Name: William Hardman
Age: 26
Job title: National account manager
Company & location: Oddlygood Group, London
Education: Geography at University of Exeter
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Other than wanting to be Bob the Builder or a professional cricketer, working in food has always been something I was drawn to from growing up in a foodie household.
That passion for good food naturally led me to a brand like Rude Health, owned by Oddlygood Group, where organic and simple ingredients are key.
Why did you decide to go for a career in food & drink? Growing up, my family worked, and still do work, in the food & drink industry, so I was always surrounded by conversations about what makes a great product. Maybe I’m just following in their footsteps, but I’ve always loved to see the relationship-driven side of the industry and how passionate people are about it.
F&B is dynamic, fast-paced and forward-thinking, and you’re surrounded by such talented and creative people that I think I would’ve always been drawn to this sector.
“The industry is huge, and companies are always looking for people with energy, ideas and passion”
Explain your job to us in a sentence (or two): I manage relationships with some of our major retail partners and build strategies to maximise Rude Health’s presence, and therefore sales, across customers like Morrisons, Amazon, and Holland & Barrett.
What does a typical day look like for you? The job is really data-driven, which I enjoy. Generally, I spend my mornings reviewing sales trends or jumping on calls with a buying team. What’s great about Oddlygood Group is that every day is different. One day I might be presenting a new product launch and the next I’m working with the marketing team or analysing competitor activity.
Tell us how you went about applying for your job: It was a two-stage process. First, I had a chat with Tim, our CCO, and then I got to run a mock retailer meeting, which gave me a chance to show how I’d approach things whilst also getting to experience the team culture in the Rude Health Café.
What’s the best part about working for a food & drink company? You get to see a direct impact that the product has on people’s lives. Everyone here cares about quality, taste and functionality, creating an incredible working environment. And the unlimited frothy coffees at the Rude Health Café isn’t a bad perk!
And what’s the biggest misconception people have about working in food & drink? My mates often think working in food & drink is all tasting sessions, launches and food festivals. While it’s true the sector is highly innovative, it’s also fiercely competitive, with tight margins and a critical attention to detail. That’s what drew me to Oddlygood Group – its incredible R&D function, deep audience understanding, and ambitious growth plans make this an exciting time to be part of the business.
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What advice would you give to other young people looking to get into the food & drink industry? Get clear on the products you’re passionate about. I’ve always been drawn to brands doing something different, so the plant-based space felt like a natural next step. Oddlygood Group’s combination of expertise, innovation and quality was something I instantly connected with. Pick a product or brand that you love and go for it – the industry is huge, and companies are always looking for people with energy, ideas and passion.
What’s your ultimate career dream? I’d like my career to contribute to meaningful change in how we eat, and there’s huge opportunity for that at Oddlygood Group. The idea of helping more consumers choose plant-based food and drink – not just in the UK, but internationally – is incredibly exciting to me.
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