Name: Shane Stewart
Age: 28
Job title: Brand manager
Company & location: Moju, London
Education: Sheffield Hallam University, BA Hons Urban Planning
Why did you decide to go for a career in food? I have a background in hospitality that stems from the day I got my national insurance number. I love the food and drinks sector. After my travels in Australia, I knew I wanted to work for a disruptive startup brand, all the better if it was within fmcg. I’ve now been working in the sector for more than four years and love seeing all the new brands, trends and consumer behaviours.
Explain your job to us in a sentence (or two): I’m all about the brand. Managing how the brand is represented across all areas of the business, I get to work closely with every department. I make sure the brand is always on point through key events, field activations, digital marketing, brand ambassadors, merchandise, product shoots and marketing campaigns, as well as working with our stockists to make sure they’re showcasing the brand the best way possible.
What does a typical day look like for you? We’ve got a hybrid system in place at Moju which I’m a big fan of. I use my time at home to blitz through my to-do list which usually consists of partnership talks, field activation planning, managing our sampling activity, campaign management, ambassador chats, stockist activations and making sure our online presence is on-brand. Working in a fast-paced industry means my whole daily to-do list could change with one email or social trend! When I’m in the office (and not annoying the team with my dad jokes), we’re busy discussing all things brand and product – making sure we’ll always be the UK’s number one functional shot brand.
“If you’re a fan of the product and brand, it makes working a dream”
Tell us how you went about applying for your job. I actually went a little bit above and beyond. Moju is a brand I had on my radar for a while. In order to get my CV to the top of the pile, I actually recreated the label on one of our 60ml bottles into a mini CV and then popped a piece of paper with a QR code to my cover letter in the bottle and sent it off. This led to an initial chat and interview, then a presentation pitch and a culture check. I was buzzing when I got the offer.
What’s the best part about working for a food company? Being at the forefront of trends within the industry. I love trying new products and seeing new brands pop up. The best part of this industry is the community – everyone is super passionate and keen to partner and collaborate. It always puts a smile on my face when someone from a fellow fmcg brand reaches out to personally say how much they love Moju.
And what’s the biggest misconception people have about working in food & drink? Not so much a misconception, but I feel that a lot of consumers are not aware of the amount of hard work that it takes from every department within the food and beverage business to get a product on the shelf. From production to finance, operations, research and development, marketing and sales. Massive kudos to everyone spinning plates on a daily basis in this industry to keep up with ever-changing needs and demands!
What advice would you give to other young people looking to get into the food & drink industry? Know your product. It’s amazing to be able to work in a job you love. If you’re a fan of the product and brand, it makes working a dream. Reach out, show your passion and get involved any way you can!
What’s your ultimate career dream? I have a lot of passions, hobbies and interests such as architecture, fashion, fitness, music, coffee, design and community. Putting these into a one-stop shop for it all would be super cool. Functional food and drink offerings whilst browsing fresh sneakers, or taking a fitness class then chilling or working within an aesthetic surrounding, with like-minded individuals all in one space – that’s my dream.
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