That's A Food Job!

Hosted by FoodGrads

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129

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May 2026

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About the show

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!

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May 16, 202649 min

Senior Human Resources Manager with Olga Cenic, Voortman Bakery | HR Mini-series

Veronica Hislop sits down with Olga Cenic, HR Manager at Voortman Bakery, to talk resumes, interviews, mentorship, and the overlooked ways students can break into food manufacturing - all in part three of FoodGrads' HR mini series! Olga Cenic is the HR Manager at Voortman Bakery - a 75-year-old cookie and wafer manufacturer in Burlington, Ontario, and home to the number one sugar-free wafer in North America. --- Shownotes --- De Lacy Executive Recruitment offers professional recruitment services for employers and candidates in agriculture and food. As a candidate, De Lacy will provide career development advice, career consulting, as well as preparation for interview success. Open communication, confidentiality, and complete transparency are a priority for De Lacy consultants — check out De Lacy Executive Recruitment for more information on exciting opportunities! --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Episode Intro 02:57 - What HR Looks For In New Hires 03:43 - LinkedIn Strategy 05:00 - Foot in the Door 06:36 - About Voortman Bakery 09:01 - Culture & COVID 11:49 - Co-op Programs 14:11 - Sanitation Crew Opportunity 16:28 - Temporary Agencies Explained 21:34 - Resume Tips 29:33 - What Is Mentorship? 38:00 - Interview Tips 40:52 - Questions to Ask 43:00 - Following Up After Interviews 45:00 - Assessing Company Culture 49:12 - Final Advice --- 📙 Career Guides 💭 Career Advice --- CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST 💼 Olga Cenic LinkedIn 💼 Voortman Cookies LinkedIn 🌐 Voortman Bakery Website CONNECT WITH US 📸 Instagram 🎵 TikTok 💼 LinkedIn

May 9, 202647 min

VP of People and Culture with Steve MacIntyre, Fine Choice Foods | HR Mini-series

This is part two of FoodGrads' three-part HR miniseries, built for students entering the food and beverage industry with support from De Lacy Executive Recruitment. In this episode, we get into what hiring managers actually do when they open your resume - and what happens in those first five to seven seconds that determines whether you make the pile or not. Steve McIntyre is the Vice President of People and Culture at Fine Choice Foods, a Richmond, BC-based manufacturer of spring rolls, gyoza, bao buns, and other premium dim sum products. Steve started his career as a maintenance electrician. He did not plan to end up in HR - but food manufacturing has a way of creating lateral opportunities for people who stay curious, and that is exactly what happened to him. In this conversation, Steve shares what hiring managers are really looking for, why your education section is not doing the work you think it is, and how to make yourself visible in a market where four hundred people are applying for the same role. If you are a student or new grad trying to figure out your next move, this one is worth your time. --- Shownotes --- De Lacy Executive Recruitment offers professional recruitment services for employers and candidates in agriculture and food. As a candidate, De Lacy will provide career development advice, career consulting, as well as preparation for interview success. Open communication, confidentiality, and complete transparency are a priority for De Lacy consultants — check out De Lacy Executive Recruitment for more information on exciting opportunities! --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro 01:30 - Steve's Role at Fine Choice Foods 04:00 - About Fine Choice Foods 07:30 - Steve's Path into HR 13:00 - How Students Get Hired 17:00 - Reading Entry-Level Resumes 22:00 - Personal Summaries That Stand Out 26:00 - Are Cover Letters Worth It? 29:00 - Extracurriculars on Your Resume 32:00 - Showing Technical Skills 34:00 - What Impresses in an Interview 38:00 - Managing Interview Nerves 41:00 - Common Interview Mistakes 44:00 - How to Research Company Culture 48:00 - What Hiring Managers Actually Ask 52:00 - Job Searching in a Tough Market 56:00 - Final Advice for Students --- 📙 Career Guides 💭 Career Advice --- CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST 💼 Steve McIntyre LinkedIn 💼 Fine Choice Foods LinkedIn 🌐 Fine Choice Foods Website CONNECT WITH US 📸 Instagram 🎵 TikTok 💼 LinkedIn

April 25, 202645 min

Talent Aquisition Manager with Nicolas Pretorius, High Liner Foods | HR Mini-series

In episode one of our HR-Miniseries we are talking about what hiring managers actually look for, how to approach resumes and interviews, and realistic ways that students can build experience and momentum as they start their careers. Nicolas Pretorius is Talent Acquisition Manager at Highliner Foods, one of North America's leading processors of frozen, added-value seafood. In this conversation, you'll learn: What hiring managers actually look for on an entry-level resume Why soft skills often separate candidates more than technical ones How to use the skill bucket resume format with limited experience What "culture fit" really means and better questions to ask instead You might think getting hired is about having the right degree or the right experience. As Nicolas will show you today, it's really about how you tell your story and the soft skills that most candidates overlook. If you're a student or new grad figuring out your next move, this one is worth your time. --- Shownotes --- De Lacy Executive Recruitment offers professional recruitment services for employers and candidates in agriculture and food. As a candidate, De Lacy will provide career development advice, career consulting, as well as preparation for interview success. Open communication, confidentiality, and complete transparency are a priority for De Lacy consultants — check out De Lacy Executive Recruitment for more information on exciting opportunities! --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro 00:59 - Nicolas's Role at Highliner 02:37 - Long-Term Talent Planning 04:43 - Highliner's Facilities 05:55 - Nicolas's Career Path 08:06 - Embrace Unexpected Opportunities 09:47 - Casting Nets to the Future 14:45 - What Stands Out on a Resume 17:04 - The Skill Bucket Resume Format 20:41 - Technical vs. Soft Skills 24:42 - Interview Prep Tips 26:05 - What to Wear to an Interview 27:34 - Researching the Company 28:59 - From Co-op to Full-Time 30:49 - Culture Fit vs. Values Alignment 32:50 - Assessing Culture as a Candidate 36:24 - Behavioral Interview Questions 41:35 - Advice for Students Job Hunting Now --- 📙 Career Guides 💭 Career Advice --- CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST 💼 Nicolas Pretorius LinkedIn 💼 Highliner Foods LinkedIn 🌐 Highliner Foods Website CONNECT WITH US 📸 Instagram 🎵 TikTok 💼 LinkedIn

March 31, 202644 min

Confectionery Specialist with Enea Lelaj, Tilray Brands

Enea Lelaj is a Confectionery Specialist at Tilray Brands, working at the intersection of food science, product development, and one of Canada's fastest‑changing industries. In this episode of That's a Food Job!, Enea shares how his path into food science was anything but planned. Starting in chemistry at Toronto Metropolitan University, he followed curiosity into a food research lab and discovered a field that combined science, creativity, and real‑world impact. Today, Enea develops gummies, chocolates, and tablets infused with active cannabinoids. He talks candidly about what real R&D looks like beyond textbooks — balancing regulation, rapid iteration, and problem‑solving in a fast‑moving, highly regulated space. The conversation explores why creativity matters just as much as technical skill, how graduate school prepared him to tackle unsolved problems, and why staying open to unexpected opportunities can lead to surprisingly cool careers. --- ShowNotes --- 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 jobs, career pathways, industry mentors, and professional development opportunities. --- 📙 Career Guides 💭 Career Advice --- CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST 💼 Enea Lelaj LinkedIn 🌐 Tilray Brands CONNECT WITH US 📸 Instagram 🎵 TikTok 💼 LinkedIn

March 31, 202641 min

President with Domenique Mastronardi, Beck's Bone Broth

Domenique Mastronardi is President of Beck's Bone Broth, a Canadian food startup bringing bone broth-based lattes to market — blending comfort, wellness, and innovation for retailers across Canada. In this episode of That's a Food Job!, Domenique shares her journey from engineering student to co-leading one of Canada's most creative emerging food startups. She opens up about what entrepreneurship really looks like behind the scenes — navigating uncertainty, balancing structure with creativity, and learning to trust your intuition. --- Shownotes --- 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 00:00 – Introduction to Startup Life and Entrepreneurship in Food 01:27 – A Week in the Life of a Startup President: Strategy, Travel, and Flexibility 03:00 – Canadian vs. U.S. Trade Shows: Brand Awareness vs. Direct Selling 05:04 – How a Startup President's Role Evolves: Fundraising, Finance, and Networking 06:34 – Getting Into Retail: Why Relationships Come Before Strategy 09:04 – Navigating Uncertainty: Mindset Tools for Startup Life 10:51 – What University Actually Teaches You: Resilience, Teamwork, and Problem Solving 12:02 – From Engineering to Entrepreneurship: Transferable Skills That Surprised Her 14:14 – [Sponsor: CareersNOW!] 15:26 – Finding Your Spark: How Food Product Development Changed Everything 18:20 – Listening to Your Intuition: Why Your Hobbies Are Telling You Something 21:17 – Book Rec: EOS Traction by Gino Wickman 21:53 – Unconventional Marketing: Spice Girls, Karaoke, and Authentic Branding Online 26:06 – Vulnerability as a Strength: Building Confidence to Share Your Story 27:55 – Career Advice That Doesn't Always Land — and What Actually Works 30:30 – Skills and Habits to Build Now If You're Curious About Startups 33:39 – How to Test If Entrepreneurship Is Right for You: Incubators, Side Projects, and Startup Jobs 35:17 – Getting Co-op Positions at Startups: What You Need to Know 36:03 – How to Network Without It Feeling Forced: LinkedIn, Events, and Cold Outreach 40:07 – What's Next for Beck's Bone Broth 40:53 – Where to Find Beck's Bone Broth --- 📙 Career Guides 💭 Career Advice --- CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST 💼 Domenique Mastronardi LinkedIn 💼 Beck's Bone Broth LinkedIn 🌐 Beck's Broth Website 📸 Beck's Bone Broth Instagram CONNECT WITH US 📸 Instagram 🎵 TikTok 💼 LinkedIn

March 27, 202644 min

Continuous Improvement Manager with Talha Rashid, Handi Foods Ltd.

Talha Rashid is a Continuous Improvement Manager at Handi Foods Ltd., a Canadian food manufacturer specializing in crackers and better‑for‑you snack products supplied to major retailers across North America. In this episode of That's a Food Job!, Talha breaks down what a continuous improvement career looks like in food manufacturing and how data, teamwork, and problem‑solving drive real change on the production floor. He explains how organizations identify inefficiencies, reduce waste, and improve productivity without compromising quality. --- Shownotes --- 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 00:00 – Introduction to Continuous Improvement in Food Manufacturing 02:58 – Understanding Continuous Improvement: Definition and Scope 05:58 – A Day in the Life of a Continuous Improvement Manager 09:00 – The Importance of Data in Continuous Improvement 12:05 – Collaboration Across Departments for Success 14:54 – Skills for Success: Balancing Analytical and People Skills 18:08 – Continuous Learning and Professional Development 21:06 – Lean Six Sigma: Tools for Waste Reduction 23:58 – Applying Lean Principles to Real?World Problems 24:12 – Career Insights for Students in Food and Beverage 25:50 – Showcasing Willingness to Learn in Interviews 29:29 – Understanding Company Culture for Success 33:44 – Essential Skills for Continuous Improvement 39:44 – Journey into Continuous Improvement Careers --- 📙 Career Guides 💭 Career Advice --- CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST 💼 Talha Rashid LinkedIn 💼 Handi Foods LinkedIn 🌐 Handi Foods Website CONNECT WITH US 📸 Instagram 🎵 TikTok 💼 LinkedIn

March 24, 202641 min

Careers in Food and Beverage (#121.5)

In this special solo episode, Veronica breaks down something that often gets overlooked — what the food and beverage processing industry actually is, and just how many career paths exist within it. If you've ever stood in a grocery store aisle and wondered how all those products got there, this one's for you! --- 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 jobs, career pathways, industry mentors, and professional development opportunities. --- Timestamps 00:00 — What is the food and beverage processing industry? (Hint: it's everything between farm and fork!) 02:22 — The 11 subsectors broken down: dairy, meat, confectionery, seafood, beverages, bakery, and more 07:08 — Operations deep-dive: production operators, maintenance technicians, and plant supervisors 09:27 — Skilled trades and continuous improvement roles 11:45 — How automation and robotics are changing operations 14:09 — Food safety: quality assurance vs. quality control, and why it matters 16:31 — Health and safety managers and systems thinking in food safety 18:50 — Sales and marketing: account managers, brand managers, and marketers 21:19 — How sales and marketing connect to every other part of the business 23:44 — Sponsor spotlight: Careers Now 26:10 — Supply chain and logistics: procurement, inventory planning, and logistics coordinators 28:35 — Warehouse supervisors and the rise of automation in supply chain 31:00 — Food science and R&D: product developers and flavorists 33:24 — Behind the scenes: finance, accounting, and human resources 35:27 — How HR shapes workplace culture 37:42 — Wrapping up: career mobility, job stability, and why the food and beverage industry is a great place to grow

February 21, 202644 min

Co-Founder & Sourcing Director with Salma Fotovat, Riverside Natural Foods (MadeGood)

Salma Fotovat is the Co-Founder & Sourcing & Procurement Director at Riverside Natural Foods, Ltd. - Home of MadeGood. They are a Canadian-owned company that specializes in creating healthy, allergy-friendly snacks She shares her insights on the complexities of product development in the dairy industry. She discusses the importance of collaboration, the challenges of optimizing established products, and the innovative processes involved in launching new products. Pratisha emphasizes the significance of curiosity, human connections, and networking in her career journey, providing valuable advice for aspiring product developers. --- Shownotes: https://foodgrads.com/podcast/Salma-Fotovat --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Introduction 03:15 – What Is a Sourcing and Procurement Career? 07:30 – What This Job Actually Looks Like Day to Day 12:00 – How a Single Ingredient Takes Months to Approve 18:00 – Why "Right Price, Right Place" Is Harder Than It Sounds 22:00 – What Happens When 50% of Your Main Ingredient Disappears 27:00 – How Strong Relationships Saved the Business 31:30 – What Makes a Supplier Actually Want to Work With You 36:00 – How Procurement Can Support Farmers and the Planet 40:30 – The Future of Supply Chain Careers and Sustainability 45:30 – Skills Students Should Start Building Now --- 📙 Career Guides: https://foodgrads.com/career-paths-food-and-beverage/ 💭 Career Advice: https://foodgrads.com/blog/ --- CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST 💼 Salma Fotovat LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salmafotovat/ 💼 Riverside Natural Foods LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/riverside-natural-foods/ 🌐 Riverside Natural Foods Website: https://www.riversidenaturalfoods.com/ 📸 MadeGood Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madegoodfoods/ --- CONNECT WITH US 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodgrads/ 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@foodgrads.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/foodgrads/

February 7, 202651 min

Product Development and Commercialization Manager with Pratistha Banerjee, Darigold

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

January 18, 202644 min

Product Development Specialist with Leslie Herbas, Ascona Foods

What does a Product Development Specialist actually do in meat manufacturing? Leslie Herbas Marañon is a Product Development Specialist at Ascona Food Group, a global supplier of customized dry blends, edible films, and casings for the meat industry. With over 10 years across production, quality management, and R&D in Bolivia and Canada, she brings a hands-on, formulation-first approach to every project. --- Shownotes: https://foodgrads.com/podcast/Leslie-Herbas --- 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. --- 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 --- CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST 📙 Career Guides: https://foodgrads.com/career-paths-food-and-beverage/ 💭 Career Advice: https://foodgrads.com/blog/ --- CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST 💼 Leslie Herbas LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-herbas-mara%C3%B1on-18507579/ 🌐 Ascona Food Group Website: https://www.asconafoods.com/ 💼 Ascona Food Group LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascona-foods-group/ CONNECT WITH US 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodgrads/ 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@foodgrads.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/foodgrads/