Sam Dolan, Cravendale brand manager, on milk apathy, interior decorating and Disneyland
What was your first job? Sales assistant at a shoe shop, where I was equipped with talcum powder and a foot measure and was rushed off my feet for £15 a day.
What did you want to be as a child? Policewoman.
What was the first single you bought? The Boomtown Rats - I Don't Like Mondays.
How do you describe your job to your mates? Jolting people out of their milk apathy and making them realise their milk choice matters.
What is the worst job you've had? At a leisure centre; I faced the humiliation of having to play in cricket matches (which usually resulted in an injury), and a continuous flow of smelly bowling shoes.
What's the most rewarding part of your job? Knowing I'm helping to sell a product that's good for you.
What is the least rewarding part of your job? Not everyone shares my enthusiasm for milk.
If you didn't work in grocery where would you work? Disneyland - a permanent childhood sounds fantastic.
Where do you hope to be in five years? Still at Arla making the nation passionate about milk.
What is your motto in life? "It'll all be OK in the end. If it's not OK, it's not the end."
What do you like to do outside work? Mostly family stuff. I've got a four-year-old who keeps me busy.
What's your nickname? Sado. Our mail short codes use a combination of letters from your names and Sado seems to have stuck.
What's your favourite movie? Dirty Dancing; it's the ultimate teen dream!
What has been the most embarrassing moment in your life? Going to a friend's house while she was decorating and ripping a chunk of wallpaper off the wall, saying: "See what you mean about this décor." She'd just put it up!
Do you have any phobias? Acerphobia (fear of sour milk).
If you could pick a celebrity to join your staff who would it be? Michael Palin. Comedy and travel two of my favourite subjects.
What would you request as your final meal? Steak and chips with onion rings, I'm classy!
What luxury would you have on your desert island? My own pillow; getting my eight hours a night is very important to me.
What would you change in the grocery industry? There is not enough true innovation, there are lots of brand extensions but true NPD would re-invigorate categories and take the focus away from price.
What was your first job? Sales assistant at a shoe shop, where I was equipped with talcum powder and a foot measure and was rushed off my feet for £15 a day.
What did you want to be as a child? Policewoman.
What was the first single you bought? The Boomtown Rats - I Don't Like Mondays.
How do you describe your job to your mates? Jolting people out of their milk apathy and making them realise their milk choice matters.
What is the worst job you've had? At a leisure centre; I faced the humiliation of having to play in cricket matches (which usually resulted in an injury), and a continuous flow of smelly bowling shoes.
What's the most rewarding part of your job? Knowing I'm helping to sell a product that's good for you.
What is the least rewarding part of your job? Not everyone shares my enthusiasm for milk.
If you didn't work in grocery where would you work? Disneyland - a permanent childhood sounds fantastic.
Where do you hope to be in five years? Still at Arla making the nation passionate about milk.
What is your motto in life? "It'll all be OK in the end. If it's not OK, it's not the end."
What do you like to do outside work? Mostly family stuff. I've got a four-year-old who keeps me busy.
What's your nickname? Sado. Our mail short codes use a combination of letters from your names and Sado seems to have stuck.
What's your favourite movie? Dirty Dancing; it's the ultimate teen dream!
What has been the most embarrassing moment in your life? Going to a friend's house while she was decorating and ripping a chunk of wallpaper off the wall, saying: "See what you mean about this décor." She'd just put it up!
Do you have any phobias? Acerphobia (fear of sour milk).
If you could pick a celebrity to join your staff who would it be? Michael Palin. Comedy and travel two of my favourite subjects.
What would you request as your final meal? Steak and chips with onion rings, I'm classy!
What luxury would you have on your desert island? My own pillow; getting my eight hours a night is very important to me.
What would you change in the grocery industry? There is not enough true innovation, there are lots of brand extensions but true NPD would re-invigorate categories and take the focus away from price.
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