Name: Alice Jeavons
Age: 28
Job title: National account manager
Company & location: Kind Snacks, London
Education: Management with Marketing at University of Bath
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to be on stage! I played piano and completed vocal exams, singing everything from opera, folk, musicals and pop. My music career peaked when I sang Adele and won my high school’s talent contest.
Why did you decide to go for a career in food & drink? During my degree I did a placement year at a beauty manufacturer – while it was fun and as glamorous as it sounds, I wanted the foundation of my career to be in a more fast-paced industry. So, after finishing university, I applied for the most versatile graduate scheme I could find in an industry I’ve always been passionate about.
“Everyone sees the perks involved, but they don’t see that the workload and pressure can be just as high”
Explain your job to us in a sentence (or two): From head office to shop floor, I manage every Kind product you can find in Co-op and Asda. I also lead internal reporting to my team, making sure we’re in control of our sales and profitability.
What does a typical day look like for you? Every morning starts with an update of our daily sales position, and the pace we work at means every day is different. Chasing that target is achieved by either out speaking to customers, visiting stores or from behind my desk. We’re a small team that stays closely connected throughout the day to support each other.
Tell us how you went about applying for your job: I joined Kind through the Mars Leadership Experience graduate scheme. The process involved several stages of online interviews and an assessment centre. Having to prepare the P&L for an unknown chocolate brand launching in an unknown market was terrifying. Even when my numbers didn’t add up, it was clear the interviewers were looking for confidence, honesty and ability to manage ambiguity.
What’s the best part about working for a food & drink company? Beyond the constant supply of snacks, the best part is the speed at which consumer trends evolve in the market. Seeing suppliers react to trends and launch innovation really interests me, especially when I can taste it!
And what’s the biggest misconception people have about working in food & drink? That it’s less serious than other industries. Everyone sees the perks involved, but they don’t see that the workload and pressure can be just as high.
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What advice would you give to other young people looking to get into the food & drink industry? Before you start working, it’s hard to tell exactly what role you might enjoy (job titles can be deceiving!). I would recommend working for a company that encourages you to try different functions and find out what suits you best early on in your career. Ultimately, if you focus on doing the things you love, you will find that’s what you’re best at!
What’s your ultimate career dream? Unlocking growth by pioneering young brands into emerging markets and seeing them thrive, through innovation, cross-cultural collaboration and strategic agility. I thrive in ambiguity and love deciphering the cultural nuances of different markets.
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