Tom Lillie is second from left, pictured with Costa Rican pineapple growers

Prior to joining Bakkavör I was in full time education, I studied at Nottingham Trent University for 4 years and have a degree in Applied Biology. I then went on to do a MSC in agricultural Business Management at Wye College in Kent.

I joined in 2003 via the Group’s Produce AMS scheme and started my first placement doing an RMT placement at Wingland Foods.

I was attracted to the Company as I wanted a challenging and diverse role and I thought that by working in the FMCG industry for a reputable company like Bakkavör I would find one. I also liked the prospects that the company offered through the Graduate scheme and the potential of a good career upon finishing the scheme. 

After my placement at Wingland Foods, I spent 8 months living and working in Spain with the leaf suppliers based out of Geest Iberia. Following that I came back to the UK and spent 3 months in Yorkshire Fresh Salads working on innovative packaging projects with the intention of improving quality and extending shelf life. 

I enjoy my role as communication is key - the constant movement across the category in seasons and varieties and the issues which arise make this a very challenging role - being able to communicate effectively is a fundamental part of the job. I also enjoy the building of relationships with the suppliers. The fruit industry has historically been based on a hard trading environment. Today we are moving away from traditional trading relationships into stronger long term supplier relationships and as a result we are seeing real benefits from our suppliers in terms of improved quality, innovation and price. Of course the travel is also a big perk!!! 

It’s difficult to identify specific milestones in my career as I have taken something from every single placement I have done in my time with Bakkavör. But I think working in Spain, in Geest Iberia, was a major milestone as it showed me the potential benefits that are possible when the whole supply chain links together and has strong enough relationships to face new challenges. It was that experience that made me want to be part of the Procurement team.

The most rewarding part of my role is the sense of satisfaction when a challenge appears on the horizon such as an industry shortage of a certain fruit. Through our relationships with other Bakkavör sites and our suppliers we then manage to overcome the challenge to the benefit of our customer.  

In my role a positive attitude is a must as I deal with an incredible number of varieties, seasons and potential challenges. Without the drive to ensure that my customer has the very best that is possible despite some very tricky situations then I wouldn’t succeed.

Also being a team player, I interact with every discipline in the factory and rely on each of them to help me drive quality as much as they rely on me to deliver what the site needs at the right specification and price.

The last quality is probably an open mind. Fruit is a very established industry and the ability to challenge what is already present and try something new and innovative that no one has tried before and that could show benefit is what sets Bakkavör apart from the rest of the industry. An example of this is English cantaloupe! 

Since joining, I have had the opportunity to learn a huge amount about both fruit and the industry in a very short time and I am in an amazing role which I enjoy. The potential for the prepared fruit business to grow makes this a very exciting time and a very exciting place to be.