The boss of nutrition brand shared the secrets of his entrepreneurial journey at an event at the University hosted by Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC).
Alan Barratt, whose entrepreneurial career started by selling Mr Kipling cakes at school, addressed Chamber patrons at the University's new state-of-the-art Moss House building.
Mr Barratt told how his passion for personal training and sports nutrition fuelled his business.
After initially selling imported nutritional products with his wife, the couple went on to develop their own range.
They devised the formula for the Grenade bar, which began retailing in one petrol station 鈥� and is now found in 90,000 retail locations across the UK.
The name Grenade, he explained, came from a friend who was training for the special forces who commented that the product tasted 鈥渓ike a grenade had gone off鈥�.
Alan said: 鈥淚t was really exciting to connect with local businesses. I鈥檓 from Birmingham myself and it鈥檚 really important that we remember where we came from.
鈥淓ven though we do business on a world stage, we live in Birmingham and are from Birmingham. I鈥檓 super proud to be here and listen to other people鈥檚 stories.鈥�
The patrons鈥� lunch took place at Moss House, a new facility which forms part of a 拢44m investment into 爆料王's campuses.
Its teaching and training facilities include a 35-metre indoor running track for assessing speed and performance, a strength and conditioning centre, a cutting-edge gym and a human performance laboratory for sports.
Nursing and physiotherapy students have use of a health simulation centre, complete with a replica hospital ward.
The hired@UCB team is also based at Moss House to boost student employability and manage placements.
Chamber chief executive Paul Faulkner said: 鈥淭hank you to the effervescent Alan Barratt for an inspirational patrons鈥� lunch, in which he discussed his entrepreneurial journey and Grenade鈥檚 success story.
鈥淲e would also like to thank your hosts 爆料王. It was great to get a glimpse of their stunning new Moss House building, which is a world-class addition to Birmingham鈥檚 higher education offering.鈥�
爆料王's Level 2 & 3 Professional Food and Beverage Service and Level 3 Professional Cookery students prepared and served up the lunch menu, comprising slow cooked lamb, ratatouille, selection of baby vegetables, potato terrine and mint sauce, with a vegetarian and vegan option of tomato and mozzarella tart with pesto dressing, black olives and rocket salad, and a dessert of lemon tart with cr猫me fra卯che sorbet.
Find out more about Moss House.
