5 minutes with Chief Squirrel Pippa Murray, Founder of Pip & Nut

by TRIBE Co-Founders, Guy, Rob & Tom

  • What were you doing before setting up Pip & Nut?

Nothing to do with nut butter! I was actually working at The Science Museum as a producer for children’s theatre shows. We used to tour big shows around the UK, which was fun. Before that, I studied Anthropology at UCL.

  • What lead you to start Pip & Nut / how did the idea come about?

The idea for Pip & Nut came about around four years ago now. I was training for a marathon and I would always eat peanut butter as a post-run treat. However I noticed that most of the brands available in supermarkets were quite processed and had lots of added sugars and palm oil. At the other end of the spectrum, the healthier options were either pretty inaccessible or just very unexciting (or both!). I wanted to create a natural nut butter brand that stripped the product back to basics, focused on great quality ingredients and generally appealed to a much wider, younger demographic. I spent a few months in my kitchen, messing around with flavours and ingredients during my evenings and weekends and selling my nut butters at Maltby St Market in Bermondsey. I realised there was scope for a scalable business so I decided to go for it and Pip & Nut eventually launched into Selfridges in January 2015.

  • What has been the highlight of the Pip & Nut journey so far?

It has been a pretty incredible journey so far, but one of the main highlights to date would be winning our Sainsbury’s listing in our first year. I nearly fell off my chair with excitement when I got the call confirming the listing! That was a big moment for Pip & Nut and has really helped shaped the brand into what it is today.

  • What’s in the pipeline for Pip & Nut (or is it a secret)?

We have some really exciting plans in the pipeline for this year. I can’t say too much just yet but all will be revealed in a few months. As well as some new nut butters, we have been developing a whole new product range, which we are seriously excited about. Keep your eyes on our social media for more news…

  • What do you do to keep fit?

I still love running and will often run home from work in the evening and try and squeeze in a longer run at the weekends. I also try and cycle around London as much as I can and like going to spin classes at BOOM Cycle.

  • What’s been your greatest sporting achievement/ success?

I don’t think you ever forget your first marathon. Mine was the first Brighton Marathon around 7 years ago. The route itself is pretty flat so a good one to start with and I completed it in 3 hr 36 mins but it was that feeling when I crossed the finish line that I still remember today – that overwhelming mixture of relief, joy, disbelief and pride all wrapped into one adrenaline fuelled moment. That feeling is what spurs me on to continue entering marathons year after year.

  • Do you have any 2017 challenges coming up?

I was meant to run the Rome Marathon this year but dropped out as work got the better of me and my training slipped. The plan is to get a few half marathons in my diary though as it’s slightly easier to fit the training in and around my work, which at times can be a bit full on, but still give me something to train towards which I like.

  • What’s your go-to post work out snack?

Nut butter on toast of course! I have a big soft spot for our Crunchy Maple Peanut Butter which most of time I’m lucky if it even makes it onto the bread if I’m honest.

  • We love the new Crunchy Maple Peanut Butter edition, how has it gone down with the squirrel community?

We knew it would be popular but the Crunchy Maple Peanut Butter has gone down better than we ever expected. In fact we get emails on an almost daily basis from squirrels begging us not to take it away! We love it too, so it may be hanging round for a little longer than planned…