That's A Food Job!

FoodGrads
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That's A Food Job!

No matter what your passion is, there’s a career for everyone in food—and we’re here to help you find it! On this podcast, we interview professionals across the food processing sector to uncover the stories behind their unique roles Discover what they do, why they do it and how they are shaping the world of food. Whether you're a student figuring out your next steps, a young professional seeking career guidance, or an industry veteran exploring new opportunities, this podcast offers valuable insights to help you navigate your career journey. Join host Veronica Hislop as she speaks with experts from all corners of the food industry. From food scientists to farmers, plant managers to programmers, food safety technicians to skilled trades, supply chain managers to sales, we’ll explore a wide range of exciting careers. We’re here to celebrate food industry professionals and proudly say—That's a Food Job!

  1. JUL 10

    Inside Food Product Development with Louisa Bachman, Food Scientist at KIND Snacks (#110)

    Louisa Bachman is a Food Scientist at KIND Snacks. KIND offers a range of products, including nut and fruit bars, breakfast bars, granola clusters, and refrigerated nut butter bars. Before joining KIND however, Louisa earned her Food Science degree at UMass Amherst, where she both led their school’s Food Science Club and Alpine Skiing club.   In this episode of That’s a Food Job!, Louisa shares what it’s really like to work in product development, walking us through how a concept turns into a product on the shelf. She breaks down the role of flavor iteration, sensory testing, and shelf life studies, while also offering a behind-the-scenes look at one of her favorite projects—developing savory KIND bars. Throughout the conversation, Louisa reflects on how collaboration, curiosity, and strong communication play an essential role in getting new products to market. We also talk about the skills that help food scientists succeed in the industry, how food trends shape innovation, and the importance of networking early in your career. Whether you’re a student exploring food science or someone interested in how the snack industry works, this episode provides valuable insight into a career in product development. **  Shownotes Loiusa Bachman: LinkedIn KIND: Website/LinkedIn/Instagram/ *** #94 – Michael Sharp, Director of Research and Analytics at the Heartland Food Products Group *** SIGN UP FOR WEEKLY FOOD INDUSTRY CAREER TIPS  → Sign up for the newsletter  *** COOL THINGS TO CHECK OUT 📖 Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks) 📜 Get Career Advice (Blog) *** CONNECT 🐦 Connect on Twitter 📸 Connect on Instagram 💼 Connect on LinkedIn 🎵 Connect on TikTok 📹 Subscribe on YouTube *** SAY THANKS 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify

    55 min

  2. JUN 16

    Inside Food Safety Leadership with Marin Pavlic, Director of QA Programs & Compliance at Sofina Food (#109)

    Marin Pavlic is the Senior Director of QA Programs & Compliance at Sofina Foods and the current President of the Ontario Food Protection Association (OFPA). With over 15 years of experience in food manufacturing, Marin brings a deep understanding of food safety, team leadership, and regulatory compliance to his work—along with a strong belief in the power of networking and continuous improvement. In this episode of That’s a Food Job!, Marin shares how he built his career by learning to trust the expertise of his team, learning adjacent skills and networking within the industry. He discusses the importance of communication and team dynamics, the role of data in driving smarter decisions, and how regulatory changes can be used as a catalyst for growth. We also explore his passion for professional development and his work with OFPA to build community and mentorship across the food sector. If you're interested in food safety careers, building leadership skills, or how to grow in a traditional industry through learning and collaboration, this episode offers practical advice and inspiration. **  Shownotes Marin Pavlic: LinkedIn OFPA: Website/LinkedIn/ *** #77–Neha Mehta, Food Safety Quality Assurance Compliance Coordinator/Supervisor at Maple Leaf Foods Inc. *** SIGN UP FOR WEEKLY FOOD INDUSTRY CAREER TIPS  → Sign up for the newsletter  *** COOL THINGS TO CHECK OUT 📖 Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks) 📜 Get Career Advice (Blog) *** CONNECT 🐦 Connect on Twitter 📸 Connect on Instagram 💼 Connect on LinkedIn 🎵 Connect on TikTok 📹 Subscribe on YouTube *** SAY THANKS 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify

    53 min

  3. MAY 23

    Building AI for Food Scientists with Thomas Hayes, Co-Founder at Agilitas (#108)

    Thomas Hayes is the co-founder of Agilitas, a company building AI-powered tools to help food scientists formulate faster, smarter, and with more confidence. By transforming messy spreadsheets into an intelligent platform, Agilitas is tackling the “cold start” problem in food R&D and making it easier for teams to benchmark products, create base formulas, and retain critical institutional knowledge. In this episode of That’s a Food Job!, Tommy shares his unconventional path from chemical engineering to food tech founder. He talks about building a customer-first platform, the power of feedback loops in product development, and how AI is being used to reduce trial-and-error in formulation—without replacing the scientist behind the bench. We also dive into his global experiences working in Singapore and Saudi Arabia, and what those perspectives taught him about innovation, communication, and risk-taking. If you're curious about the future of food science, the role of AI in product development, or how to build something new in a traditional industry, this conversation is a must-listen. **  Shownotes Thomas Hayes: LinkedIn Agilitas: Website/LinkedIn/ *** #81–Harjeet Bajaj, President and CEO of Savourmetrics *** SIGN UP FOR WEEKLY FOOD INDUSTRY CAREER TIPS  → Sign up for the newsletter  *** COOL THINGS TO CHECK OUT 📖 Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks) 📜 Get Career Advice (Blog) *** CONNECT 🐦 Connect on Twitter 📸 Connect on Instagram 💼 Connect on LinkedIn 🎵 Connect on TikTok 📹 Subscribe on YouTube *** SAY THANKS 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify

    53 min

  4. MAY 3

    The future of CPG packaging with Tyler de Sousa, Co-Founder at Circulr (#107)

    Tyler De Sousa is the co-founder of Circulr, a company helping Consumer Packaged Goods brands close the loop on their glass packaging through reuse. By managing the logistics of sourcing, collecting, and redistributing reusable containers, Circulr is making it easier for businesses and consumers to reduce waste and support a circular economy. In this episode of That's a Food Job!, Tyler shares how a small pilot project turned into a growing social enterprise. He talks about the challenges of changing consumer behavior, the importance of industry collaboration, and how technology is helping scale systems of reuse. We also explore the personal side of entrepreneurship—staying motivated, taking risks, and creating real community impact. If you're curious about sustainability, innovation, or building purpose-driven businesses in the food industry, you won’t want to miss this one. **  Shownotes Tyler De Sousa : LinkedIn Circulr: Website/LinkedIn/Instagram/ *** SPONSOR CareersNOW! is Food and Beverage Ontario’s multi-year workforce development initiative that is connecting students and job seekers with employers in Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry for exciting career opportunities. Check out CareersNOW.ca for more information on exciting jobs, career information, industry mentors and training opportunities for professional development. *** TIMESTAMPS Coming soon! *** RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE → # 29 - Rebecca Bradley, Chief Marketing Officer at Terra Bioindustries *** SIGN UP FOR WEEKLY FOOD INDUSTRY CAREER TIPS  → Sign up for the newsletter  *** COOL THINGS TO CHECK OUT 📖 Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks) 📜 Get Career Advice (Blog) *** CONNECT 🐦 Connect on Twitter 📸 Connect on Instagram 💼 Connect on LinkedIn 🎵 Connect on TikTok 📹 Subscribe on YouTube *** SAY THANKS 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify

    46 min

  5. MAR 27

    Turning a food science degree into a sales career with Felicia Sia, account manager at Dempsey Corporation (#106)

    Felicia Sia is an Account Manager at Dempsey Corporation, a Canadian ingredient distributor specializing in innovative and technical ingredients. With a background in food science from the University of Guelph, her career has spanned multiple roles, including product development, technical sales and directing a cooking school for kids. In this episode, she shares insights into the world of ingredient sales, discussing what it takes to succeed as an account manager in the food industry. She explores the importance of active listening, building strong client relationships, and the key skills that set great sales professionals apart. Felicia also reflects on her career transitions, overcoming fears, and the value of taking risks. Her story offers inspiration for anyone considering a career change and looking for the confidence to take the next step. **  Shownotes Felicia Sia : LinkedIn Demsey Corporation: Website/LinkedIn/Instagram/YouTube *** SPONSOR CareersNOW! is Food and Beverage Ontario’s multi-year workforce development initiative that is connecting students and job seekers with employers in Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry for exciting career opportunities. Check out CareersNOW.ca for more information on exciting jobs, career information, industry mentors and training opportunities for professional development. *** TIMESTAMPS Coming soon! *** RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE → # 29 - Marc Wall, VP of Sales at Sandy Shore Farms Ltd. *** SIGN UP FOR WEEKLY FOOD INDUSTRY CAREER TIPS  → Sign up for the newsletter  *** COOL THINGS TO CHECK OUT 📖 Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks) 📜 Get Career Advice (Blog) *** CONNECT 🐦 Connect on Twitter 📸 Connect on Instagram 💼 Connect on LinkedIn 🎵 Connect on TikTok 📹 Subscribe on YouTube *** SAY THANKS 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify

    48 min

  6. MAR 13

    Building relationships: The art of sales in the food equipment industry with National Business Development & Sales Manager, Rafal Rusiniak at Handtmann Canada Limited(#105)

    Rafal Rusiniak is the National Business Development & Sales Manager at Handtmann Canada Limited, a company specializing in food processing equipment solutions. With over 15 years of experience in the industry, Rafal’s journey into sales was unexpected—he originally pursued a degree in engineering before discovering his passion for sales and business development. In this episode, Rafal takes us inside the world of food processing equipment sales, sharing insights on building relationships with clients, the structured approach to sales training, and the process behind purchasing large-scale food manufacturing equipment. We also dive into the skills that make a great salesperson—like storytelling and understanding personality types—and why food processing equipment companies need food scientists too! **  Shownotes Rafal Rusiniak : LinkedIn Handtmann Canada Limited: Website/LinkedIn/Instagram/YouTube *** SPONSOR CareersNOW! is Food and Beverage Ontario’s multi-year workforce development initiative that is connecting students and job seekers with employers in Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry for exciting career opportunities. Check out CareersNOW.ca for more information on exciting jobs, career information, industry mentors and training opportunities for professional development. *** TIMESTAMPS [0:39] What Handtmann Canada is [1:33] What does a sales professional do? [5:26] Equipment and service equipment Handtamm creates [10:15] Steps to obtain a piece of equipment [16:30] Partnerships in sales with customers [18:20] How Rafal got into his position [23:06] What skills help Rafal to be an effective sales person [29:22] Topics/skills Rafal is working [36:22] Roles available for students at a Handtmand Canada [41:42] Advice for students thinking about going into food processing or sales   *** + RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE → # 78 - Somayeh Salemi, Business Development Specialist at Klever Equipped Inc. *** SIGN UP FOR WEEKLY FOOD INDUSTRY CAREER TIPS  → Sign up for the newsletter  *** COOL THINGS TO CHECK OUT 📖 Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks) 📜 Get Career Advice (Blog)   CONNECT 🐦 Connect on Twitter 📸 Connect on Instagram 💼 Connect on LinkedIn 🎵 Connect on TikTok 📹 Subscribe on YouTube   SAY THANKS 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify

    52 min

  7. FEB 23

    Implementing lean manufacturing in food production with COO, Brian Allaway at Made with Local (#104)

    Brian Allaway is the COO of Made With Local, a company known for its commitment to real food, community connections, and sustainable business practices. With 16 years of experience leading teams in food manufacturing, Brian specializes in lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and quality management.    In this episode, Brian takes us inside the world of small-scale food manufacturing, sharing insights on building strong teams, fostering a culture where mistakes fuel growth, and the power of lean tools like Kanban (not KanBan, as you’ll hear!). We also dive into the future of food manufacturing, including the skills needed to transform the industry and why traceability is more critical than ever. ***  Shownotes Brian Allaway: LinkedIn Made with Local: Website/ LinkedIn/ Instagram/ YouTube *** SPONSOR CareersNOW! is Food and Beverage Ontario’s multi-year workforce development initiative that is connecting students and job seekers with employers in Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry for exciting career opportunities. Check out CareersNOW.ca for more information on exciting jobs, career information, industry mentors and training opportunities for professional development. *** TIMESTAMPS (0:00) Introduction to lean manufacturing in food production (1:45) Overview of Made with Local: a sustainable food company (3:30) Exploring Brian Allaway's role as COO in food manufacturing (4:43) Inside Made with Local's operations and production processes (5:45) Understanding Lean Six Sigma in food industry operations (16:14) Brian Allaway's professional journey in food manufacturing (19:45) Strategies for building company culture and effective teams (25:45) Essential skills for success in food manufacturing careers (31:19) Real-life manufacturing stories and lessons learned (36:40) Key certifications for plant management professionals ***   RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE → # 78 - Gavin Johnston, Plant Manager at Veg Pro International Inc. *** SIGN UP FOR WEEKLY FOOD INDUSTRY CAREER TIPS  → Sign up for the newsletter  *** COOL THINGS TO CHECK OUT 📖 Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks) 📜 Get Career Advice (Blog)   CONNECT 🐦 Connect on Twitter 📸 Connect on Instagram 💼 Connect on LinkedIn 🎵 Connect on TikTok 📹 Subscribe on YouTube   SAY THANKS 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify

    44 min

  8. FEB 5

    Building a Sustainable Food Future with Sustinability Manager, Berklee Welsh at Simple Mills (#103)

    Berklee Welsh is the Associate Sustainability Manager at Simple Mills, a company on a mission to make healthy choices easy through their line of  snacks, crackers, cookies, and baking mixes using whole food ingredients. In this episode, she takes us behind the scenes of ingredient sourcing at Simple Mills and reveals how the Almond Project is uniting farmers, businesses, and experts to create a more sustainable food future. ***  Berklee's Website/ LinkedIn Simple Mills' Website/ LinkedIn/ Instagram/ YouTube  *** RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE  → # 99 - Joseph Lyons - Environmental Operations Coordinator at Susgrainable *** SIGN UP FOR WEEKLY FOOD INDUSTRY CAREER TIPS  → Sign up for the newsletter  *** COOL THINGS TO CHECK OUT 📖 Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks) 📜 Get Career Advice (Blog)   CONNECT 🐦 Connect on Twitter 📸 Connect on Instagram 💼 Connect on LinkedIn 🎵 Connect on TikTok 📹 Subscribe on YouTube   SAY THANKS 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify

    52 min
See All (111)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

No matter what your passion is, there’s a career for everyone in food—and we’re here to help you find it! On this podcast, we interview professionals across the food processing sector to uncover the stories behind their unique roles Discover what they do, why they do it and how they are shaping the world of food. Whether you're a student figuring out your next steps, a young professional seeking career guidance, or an industry veteran exploring new opportunities, this podcast offers valuable insights to help you navigate your career journey. Join host Veronica Hislop as she speaks with experts from all corners of the food industry. From food scientists to farmers, plant managers to programmers, food safety technicians to skilled trades, supply chain managers to sales, we’ll explore a wide range of exciting careers. We’re here to celebrate food industry professionals and proudly say—That's a Food Job!

Information

  • Creator
    FoodGrads
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    111
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    That's A Food Job!

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