PODCAST

Ryan Panchoo: From making doughnuts for his kids to stocked in Selfridges | Small Business Sessions (S9E7)

Dan MartinDan Martin Content & Events

Posted: Wed 26th Nov 2025

The Small Business Sessions, Enterprise Nation's podcast, is back for a ninth exciting series of inspiring entrepreneurial stories and expert business tips!

The podcast is powered by the business.connected online training programme and our partner Vodafone Business.

Episode seven: Ryan Panchoo, Borough 22 Doughnuts

Joining freelance journalist Dan Martin for the seventh episode is Ryan Panchoo, founder of gluten-free doughnut brand Borough 22.

What started as making doughnuts for his children due to a frustration at the lack of allergen-free treats at events is now a brand that regularly sells out in Selfridges.

Ryan has grown his business from hand-delivering his products on the London Underground to going full time after nine years, being stocked in one of the UK's most iconic retailers and selling overseas.

Topics discussed in the episode

How Ryan hand-delivered his doughnuts on the London Underground
How he used social media to promote his products from day one
How a follower tagging Selfridges on Instagram led to Borough 22 being stocked
Switching from running the business as a side hustle to going full time
How he raised investment to fund a commercial kitchen
Letting go of doing everything and deciding to grow a team
Borough 22's global fans, including one who flew from Norway to get the products and an American fan who offered to pay for Ryan's flight to Detroit!

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You can watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube.

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Dan MartinDan Martin Content & Events

I'm a freelance content creator and event host who helps small businesses and the organisations that support them. I'm also Enterprise Nation's Local Leader for Bristol. I have 20 years of experience as a small business journalist having interviewed hundreds of entrepreneurs from famous names like Sir Richard Branson and Deborah Meaden to the founders behind brand new start-ups. I've worked for a range of leading small business publications and support groups, most recently as head of content at Enterprise Nation where I was responsible for the prolific output of content on the company's blog and social media. I now freelance for Enterprise Nation as the website's news reporter and as the host of the Small Business sessions podcast. I'm based in Bristol where I run and host regular events with the local small business community in my role as Enterprise Nation's Local Leader for Bristol. I also have strong connections with other major business organisations in the south west region. In total, I've hosted over 100 events including conferences with an audience of hundreds for international brands like Xero and Facebook and live web chats from inside 10 Downing Street. With my partner, I co-run Lifestyle District, a lifestyle blog focused on culture, art, theatre and photography.

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