Food and Consumer Management Profiles

Sam Thompson

Sam’s enthusiasm for marketing and the food industry is infectious. Sam (pictured with chef Tom Aitken) has just returned from a fantastic year long placement at Long Clawson Dairy in Leicestershire and literally has an endless list off experiences to recount about his time there.

“In my role as a Marketing Assistant I worked with a great team. Alongside other products, Long Clawson Dairy is the biggest producer of Stilton cheese in the world and one of my first jobs was to refresh the company’s online marketing strategy. This included redeveloping their website, establishing Long Clawson Dairy on social media platforms and tracking web traffic and media coverage.

I also got involved in the businesses’ export growth and we started shipping Stilton to China! Plus I worked with the Marketing Manager on the new marketing strategy which brought me into contact with other senior members of the business.

I really enjoyed working at trade fairs including the International Food Expo in London and I even did a demo at the Leicester Winter Food Festival. That was in a marquee in December and was freezing but I loved the challenge!

For the company’s Centenary celebrations I helped a food stylist with a photoshoot for their new recipe book, working with chef Tom Aikens and then attending the press launch. This gave me good experience for dealing with the media.”

Sam gained lots of other experience on his placement including taking part in a charity 100 mile bike ride with fellow colleagues and working with Long Clawson’s national account managers on product range reviews.   He strongly feels that his course prepared him well to make the most of his placement:

“The modules on marketing management, human resources, consumer behaviour and applied food communication were invaluable in helping me understand all sides of a business. It meant that I could talk confidently to colleagues in different sections whilst on placement and understand how the management structures worked. The course is tailored so well to industry and I can’t sing its praises enough!”.

Now in his final year, Sam also finds time to enjoy playing Gaelic football and cricket and has started to apply for jobs.

“ I would like to work on consumer brand management, maybe for a company like Nestle, analysing more closely what customers want and developing products to grow a business.”

Good luck Sam!

 

Christina McCloskey

"I'd always wanted to do something related to food.  My three week placement in the 2nd year was spent at the Sainsburys food innovation centre and Jamie Oliver was there, whilst clearing a kitchen after one of his demonstrations I started talking to one of his food stylists which led to a year placement with Jamie Oliver Ltd, the opportunity to take a years placement was one of the reasons I took the course.

During my placement year I worked as a Food Assistant, which meant I was in the office as well as out on shoots; organising the food stylists kit, recipe testing. I also assisted on the Sainsburys Christmas campaign, being in the studios during filming was an amazing experience, I also helped on Jamie's Ministry of Food and at the Good Food Show.

Coming back after a year out on placement was daunting at first but I had an end goal and the possibility of something at Jamie Oliver Ltd when I had finished.

That possibility turned into a reality and I am now working as a Junior Food Stylist and living in London."