Dish It Dirty Podcast

In the very first episode of Dish It Dirty, David Revell sits down with industry heavyweight Mike Revell—former Managing Director across multiple major businesses within the cleaning, catering and food packaging industrys and founder of the UK’s largest catering and hygiene buying group, the Socius Network.With nearly 40 years at the top of the sector, Mike breaks down what’s really happening behind the headlines.From geopolitical conflict to collapsing supply chains, rising costs, and broken legislation, this episode explores the forces quietly reshaping the cleaning, hygiene, food packaging, and hospitality industries.You’ll learn:Why the current global conflict could trigger major product shortagesHow supply chains unravel (and why recovery takes months—not weeks)The real impact of inflation, energy costs, and EPR legislationWhy hospitality is under more pressure than everWhat separates businesses that survive vs. those that collapseLeadership lessons from decades in high-pressure marketsWhether you're a distributor, manufacturer, or operator—this is a raw, unfiltered look at what’s coming next.Chapters:00:00 – Introduction to the podcast & industry focusOverview of the sector and why it matters globally 00:34 – Meet Mike RevellCareer background and industry credibility03:20 – 40 years of change: what’s shifted most?Technology, data, and decision-making evolution05:30 – The pros & cons of modern tech in businessSpeed vs. pressure and information overload07:26 – The global conflict explained (and why it matters)Oil, supply chains, and economic ripple effects09:00 – Shipping chaos & supply chain breakdownsWhy disruptions take 6–12 months to fix11:00 – Product shortages (gloves, materials, manufacturing)What happens when supply simply disappears14:00 – How businesses should respond right nowCost control, stock management, and tough decisions17:00 – Inflation, hospitality struggles & market pressureWhy pubs and restaurants are under serious threat22:00 – Is there any opportunity in this chaos?Timing vs. risk in uncertain markets26:00 – Price increases: how to handle customersCommunication, strategy, and reality checks29:00 – The hidden killer: EPR legislation explainedWhy it’s broken and damaging compliant businesses40:00 – The future of hospitality & changing behaviourWhy younger generations are reshaping demand44:00 – Growth areas: home delivery & hygiene sectorWhere the opportunities actually are50:30 – The talent problem in the industryWhy young people aren’t entering the sector59:40 – Leadership lessons from decades at the topTeams, strategy, and decision-making under pressure1:06:20 – The one thing businesses forget: VALUEWhy it matters more than price1:09:30 – Closing thoughts & final takeaways