CEd’s portfolio of career paths expanded again this summer with four colleagues sharing experiences of life in chilled food production. The stories are diverse, and the paths to where they are today always varied. But there are common factors – enthusiasm for their roles and inspirational words to encourage the next Gen(eration) Chilled!
Simon Thorpe and Sam Trevey work for Red Tractor, Nicola Benniston is at Oscar Mayer Foods and Dr Rachel Hackett was formerly with 2 Sisters Food Group, Greencore and IGD and is now with CFA, as you will hear about in this newsletter.
Simon (left) is Red Tractor’s Senior Technical Manager. His role, with the UK’s largest food and farm chain assurance scheme allows him to use his interests (in English and Social Sciences) to protect and improve the quality and safety of food.
His colleague Sam (right) shares his passion, having worked in food production since the age of 16. As Fresh Produce Technical Manager he is a long way from his Art Foundation degree but he has no regrets about the path his career has taken.
Nicola’s (left) route into chilled is more traditional, using her love for science and food in a varied 30-year career which brings her to her current role as Group Technical Director. And Rachel (right) has also followed a passion to make a positive contribution to society. Her senior roles in sustainability have allowed her to use her knowledge and expertise (particularly in plant biology) to the full.
September 2025