Click on each mentor to find out more about them
While completing my BSc Food Science and Nutrition, I completed a year in industry at PepsiCo in Leicester, specifically working on Walkers Baked crisps. After university I continued working in product development before moving on project management for Ferrero then Nestlé. While at Nestlé I worked for a year in Barcelona as a European Project Manager where I managed the development of various Kit Kat and After Eight products. Currently I am back working in product development working as a Senior Scientist for McCain Foods in Scarborough.
I strongly believe in embracing risks and stepping out of my comfort zone in my career. From what I've learned, it's one of the best ways to grow and develop. Plus it has allowed me to build meaningful friendships and great mentors along the way.
My journey in food started at Leeds University where I studied food science and nutrition. I always had a keen interest in trying new foods and interested in nutrition so the course at Leeds was perfect for me! In between my second and final year I took a year in industry working at Co-op as a Undergraduate Product Developer. This year gave me valuable experience in retail and the importance of supplier retailer relationships which helped massively when I applied for my graduate role as a Food Technologist at M&S, which is where I am now.
Before joining Arla, I studied an integrated Master’s in Chemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham. Whilst I was there, I undertook an industrial placement year at GSK as a Production Engineer in a toothpaste factory; it was there that I learned I loved the pace and variety of the FMCG world!
After graduating, I was lucky enough to join Arla’s 2-year production management programme which has seen me work at our Lockerbie, Oswestry, Settle and Jönköping (Sweden) production sites across various roles. In the 3 years since, I have been the Logistics & Planning Manager at our UHT and lactoFREE milk site looking after a department of 30 people as well as having the opportunity to deputise for the Site Director. In September this year, I’ve moved across to our most complex UK site, Stourton Dairy, as Operational Support manager looking after CAPEX, CI, Sustainably and our site performance program.
Throughout my career it has always amazed me how many people are involved in putting products on the shelves of the nation’s supermarkets and I’ve been fortunate to work with so many from our inbound logistics and production teams, right through to branding and marketing!
A recent food science graduate. After studying for a intergrated MSci at the Univeristy of Leeds I now find myself starting afresh in the world of retail. Starting as a junior product developer role at ASDA I find myself at the beginning of my career in the world of product development. I'm excited to experience all the new things within this role.
I began my food industry journey studying Food Science at the University of Nottingham and completed a placement year as a technical intern at Charlie Bigham's. After graduating, I worked as a process technologist at a food to go manufacturing site. I loved the fast-paced nature of manufacturing and wanted to expand my understanding of different product categories, which led me into moving on to retail, where I am now a quality technologist at Asda. I currently look after product quality in the bakery category. I love the variety and problem-solving aspects to the role, and the continuous expansion of technical skills and manufacturing knowledge.
Nick Galicia graduated from Leeds Beckett University in 2016 and began his career in a variety of operational roles before specialising in Learning & Development and Early Careers in 2022. He has worked across several industries including vehicle leasing, where he led an award-winning apprenticeship programme—engineering/services, and banking. He now works in the food industry with Greencore. Passionate about nurturing emerging talent, Nick is also a member of the Yorkshire and Humber Apprenticeship Ambassadors Network, and firmly believes that with the right support, anyone has the potential to achieve great things.
As a nutrition graduate from the University of Leeds, I have started my professional career as a Product Quality Technologist at Valeo Foods UK. My role in the central technical team for confectionary and snacks focuses on product quality initiatives. In my projects ranging from consumer panels and food safety culture, I am excited to continue learning and developing as I begin my career in the Food Industry.
I started my journey in the food industry studying Food and Technology at Manchester Metropolitan University. As part of this course, I completed a placement year at Northern Foods at one of their Ready Meal factories in Sheffield producing ready meals for Marks & Spencer. After I graduated I returned to Northern Foods on their Graduate programme and spent 9 years working at various manufacturing sites in Process Development from Bakery to Sandwiches and Sushi to Ready Meals all for Marks & Spencers, starting as a Process Technologist, Senior Technologist then onto Process Development Manager covering a range of sites. This time in manufacturing I found crucial and an excellent base to learn and understand the food industry which really help set me up for my later years in retail.
In 2010 I joined Asda as a Product Development Manager to gain experience of the retail side of the industry and to gain more experience in Product Development. I have been in Asda now 15 years and have worked my way across the Fresh areas from Pies to Olives and Antipasti, Bakery, Frozen, FTG, Pizza and Ready Meals. I am now Senior Product Devleopment Manager covering the Fresh area with a large team of Product Managers and also head up Innovation within Asda. My role is a great mix of strategy and innovation, working closely with our Commercial and Marketing teams and our Supplier Partners. I love seeking out the next food trend and bringing this to life for our customers and love working on our seasonal ranges setting the strategy and creating the next innovation within these areas. Over the years my role has led me to travel visitng food factories across the globe and some very inspirational food tours from New York, California to Japan and South Korea to name but a few. I love all forms of food and love creating new food ideas to inspire our customers, I still get a buzz visiting our factories, seeing our new products run down the line.
Zoe Shuttlewood is a food safety professional with over 20 years of experience in factory quality assurance, food safety management systems and supplier quality, she has been working for McCormick since 2011. Zoe obtained her Masters’ degree in Food safety Management from the University of Central Lancashire and is a registered food safety manager (RFoodSM) with the Institute of Food Science & Technology (IFST).
Working as a subject matter expert within McCormick’s Global Scientific and Regulatory Affairs team focusing on risk sciences, Zoe is accountable for raw material & allergen control program governance. Activities within these programs include evolving raw material risk assessments using the latest scientific and historical data. Participation in horizon scanning activities and working with key trade association on areas of emerging risk with a focus on contaminants and allergens.
