UNIVERSITY: Harper Adams University College, BSc (Hons) Degree Agri food production with Marketing and Management. 2:1

Post MDS Permanent Role - Concept Technologist -  Natures Way Foods Ltd

MDS EXPERIENCE:

Natures Way Foods Ltd - Leaf Innovation Technologist, April 2009 - November 2009

Accountabilities

• Member of the marketing team specifically responsible for baby leaf and whole head salad bag development
• Responsible for innovating for new product development
• Responsible for improving current range of products through existing product development strategies   
• Deliver  new margin enhancing concepts to the business and to take them through to gate 2 of the new product development procedure
• Become a key user of Dun Humby using database to drive Innovation thoughts
• Undertake a competitive set analysis in order to understand the competitive offer, competitor ranges and to identify “me too opportunities”
• Knowledge and understanding of leaf varieties used within the current NWF grower base
• To recognise limitations with regards to yield and quality issues associated with the current portfolio of raw materials
• Full understanding of costing’s from field to factory   
• Build relationships with external growers and to attend seed trials within the UK or abroad to aspire for new and existing leaf development

Achievements

• Played an integral part in the development of new products for a new autumn/ winter range for a high profile customer
• Gained understanding of raw material costs and the affect that they can have on the profitability of a product
• Made the business aware of current market trends to ensure that NWF remain as competitive as possible in order to beat competition
• Identified a new leaf variety at a seed trial which will possibly be trailed in the near future by an external grower

JP Fresh Ltd - Commercial Liaison Manager, Oct 2008- April 2009

Accountabilities

• To aid the Commercial Director and other members of the commercial team. For example, communicating sales daily, updating stock sheets and assisting with customer presentations  
• Use Rubicon to  a high standard to set up orders, new lines, as well as stock codes and checking consignments so that this knowledge can be adapted for the use within different departments
• To monitor the current marketplace by conducting benchmarking analysis and product range profiles
• Project management- To work closely with Tesco on a major project, from product development through to product launch
• Analyse Tesco link waste data to target poor performing stores and to report this information back to the Commercial Director  

Achievements

• Used Rubicon confidently to aid the commercial department
• Completed Tesco project  
• Gained knowledge into JP’s products and practices by visiting various pack houses and departments, liaising with key players to extract valid information
• Efficiently managed my own learning and development by seizing new opportunities that arise  

Langmead Farms Ltd - Harvest Rig Supervisor, April 2008 - Oct 2008

Accountabilities

• Responsible for the harvest of speciality lettuce including Romaine, Little Gem but predominantly Dolce Verde
• Planned the day to day harvest of the crop
• Ensured that the highest quality standards were met and maintained throughout the season
• Planned the safe movement of equipment and rigs
• Ensured that paper work including QA records, production sheets and staff time sheets were kept up to date and filled out correctly
• Supported other rigs and other areas of  the harvest when requested by the harvest manager
• Made sure that B.R.C standards and S.O.P.’S were met and maintained through out the season

Achievements

• Improved people management skills with regards to effective communication within the workplace  
• Successfully motivated a team of foreign workers to maintain the high picking speeds required in the production system
• Involved with the development of a new KPI sheet which monitored packaging waste and downtime  
• Maintained high moral amongst team members whilst working in less favourable conditions including poor weather
• Successfully learned how to move a large rig without any previous tractor driving experience
• Performed under pressure and was able to prioritise overall workloads
• Additional responsibility was given whilst management was absent. This included communicating completed orders to supply chain at the end of harvest and decision making with regards to moving individual rigs to fields of superior crop  

Barfoots of Botley Ltd. - Commercial Support Executive, August 2007- April 2008

Accountabilities

• The management of sales information
• Conduct specialist reports for Account Managers
• Management of market information
• Responsible for the control and management of sample delivery to customers
• Participating with the development of new product lines
• Working within the Commercial Department providing assistance where necessary

Achievements

• I was the first trainee to undertake the role of Commercial Support Executive at Barfoots. Over the secondment I was able to develop the position with regards to daily tasks and overall responsibilities thus defining a clearer role within the department
• My computer literacy skills have increased with regards to using Microsoft Excel as well Microsoft PowerPoint through the attendance of a computer course
• Assisted with the development of a new retail benchmark sheet as well as the development of new products for key accounts
• Data analysis skills have increased dramatically
• Additional tasks and responsibilities were given from account managers once my skill base had developed

Additional qualifications and skills

• Intermediate HACCP award
• British Safety Council Certificate in Health and Safety at work
• Basic Food Hygiene certificate