1 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:08,559 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Fear and Greed Business Interview. I'm Sean Aylmer. 2 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:12,640 Speaker 1: As companies increasingly push their employees to return to the office, 3 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:16,239 Speaker 1: attention is turning away from mandates to the working environment 4 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 1: they can offer staff, which leads us very neatly to 5 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:22,000 Speaker 1: today's interview. Matt Angus is the head of B to 6 00:00:22,079 --> 00:00:24,560 Speaker 1: B at an Espresso, which is a great supporter of 7 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:27,000 Speaker 1: this podcast. He joins me in the studio. Matt, welcome 8 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:27,680 Speaker 1: to Hear and Greed. 9 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:28,920 Speaker 2: Thank you great to be here. 10 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:31,960 Speaker 1: How much has the workplace changed because of the pandemic 11 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:33,559 Speaker 1: in your view, Yeah. 12 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:36,160 Speaker 2: Look, I think the workplaces and look it's changed a lot. 13 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:38,920 Speaker 2: You know, it seems like such a long time ago, 14 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 2: but it was probably only five or six years ago, 15 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:44,160 Speaker 2: or is only five or six years ago. It's gone 16 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 2: from this environment where I do my work in the office, 17 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:49,000 Speaker 2: and that is where I do my work, to this 18 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:52,840 Speaker 2: environment where I think the office is an opportunity to collaborate, 19 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:56,680 Speaker 2: to bond, to work together, but also balance that with 20 00:00:56,880 --> 00:01:01,280 Speaker 2: working from home and ensuring that you've people have the 21 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 2: right balance between working from home and working from the office. 22 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:07,160 Speaker 1: We're here in Sydney. What amazes me when I'm heading 23 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:10,800 Speaker 1: home and I'm going through this Sydney CBD, just how 24 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 1: busy it is Monday night, Tuesday night, Wednesday night at 25 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:17,600 Speaker 1: six o'clock o'clock people are everywhere. It does seem that 26 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 1: even though we have a kind of hybrid policy, there 27 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:22,959 Speaker 1: are a lot of people around the workplace at the moment. 28 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:26,319 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, there is. Look, we're continuing to see a 29 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:31,400 Speaker 2: small uptick in occupancy year on year. I think it's 30 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:34,760 Speaker 2: still down on COVID, probably twenty to twenty five percent 31 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:37,600 Speaker 2: down on COVID. But when you look at yeah and 32 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 2: year and I talk to some of the customers that 33 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 2: we work with, they are seeing an uptick in office 34 00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 2: occupancy and their staff coming in, which I think is 35 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:49,680 Speaker 2: really great. I think it's a reflection that people are 36 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 2: finding that balance between the benefits that come from working 37 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:56,280 Speaker 2: in the office and the benefits that come from working 38 00:01:56,280 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 2: from home. 39 00:01:57,000 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 1: So that's sort of segues nicely into espresso. Probably you're 40 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 1: head of B to B, your job is all about 41 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 1: talking to big businesses or businesses, including big businesses, to 42 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:10,840 Speaker 1: say what you need to keep your people happy. Is 43 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:11,359 Speaker 1: that how it goes? 44 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:15,119 Speaker 2: Yeah, Yeah, that's certainly part of it. I think, Look, 45 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:17,480 Speaker 2: I lead a team of passionate people that have focused 46 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:21,919 Speaker 2: on really creating partnerships with the coffee solutions that we offer. 47 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 2: And you're right, it's across workplace, it's across offices, it's 48 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 2: across hotels and hospitality, and look, it's a wide variety 49 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 2: of different offerings that we offer that catered to small 50 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 2: business and large business. But I think ultimately what we're 51 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:40,840 Speaker 2: about is trying to create partnerships with our customers and 52 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:44,240 Speaker 2: work with them on a coffee solution that can, to 53 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:46,960 Speaker 2: your point, help drive that right culture and get people 54 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 2: back into the office. 55 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:52,360 Speaker 1: How much has expectations changed in the last couple of years, 56 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:55,720 Speaker 1: and this obviously works into having the right environment, which 57 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:58,240 Speaker 1: may or may not include coffee obviously, how much has 58 00:02:58,280 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 1: it changed. 59 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 2: The expectations on the office? 60 00:03:00,639 --> 00:03:00,919 Speaker 1: Yeah? 61 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, Look, I think particularly when you talk to younger 62 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:07,240 Speaker 2: people and you read the wires and what younger people 63 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 2: are looking for, the expectations continue to grow, and I think, 64 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:13,040 Speaker 2: you know, some of the fundamentals are still there. For me, 65 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:16,799 Speaker 2: an office needs to be a safe environment, not only 66 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 2: physically safe, but I think emotionally safe, and people feel 67 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 2: like they've got the opposity to turn up and be 68 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:26,120 Speaker 2: their authentic selves. I think people are looking for an 69 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:29,840 Speaker 2: office that they can thrive. I don't know anyone that's 70 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:33,840 Speaker 2: not motivated and not excited by growing, learning and developing 71 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:36,520 Speaker 2: when they're in the right environment. So I think that's 72 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 2: that's important. I think people also want to be in 73 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:43,640 Speaker 2: an office where they're part of something bigger. There's a 74 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:45,800 Speaker 2: sense of there's a sense of purpose that they're there. 75 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 2: But I think also when people have this choice of 76 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 2: should I go to the office, or do I need 77 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 2: to go to the office or can I do that 78 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 2: from home? You're right, the expectations of the office has 79 00:03:57,320 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 2: grown and people are looking for an environment now where 80 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 2: they can find the balance between working at a desk 81 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:08,240 Speaker 2: on their own, finding the right appropriate sized meeting room 82 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 2: to have the appropriate meeting, but also space where people 83 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:18,640 Speaker 2: and teams can collaborate socialized brainstorm And I guess that's 84 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:21,559 Speaker 2: where a coffee can play really key role in helping 85 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 2: to facilitate some of those conversations that are just not 86 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 2: possible when you're doing it via Microsoft Teams or whatever 87 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:31,760 Speaker 2: connection platform you use. 88 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:35,280 Speaker 1: It's kind of like the water cooler conversation. Yeah, it's 89 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 1: probably more like a coffee machine conversation. Is that real? 90 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:43,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think, you know, let's go and have a 91 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 2: Coffee's a fairly common catchphrase that Australia and use, but 92 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:51,080 Speaker 2: I think genuinely in the workplace that can be a 93 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:54,240 Speaker 2: really important kickstart to conversations. I think it can get 94 00:04:54,279 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 2: people away from their desk, get them having a brainstorm 95 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:03,280 Speaker 2: or collaborative type. I think, you know, let's sit down 96 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:06,800 Speaker 2: and have a coffee can also be an opportunity to 97 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 2: break down some tension points or break down some barriers 98 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 2: that might be between two people that are having a 99 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 2: disagreement about something. And I touched earlier on the importance 100 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 2: of mental health and well being in the workplace, and 101 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:22,680 Speaker 2: you know, we talk around some of those conversations are 102 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:26,160 Speaker 2: actually it's starting those conversations with someone that's going through 103 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:30,120 Speaker 2: a difficult period is the most difficult, either for the 104 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 2: individual that's going through that challenge or someone that's looking 105 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 2: from the outside going I can see there's something wrong there, 106 00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 2: and so let's sit down and chat over coffee can 107 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:41,840 Speaker 2: really help stimulate those conversations. 108 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:43,720 Speaker 1: And presumably at the end of all this, because I mean, 109 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:46,039 Speaker 1: I know you did a research a couple of years 110 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:49,520 Speaker 1: ago you talk about mental health and culture. Presumably all 111 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 1: of this, though, is about the end of the day. 112 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:53,920 Speaker 1: A business is there to make money. Yeah, and if 113 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:55,920 Speaker 1: you can actually have a better culture, if you're looking 114 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:58,080 Speaker 1: up to your people, et cetera, then you're going to 115 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 1: do better. And that's kind of where you fit in. 116 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, look, one hundred percent, that's where it comes from, 117 00:06:02,640 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 2: this notion of partnership. Yeah, we're obviously in business to 118 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 2: sell coffee without a doubt, but ultimately we're around creating 119 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:14,840 Speaker 2: partnerships with our customers to create that appropriate and that 120 00:06:14,839 --> 00:06:18,560 Speaker 2: that correct environment. And you know, I can certainly reflect 121 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 2: on times when I've been in cultures that weren't high performing, 122 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 2: that weren't thriving, and it's and it's not a not 123 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:28,040 Speaker 2: a fun place to be. And I think, you know, 124 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 2: there's differing views on mandate back to the office, but 125 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:36,040 Speaker 2: I think ultimately long term businesses need to be looking 126 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:40,279 Speaker 2: to create environments where people are motivated and by choice 127 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:42,680 Speaker 2: come to the office three or four days a week, 128 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:46,840 Speaker 2: as opposed to oh, well it's Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, I've 129 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:49,159 Speaker 2: got to be in the office because ultimately, I think 130 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:53,720 Speaker 2: in today's environment, that's not going to create a thriving workplace. 131 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 2: Employees going to be disengaged and it spirals from there. 132 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:02,880 Speaker 1: So you also mentioned that you deal with hotels. Yeah, 133 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:05,600 Speaker 1: now I can't. I mean, in my mind, I know 134 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:08,680 Speaker 1: exactly what you're talking about. What's happening in that sort 135 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:09,120 Speaker 1: of space. 136 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:12,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, Look, I think hotels is an interesting it's an 137 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:17,600 Speaker 2: instant space. I think tourism has rebounded pretty well post COVID, 138 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 2: and so hotels are thriving off the back of continued 139 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 2: strong tourism. I think, not only within Australia, but also 140 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 2: coming from overseas. I think we continue to see a 141 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:35,200 Speaker 2: trend of people looking to pay for premium, so four 142 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:38,720 Speaker 2: and five star hotels continue to grind develop, and I 143 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:43,120 Speaker 2: think there's also a mix coming through of hotels focused 144 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:46,679 Speaker 2: on business, but also hotels focused on leisure and creating 145 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:50,200 Speaker 2: those different environments. And again we've got a variety of 146 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:54,880 Speaker 2: different solutions that can cater to different coffee moments within 147 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:55,760 Speaker 2: a hotel. 148 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:58,240 Speaker 1: I have to just go personal here, So what's the 149 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:00,560 Speaker 1: most popular coffee? Like we off air with discussing, I 150 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 1: remember when you opened a store near where I live 151 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 1: and actually bought the machine, and I love the fact 152 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:07,440 Speaker 1: that you got the big bag and you just looked 153 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:09,640 Speaker 1: fancy when you're walking out in the store of the whole bit. 154 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 2: So when it comes to when it comes to consumption 155 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:17,480 Speaker 2: in personal household, a pgo is certainly by fine a way. 156 00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 2: Our most popular variant is that the purple one. Yeah, 157 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 2: the purple one. Yeah. I think one of the unique 158 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:27,320 Speaker 2: things around then, especially professional side of the business, is 159 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:30,600 Speaker 2: our capsules are unique in our machine, just specifically designed 160 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:34,839 Speaker 2: to work with those unique capsules. So probably the most 161 00:08:34,840 --> 00:08:40,040 Speaker 2: popular variant would be Rostrato Intenso Australians, New Zealanders, whoever 162 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 2: it is that's drinking our coffee, they love it. They 163 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:44,800 Speaker 2: love it strong, right, But that is one of the 164 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:49,040 Speaker 2: reasons why we created those unique capsules. It also ensures 165 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:52,840 Speaker 2: that from business perspective, they can control their infantry. It 166 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:56,800 Speaker 2: limits the opportunity for people to use those I guess 167 00:08:57,000 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 2: work funded capsules outside of the workplace. 168 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:02,520 Speaker 1: Very quickly before we go because we're out of time. 169 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 1: Pricing and coffee, because we've done a few stories over 170 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:08,040 Speaker 1: the last year about the price of coffee going through 171 00:09:08,040 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 1: the river. It's a global market, yeah, it's it's not 172 00:09:10,679 --> 00:09:13,480 Speaker 1: specific to any particular organization. How do you manage that 173 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:14,720 Speaker 1: A great question. 174 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 2: Look, I think we look to optimize our supply chain 175 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:22,080 Speaker 2: as much as possible, and look, coffee prices are going up, 176 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 2: so that is a that is a challenge. I think 177 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:27,920 Speaker 2: we make choice full decisions on what we do from 178 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 2: a price and perspective, and I think anyone that wants 179 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:34,360 Speaker 2: to reach out and talk to us and look at 180 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:36,280 Speaker 2: the price for our capsules relative to what you can 181 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:39,200 Speaker 2: pay for a Barista capture, we'll see that you know 182 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:40,720 Speaker 2: that we're very competitively priced. 183 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 1: Fantastic, Matt, thank you for talking to Fear and Greed. 184 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:44,040 Speaker 2: Fantastic. Thank you. 185 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:46,000 Speaker 1: That was Matt Angers, head of B to B at 186 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:48,600 Speaker 1: an Espresso, a great supporter of this podcast. This is 187 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:51,360 Speaker 1: the Fear and Greed Business Interview. Join us every morning 188 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:54,400 Speaker 1: for the full episode of Fear and Greed Business news 189 00:09:54,600 --> 00:10:01,439 Speaker 1: you can use I'm sham Enjoy your day.