Name: Marie Schofield
Age: 27
Job title: Product & marketing manager
Company and location: Kingsland Drinks Group, Salford
Education: University of Lincoln for Media Production
Why did you decide to go for a career in food and drink? It was never the plan, but I have worked within marketing departments in various industries throughout my career, including food, travel, clothing and now the drinks industry. I’d recently moved to Manchester and after some digging, the role initially sparked my interest, because I thought working with wine and spirits would be diverse and exciting, and I was right!
Explain your job to us in a sentence (or two): I look after the day-to-day running of the wine ‘bottled at source’ side of the business, and I support the PR and internal communications teams.
What does a typical day look like for you? No day is the same, which definitely keeps me on my toes! I ensure all artwork is legal for UK market by checking against detailed specifications of the wine, working closely with wineries around the world to ensure requirements and deadlines are met. On the PR and internal communications side, I assist with social media planning and execution, ensure that internal comms activities relate back to the company’s values and behaviours, and I support the business’ Thirsty Earth sustainability initiatives.
”Don’t put too much pressure on yourself and don’t let a job title put you off going for a job”
Tell us how you went about applying for your job. I’ve worked for Kingsland Drinks for three years as the product and marketing executive for the bottled at source side of the business, so my new role was more of a natural progression. My original interview was in two parts though, the first being an introduction, a review of my CV and the company explaining the role. For the second part, I was given a set of tasks to demonstrate how I would prioritise work and how I would deal with certain responsibilities. This was helpful to express my way of working and how it would fit well with the team and the company’s values.
What’s the best part about working for a food and drink company? How much you learn without even realising! No matter how long you’ve worked in the drinks industry, there is always something new to learn and experience due to the ever-changing elements (vintages, regions, regulations, etc.). Obviously, there are a lot of perks with this job, but I do love seeing products in bars, restaurants and supermarkets, feeling proud knowing I’ve been a part of its journey getting there. For example, some of the brands I’ve recently been involved with are Borgo Molino, Baron de Ley, The Hidden Sea and Campaneo – this could be anything from a full artwork redesign to a blurb amendment, making sure they always look as good as they taste!
And what’s the biggest misconception people have about working in food and drink? That every day is fun tastings – although these do happen, there is also a lot of hard work on either side (and you’re not supposed to swallow!).
What advice would you give to other young people looking to get into the food and drink industry? Don’t put too much pressure on yourself and don’t let a job title put you off going for a job. Although it might not be the role you were looking for, it could be just as much (or more) fun and suit you better than expected.
What’s your ultimate career dream? I’m content in my job at the moment and just hope I continue to learn and grow within the drinks industry with exciting experiences and lovely people, while keeping a healthy work-life balance.
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