Fiona product chain

What was your first ever job? Chambermaid at a farmhouse hotel - paid in part with the most wonderful clotted cream. Mary Slade was the farmer’s wife and I heard Mary Berry extolling the virtue of Mary’s cream years later on Radio 4.

What’s been your worst job interview? Having a job offer withdrawn after psychometric testing. It transpired that the owner of the business felt threatened by my abilities! Strange but true.

What was the first music single you bought? Les Parapluies de Cherbourg - surely a strange and pretentious teenager.

How do you describe your job to your mates? Eclectic, creative and challenging.

What is the most rewarding part of your job? Getting a meaningful breakthrough for one of our challenger brands.

What is the least rewarding part? When we have to spend time firefighting the consequences of issues which are outside of our control and could have been avoided with good planning.

What is your motto in life? I have two: ‘Be bold, bright and beautiful in all your actions and interactions’, and, ‘People buy people first’.

What’s your nickname? Fifi - my softer side.

If you were allowed one dream perk, what would it be? A superpower to get answers quicker - if that is not available, a more achievable perk might be an office ‘snooze box’.

If you could change one thing in grocery, what would it be? More time for buyers to engage meaningfully, rather than possibly feeling like they are being hounded.

What’s your favourite movie and why? Jean de Florette - a tragic tale beautifully told in classic French film-making style.

What’s been the most embarrassing moment in your life? I don’t embarrass easily, but I guess entering a meeting with my skirt caught in my stocking might count.

Any phobias? Not really, except a very strong physical reaction even thinking about edges.

If you could pick a celebrity to join your staff, who would it be? Stacey Dooley - she’s tenacious, energetic, honest and seems like a lot of fun.

What animal best reflects your personality? A tiger - a creature which does not seek the limelight but will impress when forced into the open. She will fiercely defend her own.