Versa: Issue One

10
10 Featured OA
ADAM SOPHER, (OA 2003), FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF HIS FAMILY
BUSINESS, JOE & SEPH’S GOURMET POPCORN
JOE &
SEPH’S
Gourmet Popcorn
From unauthorised tuck shops to a team of 50 and a product
in Selfridges – Adam Sopher (OA 2003) talks to us about
School life at St Albans and his globally successful family
creation, Joe & Seph’s Popcorn.
While you were at the School, did you have any idea
what sort of work you wanted to go into?
No, at the time I knew I wanted to go into business in
some shape or form, but I didn’t really know how to
get there. So I did the ‘usual’ and went to university
and studied something broad to keep my options
open. I went to Nottingham to study Economics, as
I was quite motivated by doing something analytical
and in the City, but I was ultimately interested in
business.
Were there any teachers who were particularly
influential or memorable?
I particularly remember Mr Walker, Mr Tolman, who
left to join Harrow School at the time, and my French
teacher Mrs Percival. They were great teachers. Mr
Tolman was my Form Tutor and Economics teacher
– he got me really passionate about economics. Mrs
Percival taught me French which has become very
useful in my business.
Was there anything during your School experience
that you feel was particularly valuable?
I guess it’s all the different elements that School teaches
and provides you with, like the academic side as well
as extra-curricular activities like sports – which wasn’t
really my thing! I met some really good people who
I have stayed friends with too. There are two or three
people from School in particular who I’m still close
to, so that has a long-lasting impact. I even ended up
sharing a house with a lot of the people who went to
Nottingham from School, so there was that continuity.
On the side, I set up a website whilst at School. At the
time the web was relatively new, so I taught myself
basic HTML and launched a website. I put my GCSE
revision notes on the website and called it GCSE
Guide. I sold that about three years ago. I also ran
a tuck shop from my locker which the Headmaster
actually closed down!
What did you do after leaving Nottingham
University?
I graduated with a First and got a job in the City at
Deloitte management consulting – they allowed me
to defer my start date for a year so that I could go
travelling with a guaranteed job offer at the end. I
travelled all around the world including Australia,
New Zealand and Asia. It was a great experience
and I learnt about all different customs, cuisines and
cultures. It definitely broadened my horizons.
I spent two years working for Deloitte’s telecom and
media clients, such as BT, Daily Mail and various
others, doing consulting projects all over Europe.
From there, I made the move to Dixons where I
learnt an awful lot, as they were going through quite a
challenging time. I then started getting itchy feet again
and wanted to do something in a smaller business
where I would have more of an impact.
“Take advantage of all of the opportunities that
school and university have to offer. They will
always help at some point in life”