The next guys

“The food industry is a meritocracy, and it’s really important that bright young people get recognised.”

So said Nisa CEO Neil Turton on Monday, surveying the scene of The Grocer’s inaugural Top New Talent awards. It was a sentiment shared by most of the VIPs in the room – industry veterans who had given up their time to show their support to the 30+ rising stars of the grocery industry picking up trophies on the night.

“Young talent is absolutely key to the future of the industry,” said Spar UK CEO Debbie Robinson. “They have breakthrough ideas. They don’t have the shackles in terms of the corporate life. They really are entrepreneurial and bring real flair and creativity to the industry.”

Ella’s Kitchen founder Paul Lindley – a man who knows a thing or two about being entrepreneurial – echoed the point: “Without the next generation, we’re not going to get new ideas, innovations and creativity. We’re not going to get solutions to hunger and obesity and things like that, and we’re not going to be able to compete as a British economy with our international colleagues. So I think it’s really important to get the next guys up for it.”

The next guys – and girls – were a diverse bunch on the night, representing major retailers, suppliers and start-ups. Their numbers included store managers, IT directors and marketing experts, as well as buyers, account managers and company owners – all of them shortlisted from applications made via The Grocer website. Excited, overwhelmed, even bemused – they all reflected pleasure at having been nominated – quite unexpectedly, in some cases – and invited to a do in the grand surroundings of Simpson’s in the Strand.

“It was a big surprise. I was very touched – really proud actually. It’s a great opportunity for anyone, especially someone at my level, to get to meet all these fantastic people who have accomplished so much,” said nominee Katie Hardaker, an account executive at RH Amar.

“It’s a lovely honour that The Grocer would give us this fantastic award and put on this evening for us,” added Muddy Boots director Miranda Ballard. “We’ll wake up tomorrow morning with a bit of extra drive again just to know that people like The Grocer are behind us.”

Perhaps the coolest customer on the night was the event’s youngest nominee, 17-year-old Harris Aslam, manager of two Nisa stores and a Nisa non-exec director. “People are always taken aback, in a positive way,” he said of his age. Aslam’s advice to young people weighing a career in grocery was emphatic. “Go for it and do it – don’t think twice.”

As for what he was going to do with the shiny glass TNT trophy in his hand, Aslam said: “Obviously family will want to see it. Perhaps I’ll put it up in-store and let the local community see it – let suppliers see it.” With a brain for in-store marketing like that, he’ll go far.

You can read all about the Top New Talent event in Saturday’s issue of The Grocer.