Brand Masters: GYG's Steven Marks - Marketing Is Revenue

From a single Sydney store to a global food empire - GYG’s explosive growth story is anything but ordinary. 

In the latest episode of Brand Masters, Nicolette and Tom sit down with Steven Marks, Founder and Co-CEO of Guzman y Gomez, recorded live at AANA’s RESET for Growth conference in May. 

They dive deep into: 

• How GYG turned clean, flavour-first fast food into a billion-dollar movement 

• Why brand is identity. And why Steven believes marketing is revenue 

• How culture, energy, and relentless curiosity power their team and growth. 

“If you're thinking about cutting marketing, you're crazy. It's the first thing you should be investing in, because marketing drives revenue.” - Steven Marks 

Listen now to hear how one of Australia’s boldest brand builders is taking on the world, one burrito at a time. 

🎧 Listen to Episode 3 of Brand Masters on Apple or Spotify. New episodes dropped weekly on Thursdays. 

What does it take to make a great client/agency relationship work? 

Our latest AANA Academy session with Aprais featured an all-star lineup of Australia's top CMOs and agency leads. They were answering a crucial question: What does it take to make a great client/agency relationship work? 

The insights delivered during the session were incredible and exactly the kind of learnings that are helping marketers to stay ahead of the curve. 

Key learnings from the session included:
 

✔ True Partnership starts with shared ambitions & aligned outcomes. 

✔ Trust & Respect are non-negotiable, build them through Consistency. 

✔ Strong partnerships are nurtured through willingness to invest in each other's success. 

WFA's Global Risk Barometer
Marketers Brace for a Less Predictable Year Ahead 

The WFA’s latest Global Risk Barometer shows brand leaders are bracing for greater uncertainty. 

Almost 90% of senior marketers say the business environment is less predictable than a year ago, with geopolitical tensions and the economic outlook topping the list of risks. 

Key findings include: 

• 82% say budgets are under heavier scrutiny. 

• 74% report more due diligence on campaigns. 

• Many are focusing more on short-term objectives, with creativity under pressure. 

The takeaway? Brands need to stay agile while protecting long-term brand health. 

Food & Drink Advertising Ban: Confusion as South Australia declares war on soy milk and rice cakes   

The South Australian Government introduced a ban on the advertising of certain food and beverages on government assets on 1 July 2025.  

The AANA continues to take the lead in advocating on behalf of the industry and pushing back against the ban, and the confusion and uncertainty created by the list of what is banned and what is not.   

Want to know more, check out our latest media release and AANA’s CEO’s opinion piece. 

Don’t miss out on all the great AANA events and training coming up. Keep your eyes peeled at the beginning of each month for our ‘What’s On’ email. 

Here’s a summary of what’ is coming up: 

• MELB | 05 AUG: CMO Connect dinner AI Targeting in a Safe Environment presented by Ebiquity 
  
  

• ONLINE | 14 AUG: AANA Academy Brand Health Masterclass presented by VML 
  
  
• MFA Digital Foundations - Spring Semester Registration: AANA members, get in touch with the AANA team for your 20% discount code

Driving Positive Change - B&T’s Best Of The Best Industry Association Leaders

AANA CEO Josh Faulks made the #1 spot for the third year running on B&T’s list of Industry Association Leaders Driving Positive Change.  

 “In the past year, Faulks has led another successful RESET conference, a marketing masterclass, Inside Effectiveness and launched new codes on children’s advertising, brand safety and how to tackle greenwashing.” 

‘Makes no sense’: South Australian ban exposed

In the latest example of bureaucracy gone mad, a new ban came into effect in South Australia this week – and it makes absolutely no sense.
 

Soy milk, rice cakes and ham salad sandwiches aren’t usually the first things that come to mind when you think of “junk food”.