Name: Bronwyn Hawker
Job title: Head of NPD and quality
Company: Piccolo Foods
What was your first job? My very first job was a paper round for the local newspaper in Auckland, New Zealand, where I grew up. My first role in the food industry was a summer job with a food sensory company, carrying out taste panels for breakfast cereals.
What’s been your worst job interview? One of my first interviews after moving to the UK! I didn’t understand the train system very well and accidentally got on a stopping service instead of the fast train.
I arrived over an hour late and, unsurprisingly, didn’t get the job.
“It’s great to see healthier snacks, fewer ultra-processed foods and more nutritious lunch options becoming mainstream”
What was the first music single you bought? Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) by the Backstreet Boys.
How do you describe your job to your friends? I bring new food ideas to life. It starts with identifying a gap in the market and deciding on the product we want to launch, then my job is to develop it and bring it to market.
Most recently, we launched Piccolo Bone Broth – the first baby bone broth of its kind in Europe with no added salt. It’s also naturally high in protein and with collagen. Alongside launches like this, we’re typically working on 20-30 new product ideas at any one time.
What is the most rewarding part of your job? Seeing a product come to life in its final packaging during the first production run, knowing all the hard work and challenges it took to get there.
What is the least rewarding part? Carrying heavy product samples to customer meetings – although it’s great for cardio!
What is your motto in life? “Solve the next step, not the whole problem.” Innovation always comes with challenges, but if you tackle one step at a time, you eventually create something great.
If you were allowed one dream perk, what would it be? An annual food innovation tour. I would love a few weeks each year to explore supermarkets, markets and food cultures around the world, discovering new ingredients and trends to inspire the next generation of products.
Do you have any phobias? I’m not a fan of creepy crawlies, especially spiders.
If you could change one thing in grocery, what would it be? It’s great to see healthier snacks, fewer ultra-processed foods and more nutritious lunch options becoming mainstream. I’d love to see that continue across the baby and children’s category too, with even more healthy options available for families.
What luxury would you have on a desert island? Tropical fruit, hopefully there would already be plenty! It’s my go-to snack at the moment.
What animal most reflects your personality? A cat, quiet but intelligent.
What’s your favourite film and why? My favourite opening sequence is to Pixar’s Up, and it’s a film I’ve watched many times over the years with my daughter.
What has been the most embarrassing moment in your life? I can’t think of one particular moment, but something I fear and has happened is waving back to someone only to realise they were actually waving to the person behind me!
Which celebrity would you most like to work with and why? Jamie Oliver. He’s spent years making healthier family food more accessible without compromising on flavour.
I would love to bounce ideas around how we can make nutritious food even more exciting for little ones while keeping it practical for busy parents.
What would your death row meal be? I’d probably be far too nervous to eat, but if I had to choose, it would be a medium-rare steak with chips and peppercorn sauce.
No comments yet