Podcast
That's A Food Job!
Hosted by FoodGrads · EN
No matter what your passion is, there's a career for everyone in food—and we're here to help you find it!
On this podcast, we interview professionals across the food processing sector to uncover the stories behind their unique roles Discover what they do, why they do it and how they are shaping the world of food.
Whether you're a student figuring out your next steps, a young professional seeking career guidance, or an industry veteran exploring new opportunities, this podcast offers valuable insights to help you navigate your career journey.
Join host Veronica Hislop as she speaks with experts from all corners of the food industry. From food scientists to farmers, plant managers to programmers, food safety technicians to skilled trades, supply chain managers to sales, we'll explore a wide range of exciting careers.
We're here to celebrate food industry professionals and proudly say—That's a Food Job!
15episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Continuous Improvement Manager with Talha Rashid, Handi Foods Ltd.
Mar 2700:44:26Tap to summarizeTalha Rashid is a Continuous Improvement Manager at Handi Foods Ltd., a Canadian food manufacturer specializing in crackers and better‑for‑you snack products supplied to major retailers across North America. In this episode of That's a Food Job!, Talha breaks down what a continuous improvement career looks like in food manufacturing and how data, teamwork, and problem‑solving drive real change on the production floor. He explains how organizations identify inefficiencies, reduce waste, and improve productivity without compromising quality. --- Shownotes --- CareersNOW! is Food and Beverage Ontario's multi-year workforce development initiative that is connecting students and job seekers with employers in Ontario's food and beverage processing industry for exciting career opportunities. Check out CareersNOW.ca for more information on exciting jobs, career information, industry mentors and training opportunities for professional development. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Introduction to Continuous Improvement in Food Manufacturing 02:58 – Understanding Continuous Improvement: Definition and Scope 05:58 – A Day in the Life of a Continuous Improvement Manager 09:00 – The Importance of Data in Continuous Improvement 12:05 – Collaboration Across Departments for Success 14:54 – Skills for Success: Balancing Analytical and People Skills 18:08 – Continuous Learning and Professional Development 21:06 – Lean Six Sigma: Tools for Waste Reduction 23:58 – Applying Lean Principles to Real?World Problems 24:12 – Career Insights for Students in Food and Beverage 25:50 – Showcasing Willingness to Learn in Interviews 29:29 – Understanding Company Culture for Success 33:44 – Essential Skills for Continuous Improvement 39:44 – Journey into Continuous Improvement Careers --- 📙 Career Guides 💭 Career Advice --- CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST 💼 Talha Rashid LinkedIn 💼 Handi Foods LinkedIn 🌐 Handi Foods Website CONNECT WITH US 📸 Instagram 🎵 TikTok 💼 LinkedIn
Transcribe →Careers in Food and Beverage (#121.5)
Mar 2400:41:12Tap to summarizeIn this special solo episode, Veronica breaks down something that often gets overlooked — what the food and beverage processing industry actually is, and just how many career paths exist within it. If you've ever stood in a grocery store aisle and wondered how all those products got there, this one's for you! --- CareersNOW! is Food and Beverage Ontario's multi‑year workforce development initiative that is connecting students and job seekers with employers in Ontario's food and beverage processing industry for exciting career opportunities. Check out CareersNOW.ca for more information on jobs, career pathways, industry mentors, and professional development opportunities. --- Timestamps 00:00 — What is the food and beverage processing industry? (Hint: it's everything between farm and fork!) 02:22 — The 11 subsectors broken down: dairy, meat, confectionery, seafood, beverages, bakery, and more 07:08 — Operations deep-dive: production operators, maintenance technicians, and plant supervisors 09:27 — Skilled trades and continuous improvement roles 11:45 — How automation and robotics are changing operations 14:09 — Food safety: quality assurance vs. quality control, and why it matters 16:31 — Health and safety managers and systems thinking in food safety 18:50 — Sales and marketing: account managers, brand managers, and marketers 21:19 — How sales and marketing connect to every other part of the business 23:44 — Sponsor spotlight: Careers Now 26:10 — Supply chain and logistics: procurement, inventory planning, and logistics coordinators 28:35 — Warehouse supervisors and the rise of automation in supply chain 31:00 — Food science and R&D: product developers and flavorists 33:24 — Behind the scenes: finance, accounting, and human resources 35:27 — How HR shapes workplace culture 37:42 — Wrapping up: career mobility, job stability, and why the food and beverage industry is a great place to grow
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Co-Founder & Sourcing Director with Salma Fotovat, Riverside Natural Foods (MadeGood)
Feb 2100:44:59Tap to summarizeSalma Fotovat is the Co-Founder & Sourcing & Procurement Director at Riverside Natural Foods, Ltd. - Home of MadeGood. They are a Canadian-owned company that specializes in creating healthy, allergy-friendly snacks She shares her insights on the complexities of product development in the dairy industry. She discusses the importance of collaboration, the challenges of optimizing established products, and the innovative processes involved in launching new products. Pratisha emphasizes the significance of curiosity, human connections, and networking in her career journey, providing valuable advice for aspiring product developers. --- Shownotes: https://foodgrads.com/podcast/Salma-Fotovat --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Introduction 03:15 – What Is a Sourcing and Procurement Career? 07:30 – What This Job Actually Looks Like Day to Day 12:00 – How a Single Ingredient Takes Months to Approve 18:00 – Why "Right Price, Right Place" Is Harder Than It Sounds 22:00 – What Happens When 50% of Your Main Ingredient Disappears 27:00 – How Strong Relationships Saved the Business 31:30 – What Makes a Supplier Actually Want to Work With You 36:00 – How Procurement Can Support Farmers and the Planet 40:30 – The Future of Supply Chain Careers and Sustainability 45:30 – Skills Students Should Start Building Now --- 📙 Career Guides: https://foodgrads.com/career-paths-food-and-beverage/ 💭 Career Advice: https://foodgrads.com/blog/ --- CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST 💼 Salma Fotovat LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salmafotovat/ 💼 Riverside Natural Foods LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/riverside-natural-foods/ 🌐 Riverside Natural Foods Website: https://www.riversidenaturalfoods.com/ 📸 MadeGood Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madegoodfoods/ --- CONNECT WITH US 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodgrads/ 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@foodgrads.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/foodgrads/
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Product Development and Commercialization Manager with Pratistha Banerjee, Darigold
Feb 700:51:51Tap to summarizePratistha Banerjee is a Product Development and Commercialization Manager at Darigold, a global supplier of dairy and specialty food products. Pratistha shares insights into her role, emphasizing that food product development is not just about flavor but also about functional ingredients, supplier collaboration, and navigating complex operational and regulatory requirements in the dairy industry. She discusses the challenges of optimizing existing products and taking new product ideas from concept to plant launch, as well as what innovation truly means in a large food company. Pratistha highlights the importance of curiosity, problem-solving, and communication in building a successful career. Throughout the conversation, Pratistha reflects on her journey from early career roles to her current position. She emphasizes adaptability, continuous learning, and the value of building strong relationships with colleagues, suppliers, and operators. For students and aspiring food scientists, Pratistha encourages experimenting, learning from real-world challenges, and understanding the functional and technical aspects of ingredients. --- Shownotes --- TIMESTAMPS (00:00) What Food Product Development Really Is and Isn't (02:10) How Pratistha Got Into Product Development (05:00) What a Product Development Manager Does Day to Day (08:40) How Food Products Go from Idea to Launch (12:30) Why Food Product Ideas Fail at Scale (17:00) Theory vs Reality in Food Product Development (21:30) Working With Plants, Suppliers, and Operations (26:10) What Innovation Actually Means in the Food Industry (31:00) How Product Developers Solve Complex Problems (36:20) Choosing Between Food Industry Career Paths (41:30) Networking Advice for Introverted Students (47:40) What Students Should Start Doing Now --- 📙 Career Guides 💭 Career Advice --- CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST 💼 Pratistha Banerjee LinkedIn 🌐 Darigold Website 💼 Darigold LinkedIn 📸 Darigold Instagram 🐦 Darigold X (Twitter) CONNECT WITH US 🐦 X 📸 Instagram 🎵 TikTok 💼 LinkedIn
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Product Development Specialist with Leslie Herbas, Ascona Foods
Jan 1800:44:49Tap to summarizeWhat does a Product Development Specialist actually do in meat manufacturing? Leslie Herbas Marañon is a Product Development Specialist at Ascona Food Group, a global supplier of customized dry blends, edible films, and casings for the meat industry. With over 10 years across production, quality management, and R&D in Bolivia and Canada, she brings a hands-on, formulation-first approach to every project. --- Shownotes: https://foodgrads.com/podcast/Leslie-Herbas --- Explore food industry careers with CareersNOW!: https://careersnow.ca/ --- CareersNOW! is Food and Beverage Ontario's multi-year workforce development initiative that is connecting students and job seekers with employers in Ontario's food and beverage processing industry for exciting career opportunities. Check out CareersNOW.ca for more information on exciting jobs, career information, industry mentors and training opportunities for professional development. --- TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Introduction to Food Product Development and Problem-Solving (01:05) What a Product Development Specialist Does at Ascona (03:10) Customizing Dry Blends, Edible Films, and Casings (05:13) From Bench-Top Formulation to Plant Trials (07:07) What Documentation Means in Product Development (10:34) Regulatory and Administrative Work in the Meat Industry (15:57) Building Confidence Through Experience and Failure (18:09) Managing Multiple Projects and Scaling Up (23:07) Practicing Product Development Skills at Home (29:56) Career Path from Production to Product Development (37:38) Why Problem-Solving Starts with Planning (43:27) Learning from Production Teams and Operators --- CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST 📙 Career Guides: https://foodgrads.com/career-paths-food-and-beverage/ 💭 Career Advice: https://foodgrads.com/blog/ --- CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST 💼 Leslie Herbas LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-herbas-mara%C3%B1on-18507579/ 🌐 Ascona Food Group Website: https://www.asconafoods.com/ 💼 Ascona Food Group LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascona-foods-group/ CONNECT WITH US 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodgrads/ 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@foodgrads.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/foodgrads/
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