- Download a Business Profile with CV (PDF)
- How to grow food and raise livestock
- After leaving London University and before starting at Hadlow Agricultural and Horticultural College, I worked on farms around the world. In Israel, I learnt how to pick bananas, milk cows and catch chickens. I dried and packed hops in Kent and Tasmania. In Kenya I worked with sheep and cattle. In the UK I worked on large livestock and arable farms.
- How to manage people
- After farming college I started work for the UK’s largest fruit growers. Over eight years I learnt about managing people, from traditional farm workers to itinerant fruit pickers. I dealt with motivation, change management, communication and performance issues. Later, at Tesco, I managed teams in the UK, in France and in Eastern Europe ranging from 2 to 100 people. I learnt how to ‘rationalise’, recruit and induct.
- How to sell fruit
- In my last year of fruit growing, my packhouse sent 2000t of strawberries to the UK supermarkets. My orchards sent 1500t of apples to the co-operative. Selling is best done by experts – but the closer the relationship with the buyer, the less need for marketing and the simpler the day to day process. I learnt that a sustainable partnership is stable, long-term, trusting and risk sharing.
- How to deal with customers
- I experienced the change from selling to traditional wholesale markets to dealing with emerging supermarkets. This was a move from uncertain price outcomes to clear and guaranteed payment. It was also the start of changing to working seven days and responding to customer requirements at short notice.
- How to buy and sell food
- Office life was kept at a minimum at Tesco fifteen years ago. A technologist was expected to be present at production, wherever it might be. I learnt what customers want from vegetables. From asparagus to aubergine and mangetout to yams, I specified exotic vegetables. I travelled to Africa and Europe, I set standards with suppliers and I helped buyers manage their supply chains. I worked with stores and with marketing.
- How to work in Europe
- In 1994, Tesco started bought Catteau, a retailer in the north of France with a turnover of £500m and 120 stores. Competition was fierce. As a French speaker, I arrived in 1995 to work on harmonisation of produce and meat supply chains. I also worked on private label development of food and non food. I learnt that the European food business is different but customers still responded to quality and price.
- How to work for a supplier
- I spent a year working for Gerber Fresh Produce as Development Manager from 98-99. I found new sources, suppliers and products. I dealt with all the retailers again and could see how different they can be. I found that supplier relationships and partnerships can be tough.
- How to control quality
- Back at Tesco, I took responsibility for fresh food quality assurance. I learnt about processes, measurement, sensory evaluation, calibration and harmonisation. I dealt with challenges and complaints, the costs of rejections and the challenge of finding credible management information. I experienced leading a large and complex IT project.
- How to deliver product integrity
- I moved to work in the Group Trading Law and Technical team looking after the audit team and developing policy. I learnt that unannounced audits work well and that standard setting is a one way process. I worked with other retailers around the world. I started to speak at big conferences and to work in committees.
- How to be an independent consultant
- In February 2007 I started my consultancy business. My first clients wanted my experience to help them change. They wanted to understand their customers better and improve their business planning. I believe that good business relationships are of great value and that sustainability requires viability and efficiency.
