Joining us this week is Adam Park, CEO and managing director of Factor US — one of the fastest-growing names in health and nutrition that bills itself as the No. 1 ready-to-eat meal company in America.

You might have seen them around delivering meals to people's doors that emphasize high-protein, veggie-forward, low-calorie or even GLP-1 supportive options, making it easier to eat clean at home. 

Since being acquired in 2020 by one of Europe's best-known consumer brands, HelloFresh, Factor has grown more than 20 times, fending off fierce competition to capture about 75% of the US market.

Adam is the former CEO of HelloFresh UK and a former partner at Boston Consulting Group. Outside of work, he's also a passionate endurance athlete who's completed ultramarathons and expeditions all over the world. 

In this conversation, we get into:

| 00:00 – Introduction 

| 02:38  – Early life from South Korea to the UK 

| 04:11 – Lessons from moving between cultures 

| 04:11 – Growing up in South Korea during economic boom 

| 05:04 – Adam's takeaways from watching his mother run a business

| 07:47 – Lessons in grit and perseverance 

| 08:11 – Consulting at BCG 

| 09:55 – Transition to HelloFresh and Factor 

| 14:01 – Scaling HelloFresh UK 

| 15:08 – Opening new factories overnight, problem-solving, all-nighters 

| 16:36 – Becoming CEO of Factor US: initial mandate and growth opportunity 

| 19:10  – How the company has scaled so quickly: leveraging HelloFresh efficiencies 

| 20:24 – Unique operational model: fresh meals, large variety, complex fulfillment 

| 24:01 – The company's subscription model and focus on enticing repeat customers 

| 26:09 – Factor's "bold bet" on its biggest menu expansion yet 

| 28:15  – Industry competition 

| 30:29 – Consumer trends: GLP-1, healthier treats, treating food as medicine 

| 33:55  – Company roadmap and best-sellers 

| 34:26  – Tackling the stress of meal planning 

| 35:45 – Tapping into the convenience factor 

| 36:44 – Eating Factor every day 

| 37:26 – Diving into supplements 

| 39:17 – Using food as fuel in Adam's endurance athlete journey 

| 41:38  – Adam's toughest day as a leader 

| 43:25  – Goal to reduce food waste 

| 46:53  – Mid and long-term vision for Factor 

| 47:42  – Audience question 

| 50:03 – Rapid-fire round 

Disclosure: Factor is a partner of Behind the Business, and this is a branded conversation. We're grateful for their support this season.

| About Behind the Business:

Behind the Business is a video series and podcast hosted by Michelle Toh, CNN and Fortune alum, that explores the decisions and philosophies behind today's most influential leaders. Recorded in person across the US, the show is grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal, providing the backstories of founders, corporate leaders, investors and creators and how they push through to make the most of both work and life each day. What's the worst day you've faced at your company? How do you cope with crisis or rejection? Or what's a pinch-me moment you'll never forget? In each episode, guests get into it all. New episodes every Thursday. 

| About Michelle Toh:

Michelle Toh is an award-winning international journalist. She has covered some of the top stories in global business and tech, most recently as a reporter based in Hong Kong appearing across CNN's digital and television platforms. Before joining CNN, she was an associate editor of Fortune Magazine, and her reporting has appeared in The New York Times, TIME, USA Today, and the South China Morning Post. 

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