That's A Food Job!

FoodGrads
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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. FEB 7

    Pratistha Banerjee, Product Development and Commercialization Manager at Darigold (#120)

    Pratistha Banerjee is a Product Development and Commercialization Manager at Darigold, a global supplier of dairy and specialty food products. Pratistha shares insights into her role, emphasizing that food product development is not just about flavor but also about functional ingredients, supplier collaboration, and navigating complex operational and regulatory requirements in the dairy industry. She discusses the challenges of optimizing existing products and taking new product ideas from concept to plant launch, as well as what innovation truly means in a large food company. Pratistha highlights the importance of curiosity, problem-solving, and communication in building a successful career. Throughout the conversation, Pratistha reflects on her journey from early career roles to her current position. She emphasizes adaptability, continuous learning, and the value of building strong relationships with colleagues, suppliers, and operators. For students and aspiring food scientists, Pratistha encourages experimenting, learning from real-world challenges, and understanding the functional and technical aspects of ingredients. --- Shownotes --- TIMESTAMPS (00:00) What Food Product Development Really Is and Isn't (02:10) How Pratistha Got Into Product Development (05:00) What a Product Development Manager Does Day to Day (08:40) How Food Products Go from Idea to Launch (12:30) Why Food Product Ideas Fail at Scale (17:00) Theory vs Reality in Food Product Development (21:30) Working With Plants, Suppliers, and Operations (26:10) What Innovation Actually Means in the Food Industry (31:00) How Product Developers Solve Complex Problems (36:20) Choosing Between Food Industry Career Paths (41:30) Networking Advice for Introverted Students (47:40) What Students Should Start Doing Now --- 📙 Career Guides 💭 Career Advice --- CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST 💼 Pratistha Banerjee LinkedIn 🌐 Darigold Website 💼 Darigold LinkedIn 📸 Darigold Instagram 🐦 Darigold X (Twitter) CONNECT WITH US 🐦 X 📸 Instagram 🎵 TikTok 💼 LinkedIn

    52 min

  2. JAN 18

    Balancing Function, Regulation, and Scale in Meat Product Development with Leslie Herbas at Ascona Foods (#119)

    Leslie Herbas is a Product Development Specialist at Ascona Food Group a global supplier of specialty food products. Leslie shares insights into her role, emphasizing that product development is not just about flavor but also about functional ingredients and navigating complex regulatory requirements, especially in the meat industry. She discusses the importance of customization in creating dry blends and edible films, which enhance the flavor and shelf life of meat products. Leslie also highlights the significance of documentation in ensuring that products meet regulatory standards and consumer expectations. Throughout the conversation, Leslie reflects on her journey in the food industry, from her beginnings as a production supervisor to her current role in product development. She emphasizes the importance of problem-solving skills, adaptability, and continuous learning in this dynamic field. Leslie encourages aspiring food scientists to experiment in their own kitchens, replicate products, and understand the functional ingredients involved. --- Shownotes --- Check out next: Kaylah Farina, Product Development Manager at Sigma US --- 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. CareersNOW! - What can you do with an Engineering Degree? --- TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Introduction to Food Product Development and Problem-Solving   (01:05) What a Product Development Specialist Does at Ascona   (03:10) Customizing Dry Blends, Edible Films, and Casings   (05:13) From Bench-Top Formulation to Plant Trials   (07:07) What Documentation Means in Product Development   (10:34) Regulatory and Administrative Work in the Meat Industry   (15:57) Building Confidence Through Experience and Failure   (18:09) Managing Multiple Projects and Scaling Up   (23:07) Practicing Product Development Skills at Home   (29:56) Career Path from Production to Product Development   (37:38) Why Problem-Solving Starts with Planning   (43:27) Learning from Production Teams and Operators -- 📙 Career Guides  💭 Career Advice --- CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST 💼 Leslie Herbas LinkedIn 🌐 Ascona Food Group Website 💼 Ascona Food Group LinkedIn CONNECT WITH US 🐦 X 📸 Instagram 🎵 TikTok 💼 LinkedIn

    45 min

  3. JAN 3

    From Mechanical Design to Project Engineer Building Food Safety Equipment with Mohammad Kathawala, Senior Project Engineer at Agri-Neo (#118)

    Mohammad Kathawala, a senior project engineer at Agri-Neo, explains what it takes to work in food safety engineering. He describes how project engineers translate technology into systems that work in real food processing environments, often across global operations. Mohammad shares how his engineering background led him into the food industry, what his role looks like day to day, and why communication and continuous improvement matter as much as technical skill. The conversation also covers how food safety technology is changing and what students and early-career engineers should know before entering the field. --- Shownotes --- Explore food industry careers with CareersNOW!: https://careersnow.ca/   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. CareersNOW! - What can you do with an Engineering Degree? --- TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Introduction to Food Safety Engineering (03:02) What a Project Engineer Does in Food Safety (06:09) Agri-Neo's Technology and Food Quality Focus (09:08) Understanding Client Needs and Equipment (11:50) Global Operations and Cultural Differences (15:05) Measuring Success in Engineering Projects (18:10) Continuous Improvement and Client Relationships (20:49) Skills Aspiring Engineers Should Build (23:50) Career Path and Industry Evolution (26:58) The Future of Food Safety Technology (30:09) Advice for Future Engineers -- 📙 Career Guides  💭 Career Advice --- CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST 💼 Mohammad Kathawala LinkedIn 🌐 Agri-Neo Website 💼 Agri-Neo LinkedIn ▶️ Agri-Neo YouTube CONNECT WITH US 🐦 X 📸 Instagram 🎵 TikTok 💼 LinkedIn

    1h 2m

  4. 11/21/2025

    Skills Every Food Industry Job Seeker Needs with Jayana Kaiprath, Talent Acquisition Manager, Give & Go Prepared Foods (#117)

    Explore food industry careers with CareersNOW!: https://careersnow.ca/ Jayana Kaiprath is the Talent Acquisition Manager at Give & Go Prepared Foods, helping students and professionals land their next opportunity in the food industry. Give & Go Prepared Foods, part of the Mondelēz family of brands, makes iconic treats like two-bite® brownies and supports employee growth at every stage of their career. --- Shownotes --- 🧠 Shownotes:  📙 Career Guides:  💭 Career Advice: --- CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST 💼 Jayana LinkedIn 🌐 Give & Go Website 💼 Give & Go LinkedIn 📸 Instagram CONNECT WITH US 🐦 X:   📸 Instagram: 🎵 TikTok: 💼 LinkedIn:

    47 min

  5. 11/03/2025

    Mastering Stage-Gate and Beyond with Lara Tiro and Christine Farkas, Food Industry Consultants and Podcast Hosts (#116)

    Lara Tiro is the founder of Rebel CPG, where she helps food entrepreneurs take products from kitchen concepts to retail shelves. She brings deep experience in product development and project management, guiding clients through every stage of innovation to ensure ideas become market-ready products. Christine Farkas is the founder of IHeartFood and co-host of the podcast Munching on Molecules. With a background in culinary science and strategic consulting, she helps food innovators solve complex challenges and create products that resonate with consumers. In this episode, we talk about how food consultants use the Stage-Gate process to bring structure to innovation, why collaboration, humor, and flexibility are essential in their work, and how different approaches can lead to successful product launches. Lara and Christine also share insights from their own journeys in the food industry and show how even in the same role, there's room for unique perspectives and personal style. *** Shownotes *** This week's episode is sponsored by: The Faculty of Land and Food Systems at UBC explores the connections between land, resources, environment, and health. Students tackle big questions in food security, sustainable agriculture, and community health. Learn more about undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs including the Master of Food Science and Food, Nutrition and Health programs at landfood.ubc.ca *** Lara Tiro: LinkedIn Rebel CPG: Website / Instagram / LinkedIn Christine Farkas: LinkedIn IHeartFood: Website / LinkedIn Munching on Molecules Podcast: Website / LinkedIn / YouTube / Spotify *** NEXT EPISODE TO CHECK OUT #166 – Bryan Quoc Le, Ph.D. Food Scientist, Food Industry Consultant and Author *** 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

  6. 10/18/2025

    Scaling Chef Craft into Food Products with Kaylah Farina, Product Development Manager at Sigma US (#115)

    Kaylah Farina is the Product Development Manager at Sigma US, where she leads innovation projects for Bar-S Foods Co. She develops a wide range of meat products for retail and foodservice, including high-protein snacks and bold new concepts like a chili cheese dog burrito, which she describes as a mess-free chili dog on the go. Before moving into product development, Kaylah trained and worked as a chef. That experience continues to shape how she approaches recipe formulation and testing. She is also Chair of the Cactus Section of the Institute of Food Technologists, where she supports collaboration and community across the industry. In this episode, we talk about how product developers take ideas from concept to commercialization, how to collaborate effectively with chefs, scientists, and business teams, and how relationship-building can be the key to solving production challenges. Kaylah also shares how her background in theater gave her a unique edge in her career, and why empathy and adaptability are essential skills in the food industry. Shownotes Kaylah Farina: LinkedIn Bar-S Foods: Website/ Instagram / YouTube / TikTok / Sigma US: Website *** NEXT EPISODE TO CHECK OUT  #101 – Matt Thell, Global Strategy & Innovation Leader at General Mills 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

    1h 3m

  7. 09/20/2025

    Bridging Academia and Industry with Nataly Lopez Baron, Manager of the Guelph Food Innovation Centre (GFIC) (#114)

    Nataly Lopez Baron is the Manager of the Guelph Food Innovation Centre (GFIC), an applied research centre that partners with food businesses to transform challenges into practical solutions through research, product development, and pilot plant testing. Originally from Colombia, Nataly earned her undergraduate and master's degrees before moving to Canada to complete a PhD in Food Science and Technology at the University of Alberta. She has since worked in food research and product development across the dairy, cereals, and supplement industries, bringing that expertise and international perspective to her current role at GFIC. In this episode, we talk about how GFIC helps companies bridge the gap between homemade recipes and commercial-scale production, the unique infrastructure the centre offers—including certified pilot plants—and the success stories that have come out of GFIC's partnerships. Nataly also shares her own career journey, and what it's like to lead a food innovation centre where every day brings a new challenge. If you're curious about how food products move from concept to commercialization, or what it's like to work at the intersection of research and industry, you'll enjoy this conversation. Shownotes Nataly Lopez Baron: LinkedIn Guelph Food Innovation Centre: Website/ Instagram / YouTube  *** This week's episode is sponsored by: University of Guelph's Food and Agricultural Business Program: Prepare to thrive in Canada's fast-changing food industry with U of G's Food and Agricultural Business program. Gain agri-food expertise, business skills, and co-op experience that help you stand out — many students even land jobs before they graduate! *** NEXT EPISODE TO CHECK OUT  #71 – Liana Yee, Junior Product Specialist at Export Packers Company Limited *** 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. 09/05/2025

    Delving into the Craft of Beer Making with Santiago Ampudia Vasquez, Brewer at Blackburn Brewhouse and Assistant Professor at Niagara College (#113)

    Santiago Ampudia Vasquez is a brewer at Blackburn Brewhouse and Assistant Professor at Niagara College. Blackburn Brewhouse, based in Niagara Falls, produces a wide range of craft beers—from lagers and pale ales to specialty brews, seltzers, and ciders. Santiago holds a Master of Science and previously taught at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador. After immigrating to Canada, he changed paths by enrolling in Niagara College's Brewmaster program. Since then, he has helped the college secure first place at the 2023 U.S. Open College Beer Championship and earned a Silver medal for his Belgian Tripel, Te Tous et Bois, named after the French film that inspired it.  We dive into what a brewer really does day-to-day in an independent brewery—why yeast care and cleaning can take up to 80% of the job—and the science that transforms grains into beer. Santiago also shares the skills that make a great brewer, the joy of creating new beers, and a bit of beer history along the way. If you're curious about how beer is made, the mix of science and creativity in brewing, or what it's like to work in the craft beer industry, you'll enjoy this conversation. Shownotes Santiago Ampudia Vasquez's : LinkedIn Blackburn Brewery: Website/ Instagram/ Niagara College: Website/ Instagram / YouTube / Twitter / Facebook *** NEXT EPISODE TO CHECK OUT  #86 – William (Billy) Dietz, Co-Founder and Consultant at BDH Consultants and Author *** 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

    43 min
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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
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    121
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    That's A Food Job!