Name: Alex Carter
Age: 25
Job title: National account manager – OOH
Company & location: Perfetti Van Melle, Old Windsor
Education: University of Edinburgh – Classical Studies
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I was fascinated by myths and legends as a child, think Hercules, hieroglyphics, codes, so for a short time I thought about becoming an archaeologist. But as I grew up I developed a passion for rugby and was playing for Wasps Academy until I was 18, so at one point I thought I might continue down that route.
Why did you decide to go for a career in food & drink? I’ve always been a bit obsessed with brands – I love the high street and shopping, I’ve always been one of those people who has try new products. I thought I’d get into marketing or advertising after university, but I fell into sales and it felt like a really natural fit for me. I love hearing the history behind brands, retelling their stories and discovering their identities and what makes them unique.
When I saw the role at Perfetti Van Melle, I immediately thought of the iconic Smint dispenser – a core memory from my childhood! Again it felt like everything was falling into place just as it was supposed to. I was very impressed by the Perfetti Van Melle team at interview, and that was another key reason I wanted the role so badly. I was excited by the innovation and partnerships of products such as Mentos Fanta, and I wanted to be part of that future.
“I’ve got big ambitions and want to be at the top of this industry one day”
Explain your job to us in a sentence (or two): My job is to secure new business leads in sectors where Perfetti Van Melle doesn’t yet have a presence, for example transport, coffee, entertainment, hotels and foodservice. I am driving brand awareness in new territories, and I am also the main account manager for Costco.
What does a typical day look like for you? No day is the same for me, but I might start my day by checking LinkedIn – I’m always looking for new connections and love to see what other people working in fmcg are doing that may spark my own imagination. I particularly look for companies with values aligned to ours and our brands, where I may be able to make an in-road.
I’ll follow up on leads from trade shows or other meetings as well. I love meeting people in person though and come alive at trade shows or exhibitions. I was recently at the London Coffee Festival driving Smint as the perfect palate freshener for coffee breath. It was brilliant – I was involved in everything from booking the stand and manning it, to creating Smint coffee-themed merch and generating new interest from coffee businesses.
I’ll also check in with my main account Costco to see what promotions are coming up and what we need to do to make those promotions work hard. My brain is always whirring with new ideas – but in the evening I like to switch off by cooking and experimenting with new recipes from across the globe.
Tell us how you went about applying for your job. A friend of mine was already working at Perfetti Van Melle, and had told me it was a great company, and the generous referral scheme which allowed him to make an initial introduction. I had three interviews – firstly with HR, then with the sales team, and finally with the sales director and my would-be line manager. I was offered the role on the train journey home, so I like to think I did a good job!
What’s the best part about working for a food & drink company? I’ve got enough Smint until Christmas and beyond!
I feel really lucky to be working in a dynamic, constantly changing and challenging marketplace, and for such a great company where the team is really high-energy, because that’s infectious! I like being surrounded by creativity through new product innovation. Anticipating and responding to market trends means we’ve often got something special to talk about, plus our marketing campaigns are a lot of fun too.
And what’s the biggest misconception people have about working in food & drink? That we are constantly eating all of our own products… but why wouldn’t we? Someone has to do a taste test and I need to keep on top of them all to know what I am selling!
Read more:
-
Perfetti Van Melle appoints Rob Lockley as UK commercial MD
-
Confectionery unwrapped: the expert scoop on the trends shaping the sector
What advice would you give to other young people looking to get into the food & drink industry? Choose the products you like yourself. It’s a fun, interesting and dynamic industry and if you are suited to that kind of environment it is the best place to start.
In my role, I’m constantly meeting new people and working with people from different disciplines across the business, from marketing to finance. Working for a food and drink brand is a great opportunity to learn how a business works, and to do it for brands you love and respect is a dream.
What’s your ultimate career dream? I would love to create and own a product for the fmcg environment. I am always fascinated by brands and design. I am naturally creative – some people say everyone has a book in them, but me, I’ve got a product to launch at some point!
I’ve got big ambitions and want to be at the top of this industry one day. I’m lucky to be in an environment where this ambition is celebrated and encouraged, and to be able to learn from some incredible people. Watch this space!
No comments yet