Alice Rendle is MD of Edgcumbes in Arundle, Sussex.  She runs a strongly diversified business incorporating tea blending, coffee roasting - trade and retail - and a successful cafe.  The business has recently invested strongly in developing an online presence.  

In this highly practical interview John and Alice discuss:

• The need for all businesses to be flexible and consider "what can I do?" in terms of generating cash now - even during lockdown.
• How to develop a takeaway offer that is simple, fast and profitable.
• Why she has focused heavily on the local community and local suppliers and why this will continue to serve her business well.  
• How she has used local radio, during this time, to great success - to generate immediate cash and long term new customers.
• Why you need to be a bit "Barrow Boy" during this phase.
• The importance of ruthlessly examining your current business and fixing any equipment or operational processes.
• The importance of staying "very lean" during this phase, despite the current very strong profits from her cafe, because the next phase is going to be very difficult.