WORKING IN PRODUCT DESIGN FOR A MULTI-NATIONAL FMCG: MARS

WORKING IN PRODUCT DESIGN FOR A MULTI-NATIONAL FMCG: MARS Chris thorogood

AGENDA My background – how I moved from academic research to FMCG How I got the job A day in the life Challenges Transferable skills from research in academia FMCG vs academic research. Compare and contrast Career opportunities How to apply

PhD then 1 year of Postdoc in plant molecular biology • Decided to move to industry, thought about which companies I wanted to work for

Applied for role as Product Innovation Scientist at Mars, working in the Petcare segment (direct entry) • Numeracy testing • Telephone interview • Assessment day and interviews

Main meal and Care & Treats • A three-site, multi-technology European business • Care and Treats as a business segment is growing – Mars owns leading brands in each category • An expandable business area (shows year on year growth) so interesting and exciting to work in!

THE ROLE: GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Accountable for the delivery of innovation projects to launch multi million euro sub-brands from development of concept to launch for a multinational FMGC.Contribution to the renovation and innovation of dog and cat treats under reputable mainstream brands including Pedigree and Whiskas. Working extensively across a three-site, multi-technology European business, developing complex innovation projects and collaborative relationships at an international level. IT’S VARIED!

THE ROLE: KEY SKILLS • Product design: developing concepts from design (front end innovation) to execution with precision and at pace.Solving complex technical problems relating to cooker extrusion and baking technology on an industrial scale from the Pilot Plant to the Factory. • Understanding how to legally substantiate claims to drive sales volumes (and write legal dossiers)Actively developing collaborative relationships across European sites to deliver cross-functional large-scale projects. From writing legal dossiers to solving problems in the factory!

KEY ROLES I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK IN: • 1. Product Designer in a highly successful innovation project to deliver a new multi million euro sub-brand sold in all major retail multiples in the UK, and later rolled out to European markets; overcame significant technical challenges to deliver a new product at precision and at pace. 2. Technical Leader for an innovation project to develop new SKUs for UK markets, involving scaling up concepts from Pilot Plant to Factory across two European sites.3. Co-piloted a concept development programme involving front-end innovation with the Central Marketing team; launched a concept development project to populate the business’s innovation pipeline with future projects. BIG BRANDS, BIG ROLES!

An example of a project in Product Design at Mars

Worked within a team to develop a new mainstream brand called “Misfits” – a new brand in the marketplace, now in all major retail mults • Worked closely with Marketing team to establish the business need, the Finance team to produce P&Ls, and the Activity (Project management) teams to make sure deliverables were time-bound • Developed the products in Hungary – involved factory trials using cooker extrusion technology

AGENDA My background – how I moved from academic research to FMCG How I got the job A day in the life Challenges Transferable skills from research in academia • 5 products launched in UK markets in 2011; rolled out to European markets in 2012. FMCG vs academic research Compare and contrast Career opportunities How to apply

Business acumen – understanding how your work ladders into the business Communication challenges – working in a factory which operates in another language; cultural challenges Navigation through the organisation – working across teams, sites and functions – great for personal development Project completion – seeing a product you have designed and manufactured on shelf in major mults Working in another country and learning about new challenges Conflict of interest challenges – conflicting success mechanics across sites MISFITS – the challenges MISFITS – the rewards

Problem solving systematically – from the lab to the factory • Quantitative analysis • Attention to detail – whilst understanding how the detail ladders into the bigger picture • Dealing with ambiguity and driving projects forward to completion

PROs • Secure employment and fairer career opportunities – doesn’t feel like a lottery anymore. • Great emphasis on personal development - highly transferable to any business. • Feel looked after by a company – benefits (gym, private health care). • Leave work at work, don’t take stresses home as much • Sense of collective achievement – much more of a cooperative working environment. • CONs • Can be scary having the responsibility of looking after multi million dollar brands – risks are higher and mistakes are bigger! • Travel over extensive periods can be tiring as well as rewarding.

Opportunities include (1) Direct entry or (2) Grad scheme. • Direct entry has benefit of staying in a single site & more in depth knowledge of a particular topic. • RDPFormat is 3x8 month placements run across Choc and C&T (2 placements at one, 1 at the other). • Applications are open now and deadline is November 1st. Candidates should visit www.mars.co.uk/graduates to apply. Face to face interview rounds are from mid to the end of November. Offers will be made within 48 hours of the assessment centre. We are looking to take on 4-5 RDP’s this year. • Entry requirement: 2:1 degree in Maths, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering or another Physical Science (e.g Materials Science) or Biological Science (e.g Biology) + 300 ucas points.

Any Questions?

WORKING IN PRODUCT DESIGN FOR A MULTI-NATIONAL FMCG: MARS