James Sweeting, director at coffee roasters Lincoln & York, on potato riddling, fly fishing and roaring like a lion
What was your first-ever job? I grew up on a farm so was working as soon as I could put on a pair of boots. One of the more memorable moments was rolling a field of peas grown for Birds Eye in my first tractor-driving job.
Describe your career to date in 25 words. I started at Lyons Tetley as a trainee coffee buyer and taster, then set up Lincoln & York in 1994 and Pipers Crisps in 2004.
How do you describe your job to your mates? "I sell coffee."
What is the worst job you've ever had? That would have to be riddling potatoes in the middle of winter.
What is the most rewarding part of your job? Seeing the factory working flat out.
What is the least rewarding part? Firing people.
If you could change one thing in the grocery industry, what would it be? I would make supermarkets label origins correctly. 'British meat' should only refer to meat raised and slaughtered in the UK, for example.
If you didn't work in grocery where would you work? I would love my own farm.
What's your best interview tip? Make sure your shoes are clean and always wear a tie.
What has been your worst job interview? I've only ever had three interviews and was lucky enough to be offered two of the three jobs.
Where do you hope to be in five years? Hopefully I'll still be where I am now.
What is your motto in life? Don't waste time.
What do you like to do outside work? I spend a lot of time shooting, fly fishing and playing tennis and football. I also like gardening and cooking because they give me a chance to relax.
What did you want to be when you were a kid? A farmer or a cricketer or, failing that, Seb Coe.
What's your favourite movie? Borat. I love the type of humour it uses, the kind that most people find embarrassing. It's my kind of humour - all the things you are not meant to say.
What has been the most embarrassing moment in your life? I tried to impress a girl by lying about my age, but unfortunately she found out and didn't want to know me after that.
What would you request as your final meal? Definitely a full English breakfast.
What's the weirdest thing you've eaten? When I was in Indonesia I once found myself eating a rodent of some sort.
What animal best reflects your personality and why? A lion because I eat a lot of red meat and like my sleep. I also have a tendency to wake up and roar at people.
What was your first-ever job? I grew up on a farm so was working as soon as I could put on a pair of boots. One of the more memorable moments was rolling a field of peas grown for Birds Eye in my first tractor-driving job.
Describe your career to date in 25 words. I started at Lyons Tetley as a trainee coffee buyer and taster, then set up Lincoln & York in 1994 and Pipers Crisps in 2004.
How do you describe your job to your mates? "I sell coffee."
What is the worst job you've ever had? That would have to be riddling potatoes in the middle of winter.
What is the most rewarding part of your job? Seeing the factory working flat out.
What is the least rewarding part? Firing people.
If you could change one thing in the grocery industry, what would it be? I would make supermarkets label origins correctly. 'British meat' should only refer to meat raised and slaughtered in the UK, for example.
If you didn't work in grocery where would you work? I would love my own farm.
What's your best interview tip? Make sure your shoes are clean and always wear a tie.
What has been your worst job interview? I've only ever had three interviews and was lucky enough to be offered two of the three jobs.
Where do you hope to be in five years? Hopefully I'll still be where I am now.
What is your motto in life? Don't waste time.
What do you like to do outside work? I spend a lot of time shooting, fly fishing and playing tennis and football. I also like gardening and cooking because they give me a chance to relax.
What did you want to be when you were a kid? A farmer or a cricketer or, failing that, Seb Coe.
What's your favourite movie? Borat. I love the type of humour it uses, the kind that most people find embarrassing. It's my kind of humour - all the things you are not meant to say.
What has been the most embarrassing moment in your life? I tried to impress a girl by lying about my age, but unfortunately she found out and didn't want to know me after that.
What would you request as your final meal? Definitely a full English breakfast.
What's the weirdest thing you've eaten? When I was in Indonesia I once found myself eating a rodent of some sort.
What animal best reflects your personality and why? A lion because I eat a lot of red meat and like my sleep. I also have a tendency to wake up and roar at people.
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