood creamer infused with functional mushrooms. The product reflects his ethos: nourish your body, reclaim your time, and live with intention. Endorsements from the likes of wellness gurus Gwyneth Paltrow and Dr Mark Hyman underscore how far his vision has come.
Patrick’s approach to reputation is refreshingly grounded: “Your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.”
Whether building businesses or brewing matcha, his message is clear—lead with integrity, tell your story, and never underestimate the power of a well-placed carrot. Listen now by clicking this link or wherever you get your podcasts.
@autonomyfoods
@PatrickDrake