Oh For Food's Sake

In this inspirational episode, we sit down with Charlie Jenkins, a data analyst who brings to light the importance of neurodiversity in the food industry workplace. Charlie shares their journey with autism, from initial challenges to celebrating their distinctive strengths. We delve into meaningful discussions about the importance of questioning, the role of employers like Asda in setting inclusivity standards, and advice for businesses on embracing neurodiversity. Join us for an eye-opening conversation on fostering an accommodating, supportive work environment that values individual differences.

In this inspiring episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we delve into Ellie Vince's personal struggle with dyspraxia and her triumphant efforts in advocating for neurodiversity within the workplace. We discuss the importance of understanding and supporting neurodivergent individuals, address the lack of awareness within professional environments, and share actionable steps businesses can take towards inclusivity.

Summary: In this enlightening episode, we are joined by Amy Polly, a vibrant neurodiversity advocate and the founder of Funfulness. Amy shares her personal journey of being diagnosed with ADHD post-maternity at 42 and delves into the nuances of navigating work and self-awareness amidst neurodiversity. The episode touches on important themes such as overcoming stigma, the value of compassion, and the critical need for cerebrally diverse individuals in the food industry.

In this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we offer an intimate look into our own experiences with ADHD, discussing how it impacts our personal lives and dynamic careers in the food industry. We explore the broader implications of neurodiversity, sharing tips on embracing different brain make-ups within professional settings. This episode is especially poignant as it coincides with Neurodiversity Awareness Month, shedding light on important issues like stigma, diagnosis, and the unique strengths neurodivergent individuals bring to the table.

In this week’s episode of The Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we sit down with Helena Field, a rising star in the food industry. From her modest start on the Cranswick graduate scheme to managing a new fried chicken factory, Helena shares her growth and professional development journey. She highlights the importance of hard work, dedication, and mental health as she climbed the career ladder while maintaining a crucial work-life balance. Whether it's her morning routine at the gym or her strategies for motivating large teams, Helena's insights exemplify how to thrive in high-stress, fast-paced operations roles.

In this episode, we discuss the challenges of dealing with crisis situations in the food industry, particularly product recalls and food safety issues. Drawing from our own experiences, we share valuable insights on managing emotions, developing self-awareness, and navigating through stressful situations. Emphasising the importance of remaining calm, self-awareness, and acknowledging the emotional impact of crisis management in the food industry.

Join us as we welcome Kara Webb and Clare Otridge of Grounded Research to discuss the dynamic role of AI in the food industry. We delve into the intricacies of AI development, the practical applications of GPT-4 in consumer research, and the ethical implications of this technological revolution. This episode uncovers its potential to innovate product development and the challenges in maintaining data security and human relevance in a rapidly advancing digital landscape.

In this episode of Oh For Food's Sake, we explore using failure as fuel to drive toward success. Diving deep into the emotions associated with failure and discussing feelings of shame, disappointment, and fear, we emphasise the significance of acknowledging and accepting failure without denial, allowing yourself to process the associated emotions. Reframing failure as feedback is a crucial part of the journey toward success. We talk about the importance of learning from failures and using them as a basis for growth and resilience and to be more willing to jump into the unknown and embrace the potential of failure.

In this insightful episode, we are joined by Jason Gibb as we delve into the complexities of rebranding and repositioning a food product that initially struggled to connect with its target audience. Discover the nuanced balance between consumer insights and entrepreneur resilience that is key to a successful brand makeover. Jason also shares his journey from olive oil to being a community pioneer with Bread and Jam and how he is now navigating the plant-based sector.

In this episode, we candidly dive into the realm of productivity, task management, and time optimisation within the food industry. We share our experiences, challenges, and effective strategies for avoiding procrastination, managing distractions, and utilising digital tools. Talking about the importance of understanding individual work patterns and the necessity of disciplined planning, we discuss the "four P's of productivity". How adopting methods like the Pomodoro technique and the Eisenhower matrix can aid in achieving that much-needed work-life balance.

In this heartwarming episode, we invite Milly Fyfe, an inspiring advocate for time-saving cooking hacks and supporter of UK farmers, to discuss the importance of authenticity in cooking, time management for busy parents, and promoting high welfare standards in farming. Milly shares her journey from farming to social media, her struggles with chronic pain and mental health, and how she has worked to link consumers closer to the source of their food.

In this empowering episode of "Oh For Food's Sake," we ignite the conversation on stepping into fearlessness within the food industry. Sharing personal stories discussing the importance of embracing neurodiversity and providing practical advice for industry players to grow, overcome challenges, and thrive by leveraging their unique strengths. The launch of the Fearless Foodies movement marks a significant milestone, aiming to foster a supportive community and provide valuable resources for food professionals.

This fascinating episode discusses the intricate world of ready meals, sustainability, and category management with food industry expert Charlie Derra. Charlie shares her wealth of knowledge on how big data shapes product availability, the competitive nature of ready meals in retail spaces, and strategies for making sustainable decisions in the food industry. The trio also delves into the often misunderstood aspects of ready meals, the importance of insightful consumer data, and the evolving role of category managers. If you’re curious about the interplay between convenience foods and environmental impact or interested in the dynamics of the food retail sector, tune in for a meaty conversation packed with insights!

Post-launch reviews provide significant value in the food industry. In this episode, we unfold the reasons why this step should not be skipped and how can contribute to future product success. These reviews underpin the need for team synergy, structured processes, automation, and involvement from all departments to learn and improve from each launch.

In this episode, we invite the wonderful John Stapleton to speak with us! John shares insights from his experience in the food industry, discussing his involvement with early-stage food businesses, incubator accelerators, and a vertical farm business. He also shares his perspective on the power of authenticity and embracing adversity.

In this brilliant episode, we explore the thrilling highs and challenging lows of the food industry with accomplished entrepreneur John Stapleton. He shares invaluable insights into the importance of solving consumer needs, scalability, and the resilience required for success in the food sector. His journey - encompassing roles in Mission Ventures, RegalFood Fund, and the Fisher Farms vertical farm project, amongst others - paints a vivid picture of the ambition and persistence needed in the food industry. We delve into the lessons learned from both success and failure while also touching on the critical factor of consumer insight in product innovation.

In this thought-provoking episode, we engage in an insightful discussion about the concept of intention setting and the value it holds in contrast to traditional New Year's resolutions. We delve into the psychological and practical differences between the two approaches, sharing personal experience and professional expertise to shed light on the benefits of embracing intention setting. We talk about fostering a growth mindset, the impact of self-compassion, and the power of visualisation in achieving intentions. It really is full of lightbulb moments!

In this episode, we share a listener's gut-wrenching tale about the harsh implications of a non-compete clause in an employment contract. The story emphasises the importance of scrutinising employment contracts and seeking legal advice to mitigate potential risks.

This episode of "Oh For Food's Sake" welcomes Suzanne Coombes, the Technical Manager at Asda. Suzanne shares her insightful journey through the food industry, from her beginnings at Samworth Brothers to her role at one of the UK’s leading retailers. She discusses the complexities and joys of leadership, the emotional challenges of handling redundancies, and the importance of building a supportive work culture. This episode also touches on balancing personal well-being with professional life and the art of empathetic management within the high-demand food sector.

In this episode of "Oh For Food's Sake", we're talking about the critical importance of maximising relationships with suppliers in this industry. We really emphasise the mutual benefits that come from true collaboration and tapping into that expertise for growth on both a personal and business level.

What do you think of when you think of personality profiling? Is it a useful business tool or a fun way to spend a rainy Saturday afternoon? Have you tried to use personality profiling in your workplace? In this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we talk to our lovely friend and Leadership coach Donna Ward-Higgs about how she uses personality profiling to help teams to understand each other and achieve their goals more effectively.

Soft skills have got a bad reputation. It’s a term that we’ve all heard, but many of us struggle to define exactly what it means. Or maybe we can define it, but we don’t consider it to be as important as ‘being able to get the job done’. Well, in this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we’re here to say that SOFT SKILLS MATTER! So much so that we prefer to call them ‘success skills’! Join us to find out what we mean when we talk about soft skills, why they’re really important and what you can do to develop them yourself.

Here on the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we talk a lot about the need to find more graduates to fill roles in the UK food industry and what a fantastic industry it is to work in. But, let’s be honest, it’s been a little while since we got our first ever food industry jobs and a lot has changed since then! So in this episode, we’re handing the mike over to recent Harper Adams graduate and food industry worker Ellie Brook to get her take on starting out in the food industry!

We’ve talked about imposter syndrome before on the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast but the science is always evolving and so are we! So in this episode, we’re discussing our reflections on imposter syndrome, including how it can show up in your work AND your personal life, the different types of imposter syndrome and what neuroscience teaches us about overcoming imposter syndrome.

“I left school at 16 without any GCSEs”... and now he’s a Managing Director of a leading food safety company, Microsearch. On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we hang out with the delightful and amazing Danny Franklin, asking him about his career journey, the challenges of working in microbiology, food safety legislation and the power of being yourself in your workplace.

When we asked you what you wanted to hear from us on the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, boy did you respond! The most popular topic, by an overwhelming majority, was self-development on a budget, or how to coach yourself through self-development. So grab a pen, some paper and maybe a hot drink to keep you going, because we’re about to walk you through how you can take charge of your own career and personal development!

If racism doesn’t affect your everyday life, it’s easy to not think about it or to tell yourself that it doesn’t matter. Maybe you also tell yourself that if you saw racism in your workplace, you’d recognise it and call it out immediately. But is that really the case? On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we talk to Ayisha Koyenikan, a passionate and successful woman who’s achieved a brilliant career in the food industry, about the obstacles she’s faced being black in the workplace.

If your career involves any level of contact with an NPD team, you’ll know that it’s a high-pressure job with a lot of tight deadlines, strict workflows and tons of industry jargon. And you might have thought that that was all you needed to know, but on this week’s episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we’re here to correct you and deliver some exciting news: our NPD Fundamentals course is back!

All businesses communicate all the time, but they don't often think about it. Whether they’re persuading leads to become customers, supporting existing customers, handling shareholders or managing employees, it all comes down to good communication skills. On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we’re talking to business founder and NLP therapist Neil Sykes about how better communication can drive businesses forward.

You’re about to deliver your presentation to the board and you thought you were doing fine. Great, even. But then you notice that your hands are shaking, your knees feel weak, your back is sweaty and your mouth has gone dry. Ah, performance anxiety! However it feels for you, it can hold you back in your career and prevent you from achieving the success you deserve. So on this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we’re giving you the tools and techniques you need to nip your nerves in the bud.

On this week’s episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we talk to former professional chef Stephanie Kingston who traded her chef whites in for a factory uniform when she set up her nutrition-based to-go food business, Pollen + Grace. Steph lifts the lid on the Pollen + Grace story and tells us about future developments coming up for her business baby.

Too many people believe that you either are entrepreneurial or you aren’t, and this myth needs to be busted! On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we’re drilling down on the qualities that make up an entrepreneurial mindset and giving you tips on how you can apply them to your own life, even if you don’t have your own business.

It’s so important for the future of your company, but it’s something that many companies can get so wrong: cross-functional collaboration. In the food industry, departments like NPD, marketing, sales and finance are all expected to pull together but in reality, their different goals and incentives can often get in the way. So on this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we’re brainstorming what good cross-functional collaboration is and how you can achieve it.

Why did chewing gum sales drop as smartphone sales rose? And when the economy is in a recession, why should you aim to be the most expensive food product in your category? On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we have the pleasure of speaking with expert consultant Mark Whalley about the difference that insights make to your food business.

‘Toxic’ is a word that we seem to hear a lot these days. We call situations, workplaces and even people ‘toxic’ all the time, but what does that actually mean? And how can you tell when your workplace is toxic? Well on this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we’re diving into the murky world of toxic workplaces to discuss how to tell if your workplace is toxic and what you can do about it.

When you have a question about your job, you go to HR. When you want to make a complaint about a colleague, you go to HR. When you need support in your workplace, you go to HR. But… who does your HR person go to? On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we invite special guest and HR expert Jennie Beasley to shine a light on another underappreciated role in the UK food industry: the HR specialist.

It’s one of the most common reasons why teams (and even businesses) fail: a lack of trust between people who are supposed to work together. But trust doesn’t happen automatically and it’s not an infinite resource. So on this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we take a look at Brené Brown’s BRAVING framework to help your team to trust each other. Listen to the end to find out more about your podcast homework!

You might think that you know about all the different teams that are involved in food development and production, but think again! On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we talk to the smart, engaging and incredibly driven Phil May who’s on a mission to educate the food industry about the important role that the food hygiene team plays every night.

How many times have you slogged through a top-priority team project and pulled out all the stops to make sure that you get your part done… AND everyone else’s too? And then you get to the delivery meeting and find yourself saying “It was a team effort”? Ok, so it’s definitely not just us then! On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we explain why you shouldn’t let everyone take credit for your work and how to make others aware of your own contributions.

You might have a great food product idea with a secure supply chain, a reliable manufacturing process, a competitive price point and a small army of fans… But does that mean that your product will get picked up and sold in a major retailer? Not always, and that’s where Karen Green comes in. She’s a food mentor who specialises in helping young food brands take their products to market. Join us for this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast where we get to pick Karen’s brains about what makes a buyer interested in your food product.

If there’s one myth that we’d like everyone to stop believing in, it’s this: that working harder will help you to succeed in your career. Food industry workers, you need to stop thinking like this! On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we bust the myth about hard work and unpack the reasons why it’s time to give yourself a break.

It feels like everyone’s trying to get into the healthy food space nowadays but with all the buzz and hype, how do you know which foods are actually good for you? On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we talk with the lovely Corrine Toyn, a registered dietitian who’s set up her own boutique marketing agency for healthy food brands.

“Self-confident people are just born that way. They’re naturally good at everything they do and they know it. And you’re not like them, you’re stuck being you”. Does any of this sound like the voices in your head? Then you need to listen to this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, where we’re busting popular myths about self-confidence and giving you five steps that you can follow to build your own confidence!

This episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast features the wonderful Claire Hughes, Director of Product Development & Innovation at Sainsbury's. She joins us to talk about squiggly career development, balancing innovation and commercial success in NPD, the benefits of the Sainsbury’s Thrive programme and how she feels about the future of the food industry.

There’s been a lot of chat about burnout online and in society but not all of it is helpful, especially if you think you’re already in burnout. So on this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we decided to do a deep-dive on burnout, explaining what it is, how to spot it and how to treat it, because you deserve a life free from burnout!

The UK food industry is under threat. It’s incentivised to churn out unhealthy, unsustainable food products. Can challenger brands be the ones to turn it all around? On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast we talk to Louis Bedwell, the managing director of Mission Ventures. He believes that the future of food is in the hands of start-ups and he’s helping them to seize it.

Welcome to the 100th episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast! We’re celebrating our centenary by discussing our food industry stories, what we’ve learnt from them and how we’re moving forward. It’s been a long road and really, we’re only just getting started!

How often do you meet people that are in direct competition with you? And how do you feel when you meet them? On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we explore the notion of collaboration over competition and give you ideas about how to reach out to others and work with them in a healthy, productive way.

The food industry changes all the time so if you have a food business, you always need to keep an eye on the horizon. On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we talk to Adrian Short, one of the founders of our podcast sponsor Ulrick & Short, about how he created a once-niche business that has bloomed into a big player in the clean-label ingredients space. Join us for this fun conversation that covers starting your own business, matching up companies by culture and what the future of meat-free meat looks like!

“Make technical sexy”. That was the mission that Deborah Kotulla’s boss assigned to her years ago and she’s been fulfilling it ever since. And as you’ll hear on this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, instead of fishnet stockings and tight dresses, this mission was about a whole lot of hard work and communication. Join us for this fun interview that shows just what a wide-ranging and pivotal role technical is!

Starting a career in NPD is like being thrown in the pool at the deep end. There’s so much to learn and everyone around you is busy and under pressure. They might not have the time to stop and explain to you exactly what’s going on or to help you with your career struggles. So we’re here to do it for them! On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we tell you the four things we wish we’d known before joining an NPD team. Get ready to take notes because these tips will help you to accelerate your career and reduce your job stress!

You might have an incredible food product idea, complete with a compelling brand story and an ‘in’ with a big retailer. But unfortunately, the reality of the UK food industry means that even then, you’re not guaranteed to become the Next Big Thing in Food. So on this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we’re sharing the four things you need to know to run a successful food startup.

Can own-brand businesses compete with big brands? What does it take to get a food product from a new start-up onto the shelves of big retailers? And how do you build and follow a brand strategy over time in a changing marketplace? On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we talk with food marketing guru Chris Owens about all this and more, and he tells us the scariest marketing statistic that you’ll ever hear!

You walk into a crucial NPD meeting knowing that you have bad news to deliver. When your senior colleagues start to question you, you feel your blood pressure rising and your anger boiling up. What if we told you that that behaviour isn’t actually you, but a chimp instead? On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we review Professor Steve Peters’ book The Chimp Paradox.

Today we’re tackling an issue that affects businesses right across the food industry: food safety standards. Whether you’re a feisty challenger brand, a caterer facing your first food safety inspection or a huge food manufacturer, you’re going to learn something from food safety expert Ruth Baker. Grab a pen and paper and join us for this information-packed episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast!

It’s that item on your to-do list that you keep putting off: self-promotion. You can always find a reason to put it off but avoiding self-promotion might hold you back in your career. On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we explore effective self-promotion. Join us as we discuss what it means, why we’re scared of it and what good, genuine self-promotion can look like for you.

On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we chat with recent graduate and food industry trends expert Martha Wood from Ulrick & Short. If you’re interested in anything from finding a job in the food industry to forecasting food ingredient trends to why ingredients are a great place for you to start your food career, this episode is for you!

“I’m sorry to interject, but would you mind just please…” Nope, stop right there! On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we’re delivering the important message that it’s ok to be assertive! Tune in to learn our three simple tips to help you be more assertive in your work and home life.

Sustainability, food safety, food security and a failure to meet recruitment targets, not to mention the aftershocks of a pandemic: The UK food industry is fighting fires on all fronts. Drawing on the resources of its talented and passionate workforce is the only way to tackle them all. On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we talk to the brilliant Bethan Grylls, editor of the Food Manufacture magazine, about the future of the food industry.

When the economy is uncertain and your manager’s talking about making budget cuts, it’s definitely time to start thinking about career cushioning. But what is career cushioning anyway? And how do you do it without burning out or looking like you’re not committed to your current job? On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we tell you everything you need to know about career cushioning.

When you work in the food industry, it’s very common to be so focused on your role and your team’s mission that you don’t hear any other team’s perspective. On this episode of the Oh for Food’s Sake podcast, we’re going to correct that. We speak to longtime procurement expert Georgina Willis about the ups and downs of working in procurement and what procurement and NPD teams can do to work better together.

You can tell when a team isn’t working together. They could be missing targets, not getting on with each other or turnover might be too high. But these are the symptoms and not the cause. On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we discuss the five key underlying problems that cause teams to not function AND tell you what you can do about it. Tune in to find out how to turn your team around!

The conversations around diversity and inclusion are getting ever more complex and employees are starting to expect their employers to treat diversity issues as more than just a tick box exercise. But what are diversity and inclusion and how can we bring them into our workplaces? On today’s episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we talk to special guest Amie Burke, the Inclusivity Programme Manager at IGD, in an honest and open discussion about how we can be diverse and what reverse mentoring can do for our workforce and our bottom line.

Most of the stories we hear about businesses in our culture recount business success, where a small, ballsy go-getter grows into an enterprise giant. It’s rare to dive into the other kind of business stories, where with the best will in the world, the business just can’t keep going. But that’s what we’re doing on this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast. Today we’re talking about liquidating a business: what it means, how to do it, what it feels like and why you need to know about liquidating a business before you start one.

Although we love talking about the best aspects of the food industry, we don’t shy away from the difficult ones either. So with a recession in the air and several major companies announcing big layoffs, on this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we’re talking about redundancy.

Can you have a career where you grow and feel challenged but still supported, and still stay with the same company for decades? Yes, you can! On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we talk to food industry legend Claire Martino about her long tenure at Bakkavor and what she’s learnt from working in the food industry for 20+ years.

Personal branding is just for people who are self-employed, right? Wrong! If you haven’t started building your personal brand now, you should probably just forget it, right? Double wrong! On this week’s episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we walk you through why everyone needs a personal brand and how you can start building yours.

There are plenty of awards up for grabs when you work in the food industry, but none of them are quite like the Nourish Awards! On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we’re talking to the Nourish Awards founder Diana Babics about where she got her inspiration from, what it takes to run an award that spans many chapters and categories and how she manages to taste all that delicious food!

When life is getting you down and you’re feeling overwhelmed with work, family, your health or worries, it’s time to drop your to-do list and start a Ta Da list. On this week’s episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, the last one of the year, we’re reflecting on 2022, discussing what we achieved and what we’d like to work on in 2023. If you’re someone who doesn’t spend enough time acknowledging your own successes⁠—and hardly anyone does⁠— then grab a pen and listen in!

On this week’s episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we’re getting technical about potatoes! We’ve invited a very special guest Debbie Winstanley, an agronomist and potato lover, to talk potato varieties, supply chain logistics, sustainability and storage. Don’t miss the big reveal of Debbie’s favourite potato variety! Pop open a bag of your favourite crisps and tune in.

One little word really can make all the difference, and it’s ‘no’. On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we’re exploring the power of saying no and what happens when you start to get back control of your timetable, your energy and your life.

On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we’re interviewing a power couple who are making waves in the British food industry. Join us as we talk with our new friends Rimi and Manav, creators of the vegan chocolate brand LoveRaw, about everything from starting a business, to working with your spouse, to coping with Covid-19, to the future of LoveRaw.

You’re not achieving enough. You didn’t handle that conflict well. You’d better check that email again before you send it. You should volunteer for another project… Any of this sound familiar? On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we’re shining a light on our inner self-saboteurs and telling you how to stop getting in your own way.

Today we’re talking about one of the most underestimated career advancement tools: networking. But since networking is a big concept that many people don't understand, we’re breaking it down into a series of small, easy steps that you can take right now to grow your network. Join us on this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast as we talk about micro networking!

Rewind back to 2012: Who would have ever said then that plant-based food and drinks would take off as a category? Enter the special guest for this week’s episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast: Charles Banks, cofounder of thefoodpeople! Charles joins us for an in-depth discussion on food trends, the responsibility that comes with food trend analysis and how thefoodpeople are investing in the next generation of food industry innovators.

When you work in NPD, you come across product roadblocks all the time that delay bringing a product to market or slow down sales. It might be that the mouth feel of your product isn’t right, or the texture is off-putting to the consumer or that you want to provide a meat-free alternative but can’t get the ingredients right…they’re all very common NPD headaches. But did you know that there's support available to help you overcome your NPD challenges? On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we chat to Danni Schroeter who’s the R&D manager at Ulrick & Short, the proud sponsors of this month of the podcast, about what Ulrick & Short can do for your NPD team.

Whether you admit it or not, we’re all getting older. But what does that mean for your body and mind? How do you take care of yourself as your needs change? On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we discuss food and nutrition with the multitalented Barbara Bray, a food and sustainability consultant, podcaster and well-deserved recipient of an MBE.

How do you know when you’re in a state of overwhelm? And what can you do about it? In this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake Podcast, we look at overwhelm from a compassionate point of view and give you tips on how to identify and avoid overwhelm, as well as how you can work yourself out of overwhelm in the moment.

Today’s episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast is all about the magic of one tiny but powerful word: no. Join us as we review The No Club, a book by four powerful, busy women who got rid of the grunt work so that they could reclaim their agendas and careers. We share our thoughts on the books and give you tips on how you can start saying ‘no’ to the tasks you don’t want to do.

When you work in recruitment, interviews, job descriptions and career changes are your bread and butter. But from a candidate’s perspective, recruitment is still quite a mysterious process with a lot of potential pitfalls to navigate. So on this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake Podcast, we’re talking to our friend James Pye who’s a recruitment consultant in the food industry with this month’s podcast sponsor MorePeople.

We all expect to get a salary for the work we do, but why is it so hard to ask for more? On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake Podcast, we give you advice on how to ask your boss for more money for the work you do, which is more important than ever given the economic climate.

When you’re working in the food industry, it’s easy to get immersed into your role within your department and to not think about what other departments bring to the table. On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake Podcast, we tell you the advantages of taking your blinkers off and gaining a broader perspective on the wider food industry.

On the surface, it seems easy to run an NPD food sample session. All you need is the food, served at the right temperature…at a good time of day….and a stockpile of the right utensils…and the right people in the room…giving feedback in the right way… Actually, it’s not so easy. So on this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake Podcast, we’re giving you a list of handy tips to make your sample session a success.

How can a food business navigate all of the hurdles on the long NPD road to get their new product to market? By calling in the Taste Creators! On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake Podcast, we dive into everything NPD with consultant experts Sarah Fielder and David Neville, who have over 40 years’ experience of helping new foods to hit the shelves.

So many people experience a form of feeling undervalued at work. It might be that your ideas aren’t listened to, or that you’ve been passed over for promotion again, or that you never get a chance to speak up in important meetings. However your feeling of being undervalued manifests itself, on this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake Podcast, we’re sharing our advice on how to increase your influence at work to make your work life happier and more successful.

Today we talk creating a socials-first media strategy with Phia Folkes who’s the co-founder of Seed Group, a food specialist marketing agency and this month’s sponsor of the Oh For Food’s Sake Podcast! Grab a snack and a notepad and listen to us talk about why your food company really needs to rethink its social media strategy.

Today’s episode tackles a giant of a problem for the food industry and for society as a whole: sustainability. We speak to special guest Andy Wright, head of sustainability at Greencore, about the big picture for sustainability in the food industry and where we need to do better.

Sometimes work spills into the rest of your life like a giant overflowing bucket and you have to attack it with a mop to push it back to where it belongs. On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake Podcast, we’re giving you tips on how to switch off from work at the end of the day so that you can have a healthier, happier home life.

What with the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation and every other bit of bad news that has come out over the last two years, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and overworked all the time, especially if you work in the food industry. So on today’s episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we’re giving you some top tips on how to stay afloat and motivated when you’re going through a tough time.

Why do we find it so difficult to stop doing things that we know are bad for us? Whether it’s mindlessly browsing social media instead of working, reaching for that next piece of chocolate even though you said that you’d had enough for today, or cancelling yoga again because something’s come up at work, we’re all guilty of doing things that aren’t in our best interest. But it doesn’t have to be like that…

The menopause is something that all women go through and some can experience severe symptoms that last for seven or more years. Yet as a society, we don’t talk about it that much. That tide is just starting to turn, so we invited GP and clinical sexologist Dr Angela Wright onto this episode to explain the menopause and to walk us through what options are available for women before, during and after the menopause (and to tell us what a sexologist is!).

Wobbly knees, a shaky voice, butterflies in your stomach, sweaty palms…how many of these did you feel the last time you gave a presentation at work? On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake Podcast, we’re giving you top tips on how to carry yourself with confidence when you present.

Stakeholders can make or break a food product launch and if they break it, it can very much feel like it’s your fault. On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake Podcast, we’re giving five key steps to manage stakeholders in your project so you can keep everyone in the loop, nip problems in the bud and get your product on the shelves.

The Covid-19 pandemic started a wave of self-employment across the UK and more people than ever before are thinking of starting their own business. If you’ve ever been curious about what it's like to be your own boss and run a company your way, plug into this episode of Oh For Food’s Sake as we’re discussing the good, the bad and the ugly of self-employment.

On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we talk to Rachael Edmondson-Clarke who transitioned from a job in the food industry to setting up her own business as a consultant and a coach. Join us as we dive in deep on her experience of burnout and we talk about how her resilience mindset allowed her to overcome the challenges of an extremely high-pressure job.

How many times have you caught yourself agreeing to do something you don’t want to do? Whether it’s signing up for the PTA, reading over your needy colleague’s CV or hosting a family event, sometimes we all bow to the pressure of being a people pleaser instead of honouring ourselves and saying ‘no’. In this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we give you tips on how to stop people pleasing.

We asked you what’s holding you back in your career and your response was loud and clear: You feel like you don't have enough impact. One of the most common stories you shared was feeling ignored in meetings, or not having the confidence to speak up and share their insights. So on this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we’re giving you a to-do list of actionable steps to get your voice heard in meetings. Grab a pen and piece of paper and get stuck in!

It’s a trope that people leave bad bosses, not bad jobs, but just because your boss is terrible doesn’t mean that you have to quit. We’re coming to the rescue with this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, where we teach you how to manage your boss!

It’s a situation that far too many mums are familiar with: You take 6 to 12 months (or more) off to have and raise a baby, you walk into the office on your first day back, and even though it’s the same job with the same people, it feels like everything’s changed. You might struggle to readjust and feel sad, bored, frustrated or angry. And it’s not ok! But there’s hope, because it is possible to be a career happy mum.