There is always a gap in the market, our job is to uncover and exploit them.
Entrepreneurial in style, David J Burns spent the early part of his career in the hospitality industry working in the hot, steamy kitchens of London and Europe before arriving in Australia in 1988.
David has lived, worked, or travelled to over 30 countries and has accumulated more than 100,000 hours of experience in the food industry.
David’s corporate career began in earnest in 1995 when he joined Coles Supermarkets, developing the ready meals and prepared foods category, later leading the buying team for the in-store bakery business.
He then spearheaded the development of the Wild Bean Café concept for BP Australia within the convenience store sector before leading the merchandise team through a transformative period.
In 2016, David founded DJB Food Group and Crème Design, working with businesses to create, market, and scale innovative packaged brands for retail.
Since then, he has helped numerous start-ups grow into multi-million-dollar brands at remarkable speed. Notable success stories include Remedy Kombucha, Australia’s first kombucha brand, which exited to Lion in 2018; Naked Life, named the Australian Financial Review’s fastest-growing business in 2022; and NUFFIN Dips, Australia’s first dip range in a paper tub, featured in the AFR Fast 100 in 2025.
David is the host of the podcast The Food Mentor and also hosts his own travel and food show, The Flavour Hunter.
Talking Points
Crafting Your Vision & Becoming Fearless
Before starting any personal or professional venture, there are essential steps to reach the starting line. Regardless of your background, success begins with clarity and mindset. Crafting a clear vision and developing a fearless, positive outlook are the foundations of freedom and happiness – whatever happiness means to you. These qualities are achievable by anyone and form the basis for growth and achievement.Crafting Your Vision & Becoming Fearless
Key Takeaways
- How to define and articulate your vision for success
- Techniques to build a fearless and positive mindset
- Why mindset and clarity are critical for personal and professional freedom
Applying Intuition to Unravel Market Gaps
There is always a gap in the market – always. The biggest opportunities often exist in segments dominated by multinational FMCG companies. Understanding consumers in detail and applying intuition to identify opportunities is where innovation begins. Resonating with consumers and standing out, even through subtle differentiation, is key to success.Applying Intuition to Unravel Market Gaps
Key Takeaways
- How to identify market gaps using consumer insight and intuition
- Why differentiation matters and how to achieve it
- Practical strategies to resonate with consumers and create standout products
The Foundations of Building a Big Brand
Once you’ve found the gap, what comes next? A great product is just the entry point. A great brand is enduring. Brand purpose is critical – what does your brand stand for, and how does it contribute to communities or the planet? Success comes from combining delicious products, standout packaging, and emotional storytelling that connects with consumers.The Foundations of Building a Big Brand
Key Takeaways
- Why brand purpose matters and how to define it
- The role of packaging and storytelling in brand building
- How to create a brand that lasts beyond the product
Brand, Purpose and Marketing Trumps Everything.
In today’s world of digital, social media, and AI-powered tools, marketing is the game-changer. Assuming you have a strong brand and great product, the ability to engage a large audience quickly is essential. Founder or CEO-led content that is creative, humorous, and differentiated is now a powerful way to connect with consumers and build loyalty.Brand, Purpose and Marketing Trumps Everything.
Key Takeaways
- How to leverage modern marketing tools for rapid brand growth
- Why founder-led content drives engagement and trust
- Strategies to create innovative and impactful marketing campaigns
Video
David J Burns | Food Industry Entrepreneur Decoding the Path to a Successful Brand | Saxton Speakers
Food industry entrepreneur and DJB Food Group founder David J Burns shares how great brands are built by identifying gaps in the market, understanding consumer psychology and having the confidence to act at the right time. Drawing on more than 30 years in the global food industry and partnerships generating over $200 million in retail sales, David offers practical insights on innovation, sustainability and building brands that truly stand out.David J Burns | The Flavour Hunter Intro
This is the introduction to our Flavour Hunter Show featuring the wonderful people, history, lakes, palaces, street food plus the best restaurants and roof top bars in Udaipur, India.We collaborated with David and DJB Food Group for a seminar for the food and beverage industry. The seminar really did exceed our expectations with our own PwC clients and David’s network pr ... keep reading PwC
David was a great keynote speaker at our recent GS1 industry event. The room was packed with interested and engaged industry folk who chased David off the stage for more information. We will have David as our keynote speaker again for sure.
David was an excellent keynote speaker at last year’s Naturally Good Business Summit. David presented all things food industry brand development and really put a different spin on this important topic. David also touched on current and potential future food trends. Fabulous job!
Latest News
What Sydney and Melbourne Revealed About the Future of Business Events
Neale Daniher: A Legacy That Will Outlast The Beast
Three Stories, One Expert: What Dr Zac Seidler's Week in the Media Tells Us About Men Right Now
