My food & drink job: Orla Turner, marketing manager, GroceryAid

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Ellie Foy GroceryAid

Name: Orla Turner

Age: 25

Job title: Marketing manager

Company & location: GroceryAid, Sandhurst

Education: Ancient History & Archeology at Durham University

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? An artist, or a violin teacher (despite not playing the violin).

Why did you decide to go for a career in food & drink? I’ve always loved the challenge of jumping into new industries. For me, it’s never been about selling a specific product, but instead understanding people and marketing to them in a way that really connects.

GroceryAid drew me into food & drink. The chance to support the people who keep our food system running, who literally get food on to our table, was too meaningful to pass up.

“People often imagine the job is just talking about flavours or packaging. In reality, it’s fundamentally about people”

Explain your job to us in a sentence (or two): I look after key elements of our marketing engine, from managing our 10 monthly mailers and the organic social calendar to our above‑the‑line campaign activity.

At GroceryAid, our welfare team does an incredible job supporting grocery people when they need it most. My role is to make sure we’re front‑of‑mind long before that moment, so anyone working in the industry knows exactly where to turn if they ever need help.

Grocery Aid 2

What does a typical day look like for you? I’m lucky to have a role that’s genuinely varied and very people‑focused.

On a typical day, I’ll jump between agency check‑ins, approving new social and mailer assets, and collaborating with internal teams to make sure everyone’s aligned, and excited, about what we’re delivering.

Tell us how you went about applying for your job: I found this role through a recruitment agency on LinkedIn, and the whole process moved smoothly and quickly.

First, I had a relaxed chat with our marketing director, then a round where I got to show how I’d approach campaign planning. After that, I met the senior leadership team. It all felt informal, straightforward, and enjoyable.

What’s the best part about working for a food & drink company? Working for GroceryAid gives me the opportunity to work on some of the industry’s most exciting events! I’m especially looking forward to my first opportunity to attend Barcode Festival this year.

And what’s the biggest misconception people have about working in food & drink? I think the biggest misconception about working in food and drink is that it’s all about the product. People often imagine the job is just talking about flavours or packaging. In reality, it’s fundamentally about people. That’s why GroceryAid feels so meaningful to me. It’s a reminder that our industry is made up of real people with real challenges, and the work we do can genuinely support and strengthen their lives.

What advice would you give to other young people looking to get into the food & drink industry? My advice is to be yourself from day one. This industry thrives on authenticity and personality. And of course, always stay positive. It’s a fast‑moving industry, and a good mindset makes all the difference.

What’s your ultimate career dream? My ultimate career dream is to be in a role where I can help as many people as possible. Working at GroceryAid has shown me how meaningful that impact can be, and whatever I do, now or in the future, I want it to centre on supporting people and making a real difference.