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Food Science
Reading University |
New Product Development Manager
"There are significant opportunities for travel as we increasingly look further afield for innovation and use our European manufacturing base to make new products."
"I've always had a fascination for food and for developing new tastes and textures. My current role allows me to combine my love for creating new recipes with the scientific background gained from my degree.
"I'd already gained several years' product development experience in the food industry, but things were different at Cadbury. I was immediately given the chance to prove myself, managing the launch of a new Wispa range. There was a great deal to learn, but I was given fantastic support from my manager and I was assigned an experienced confectioner who taught me so many new things.
"Training at Cadbury is very much tailored to your individual needs. Much of my confectionery training came from the experienced team around me, but I also attended specific courses, for instance a one-week Sugar Confectionery course at our factory in France.
"That was three years ago. I now look after a team of six technologists and confectioners who work on a range of innovative projects across chocolate and sugar confectionery. It's an incredibly exciting and fulfilling role. You get to work with a wide range of teams, such as Marketing, Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Quality in order to realise a new product launch. There are significant opportunities for travel as we increasingly look further afield for innovation and use our European manufacturing base to make new products. For instance, this year, I'll be launching new products made in Belgium and Turkey, as well as the UK and Ireland.
"Our part in the success of the company is key, and I can guarantee an exciting and rewarding career to anyone who succeeds in this area."