With stagnant sales revenues, the 3G effect, and changing consumer preferences, the food industry has experienced massive shifts with constant change being the only norm. Retailers are increasingly pressuring “big brand” food companies to lower their pricing forcing margins to become exceedingly thin driving the need for growth in sales among categories where sales have been flat or declining in past years. This has created considerable acquisition activity of growth brands being acquired by larger brands of holding companies, hungry for products that will drive growth in sales. With all this flux, how are science of food professionals fairing and what do they need to do to keep themselves relevant in the job market?
In this podcast, we will explore the how changes in the industry are impacting the current and future job market, including compensation and benefits. We’ll also share some go-to tips to help you advance your career.
Moira McGrath is president and founder of OPUS International, Inc. Following graduation from Cornell University with a degree in Hotel Administration, Moira focused her early career on hotel and restaurant operations and management. She worked in Atlanta, San Francisco, and Ohio until a career change brought her to Florida. Shortly thereafter, she chose to pursue the field of executive search. After working for others for a few years, she started her own firm in 1993. She and her staff at OPUS specialize in placing scientists in research and development and quality assurance positions with food and food ingredient manufacturers.
John Mossman is one of the principle partners at M.K. and Associates, Inc. He has been in the industry since 1983, recruiting for a variety of technical industries. John's career began in Chicago, where he was a manager for a large recruitment firm. During the years, John developed his technical expertise in several industries, focusing initially on chemical and electrical engineering. Since establishing M.K. and Associates Inc., John has developed expertise in all technical areas of the Food Industry. In addition to running his recruiting desk, John is the Administrative Manager at M.K. and Associates, Inc. and is responsible for hiring, training, and coaching the staff.
Matt Teegarden, M.S., IFT Student Association Past President 2016-2017, Ph.D. Candidate, The Ohio State University
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New developments in plant breeding techniques show promise in being able to breed disease-resistant bean varieties quickly and selectively than what is currently available.
An international team of scientists led by the University of Goettingen has developed a new approach to identifying the genes that control plant traits.
A team of 12 students from the Department of Biotechnology and Food Engineering at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology has won a gold medal at the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition in Boston for its bee-free honey.
Earth’s soil is becoming more saline, and as it does, growing crops becomes more difficult or impossible. Scientists at Brigham Young University (BYU) may have discovered a way to prevent soil salinity from ruining crops and crop yields.
What are the best and most sustainable options for addressing the food supply challenges that await as the world's population soars and becomes increasingly urbanized?
More plant-based foods in the next decade, cultured meat and underutilized seafood species at mid-century, and customized nutrient patches and pills 150 years from now, according to a “Future of Food Report” from British supermarket chain Sainsbury’s as part of its 150th anniversary celebration.
As consumers seek more ‘natural’ products with fewer additives and ‘simpler’ ingredients, more knowledge of what’s in their food, and how their food is made, this clean label movement is spurring innovations in product development in the food industry.
It’s not uncommon for people to use the internet to research their health concerns by entering their symptoms in a search engine like Google. Now, that data may help identify potentially unsafe restaurants faster and with more accuracy than traditional methods.
As people age, some degree of cognitive decline is inevitable, but minimizing the extent of age-related cognitive decline is possible.
Technology in agriculture (ag-tech) is how we'll feed a growing population, make farming more sustainable, and improve the lives of farm animals, say 85% of the 3,000 participants in Cargill's new three-continent consumer survey.
A study published in the journal Cancer suggests that even moderate alcohol consumption may increase the risk for cancer.
Mintel has announced three key trends that will shape the global food, drink, and foodservice industries over the next 10 years.
A study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics suggests that children who eat between meals may be getting fruits and other elements of a healthy diet that they would not otherwise eat.
An international group of researchers led by Brazilian scientists has assembled the most complete genome sequence of commercial sugarcane.
