Words from the Wise – Monika Linton

Monika Linton, founder of Brindisa and Brindisa Tapas Kitchens, shares her business secrets

Don't try to be all things to all people Build the strength and resources in the business to help you deal with areas such as HR and IT systems and be prepared to face the music professionally if you need to make hard decisions about staff, suppliers or customers. The business has to work for the whole, not just a select few. Any business will gain a life of its own and have its own needs and, as it grows, certain decisions need to be made objectively and without personalities attached.

Keep healthy Make time for exercise, sport, healthy eating and hobbies and encourage this in others, as this is an important counterbalance to the pressure of being a business owner. A good state of physical and mental health is not only an excellent feeling but also a fine example to set to all your colleagues.

Know your business strategy Be sure to have decided if the business is going to drive for larger profits in a shorter time frame or organically with a quieter pressure on driving profits, so that the products or service you select match your business plan. At Brindisa, we have grown organically and maintained a complex mix of products, sectors and services - our range balances exceptional products from smaller producers with more affordable lines that appeal to a broad audience.

Value people at all levels Learn to delegate and empower them and make time for them both within work and socially. I like to feel that we are good at fostering people's natural interests and abilities this way, keeping the "mother dough" of the business alive. It helps to also understand when it's time to part; a healthy team builds trust and collaboration even once people move on.

Keep a diary Write notes and archive them well as time passes fast. In no time, you would have a valuable record of your own evolution with the business, market changes and your team's experiences. This can be invaluable to communicating your company's background to your customers.

business mantra
Don't be complacent. We haven't made it but we are running a good business. We have so many great people working in Brindisa with customers and suppliers to provide fabulous foods and information to those who want it.

However, being among the first in our field we cannot sit back on our laurels. Competitors have the positive effect of keeping us on our toes and forcing us to be brave and keep innovating and improving.

CV Highlights
1983-86 Worked in Catalunya as commis chef and teacher
1988 Set up Brindisa
1990-1994 Began working with several members of staff still with her today; Spain became a full EU member, allowing Brindisa to extend its portfolio; the Barcelona Olympics gave the company a unique sales opportunity as a pioneer of quality Spanish foods
1998 Began to retail from Borough Market
2004 Opened the first of three Tapas restaurants with new sister company