Hayley Reynolds is the founder and co-director, alongside her husband Jonathan, of RAW Food & Drink PR, a specialist agency she established in 2011. With over 25 years of experience in the food and drink PR sector, Hayley has worked with a wide range of clients, from start-ups to major international brands.
Under her leadership, RAW has become known for its high-quality PR services, helping clients like Salcombe Gin and Langham Wine Estate achieve significant media coverage and brand growth. Hayley is also actively involved in the industry working closely with the board of directors of Food & Drink Devon to do their PR.
Hayley has introduced me to many of the producers in Devon since I started working at Rise & Shine, so she’s no stranger to me, however it was lovely to not only talk shop, but to delve a little deeper into who she is. Fair warning – she’s had quite a few adventures!
What does your Monday morning routine look like?
My Monday morning routine starts with a game of tennis! I squeeze in an hour and a half before I start work at 9.30am – a little later than normal, but that sets me up for the week. I feel like I’ve done my exercise and it’s energising and so when I go on to the team, calls, meetings etc., I feel fresh and alive and awake, rather than feeling like it’s a Monday morning. Other mornings, the routine would be quite different because it mostly involves getting our three teenagers going in some way or getting them to the various places they need to be. My husband Jonathan does a lot of that too! A lot of tidying before work starts at 9.00am and then full on into the working day with emails. It’s normally a very busy start to the day, but… tennis on a Monday morning.
What are you currently reading?
I am useless at reading books at the moment. I don’t have the headspace or the time. I’ve tried many times recently to start a new book and just don’t get beyond the first chapter, but I read an awful lot of newspapers and I flick through my various subscriptions or Apple News – all the news headlines. I’m constantly reading magazines, whether they’re lifestyle or foodie magazines. I did an English and History of Art degree at university and love reading, but that will have to come back when I’m a bit quieter.
What’s a hidden talent or skill that most people don’t know you possess?
Painting, and I don’t do enough of it. It’s one of those things on the back burner at the moment and I may have lost my confidence a little bit. In my late teens, early 20s, I painted a lot, and it was really my way to unwind. But with three teenagers, again, it’s a hobby that’ll have to come back in time.
Beach vacation, mountain getaway or city escape?
I’d probably say mostly beach, but I do love exploring a new city as well, and I especially love the art gallery side and going and seeing a bit of the culture of a new city and being immersed in the food scene. Meeting people and speaking different languages badly. But beach holidays… Gosh, I dream of those calm, quiet moments. Just enjoying walking on the sand with no shoes on, and swimming in the sea.
What’s your favourite way to unwind and de-stress?
Swimming is a big favourite of mine and I swim quite regularly. Swimming in the sea is great but I don’t do that terribly often. Otherwise, just spending time with friends, having a glass of wine and nice food. Those are my go-to’s.
If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be and why?
It would definitely be related to helping allow everyone access to good quality, healthy food and redistributing items which would otherwise go to waste. There are already brilliant organisations such as FareShare doing an amazing job on this front.
What job is the favourite you’ve ever had and what made it so special?
I worked at lots of high-profile events when I was waitressing in London – like the premier of ‘The Man in the Iron Mask’ and seeing Leonardo DiCaprio and the rest of the cast, and Michael Flatley’s ‘River Dance’ launch in London. I did something something similar in Sydney. Also doing a stint as an extra in a Nicole Kidman film. As well as the glamour and excitement there was just a real buzz and a sense of teamwork. It was hard work but those are the kinds of jobs that stand out because they’re so memorable. When I was working in PR companies in London, I started working with various wine accounts from Spain and The Sherry Institute as well as working with Pernod Ricard and so started my wine journey. I did my WSET and ended up doing my diploma, so I think career wise that has been a huge enjoyment – learning about wine and wine producers.
What is your favourite cuisine OR is there a cuisine you’ve never tried but would like to?
I do love Asian cuisine. Japanese and Vietnamese in particular. I spent some time in Vietnam. Just a few weeks, but I absolutely love the food out there. It’s so fresh and is definitely up there with my favourite foods. I like to try everything – explore the world more and eat more different food!
What’s a skill you’ve always wanted to learn but haven’t had the chance to yet?
It has to be sailing because when I met Jonathan, I was working in the wine world and the deal was that he would do a wine course and, since he’s a big sailor, I would learn to sail. He’s done very well on the wine courses, and I haven’t done so well on the sailing courses… yet. The plan is to eventually, someday, sail around the world on a catamaran. It’s always been his dream. We’ve done some big passages. We sailed across the English Channel when I was six months pregnant, just the two of us, and that was quite an experience. I was really ill for about 18 hours of it, but I’m not sure if that was the pregnancy or the sailing. I would say it was a huge challenge and Jonathan was incredible, pretty much single-handedly sailing across the channel in a 50 year old wooden boat! All three of our children have learnt to sail, but our youngest child, who is 13, is the real sailor. He’s been sailing in the Topper UK National Championships this year.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
I think it’s probably “Tomorrow is Another Day”. By the end of the day I can be exhausted and it can seem as if there is an impossible amount on my plate, and then I have a good night’s rest and wake up in the morning and everything is just sorted. In my head it doesn’t seem so challenging anymore. I can think clearly and can start again with a fresh mind.
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?
Sailing across the English Channel was one, but I’ve also been skydiving and bungee jumping. I also worked on a kibbutz for the summer when I was younger. I was out there on my own, which was challenging, exciting, and lovely in a different way. I travelled around Australia and New Zealand on my own, where I did my tandem skydive. I’m not sure which was scarier, the flight going up on a rickety old plane overlooking Lake Taupō or the drive afterwards to Napier across this huge cliff edge.
If you could meet any living person for a conversation, who would it be?
I would meet with my Nan, sadly no longer with us, because she was such an inspiration. My grandparents and parents are massive inspirations, but my Nan with her love of food and entertaining and her strength of character…
What would you do if you weren’t in the food, drink & hospitality industry?
It’s quite difficult to say because I’ve been immersed in it for so long that it’s just ingrained in me and it’s part of my everyday life, as food and drink is part of everybody’s everyday life! I think, with time and money, I would like to do more creative activities like writing and painting.
What inspires you?
Other inspirational people inspire me. When you’re working with people who have a real passion for what they do it’s very easy to be inspired. We’re so lucky to work with so many incredible producers, people who are so driven and hard working particularly now when things have been challenging. They have real grit and they’re just getting on with it. You can have a tired moment and then you see what other people are doing and you think to yourself, ‘Just get on with it!’
What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten.
In Australia, I had tasting plates of crocodile and kangaroo and all different types of exotic meat. I’m a little bit more particular now and I haven’t eaten any nasty bugs!
