In this episode of The Fearless Foodie, I’m joined by Rich Howell, founder of Marvel FMCG, for a straight-talking conversation about recruitment, career paths, and the assumptions that are holding both candidates and businesses back.

We explore why great people are often overlooked because of age, career breaks, industry background, or CVs that do not follow a traditional path. We also discuss why businesses that focus too heavily on finding the "perfect" candidate may be missing some of the strongest talent available.

If you hire people, lead teams, or are navigating your own career journey, this episode is a reminder that talent comes in many forms and that the best careers rarely follow a straight line.

The post Food Manufacturing’s Talent Problem Isn’t What You Think first appeared on Fearless Foodies.

In this episode of The Fearless Foodie, I explore why conflict feels so uncomfortable and why our reactions often have more to do with biology than communication skills.

Using the Thomas-Kilmann conflict model, I break down the five different conflict styles and explore how they show up in meetings, projects, and everyday workplace conversations.

If you’ve ever left a meeting wishing you had spoken up, handled something differently, or understood your own reactions better, this episode offers practical ways to build confidence and stronger working relationships.

The post The Conflict Pattern That Could Be Holding You Back first appeared on Fearless Foodies.

In this episode of The Fearless Foodie, I’m joined by James Campbell, Director of Product and Innovation at Sainsbury’s, for an honest conversation about leadership, resilience, and creating environments where people can perform at their best.

We explore career pivots, lessons learned through difficult experiences, and why trust has a bigger impact on performance than pressure ever will.

If you lead people, manage teams, or are trying to build a culture that performs without burning people out, this episode offers practical insight and honest reflections.

The post Trust Over Fear: The Leadership Shift Food Teams Need first appeared on Fearless Foodies.

Explore more industry news at foodmanufacture.co.uk

The post Bethan’s Bite-Sized Bulletin May 2026 first appeared on Fearless Foodies.

In this live episode of The Fearless Foodie, I’m joined by Tracy Southwell from March Foods and Ross Dennison for an honest, no-nonsense conversation about what it really takes to build workplaces where women can thrive.

We explore the practical realities of diversity, equity, and inclusion in food businesses. From retaining talented women after maternity leave to creating cultures where difficult conversations around menopause, miscarriage, and menstruation are not awkward or avoided.

This is not a conversation about policies on paper. It is about real people, real leadership, and the everyday decisions that shape whether people stay, grow, and perform.

If you believe the future of food depends on stronger people, not just smarter systems, this episode is for you.

The post The Four M’s Food Leaders Can No Longer Ignore first appeared on Fearless Foodies.

In this episode of The Fearless Foodie, I’m joined by Susan Arkley to unpack what creativity actually looks like in food manufacturing and retail. This is not about being artistic or coming up with big ideas. It is about how people think, solve problems, and get work done every day.

We explore creative intelligence, the five creative styles, and why understanding your own way of working can transform how you collaborate, make decisions, and manage your energy at work.

If you have ever thought you are not creative, or felt drained by the way your team operates, this episode offers a practical way to think about creativity differently.

The post Creative Intelligence: Unlock the Strengths in Your Team first appeared on Fearless Foodies.

In this episode of The Fearless Foodie, I sit down with Scott Dixon, Managing Director of Flava People, for an honest conversation about what really works when it comes to product development.

We explore the reality behind innovation, from changing consumer habits to the risks of building products based on assumptions rather than real behaviour. Scott shares his experience of growing a food business through constant change, and the lessons that come from getting it wrong as well as right.

If you work in NPD, branding, or food manufacturing and want a grounded view of what makes products land with customers, this episode brings it back to fundamentals.

The post The Assumption Trap: Why Food Products Miss the Mark first appeared on Fearless Foodies.

In this episode of The Fearless Foodie, I break down what AI really means for food manufacturing and retail teams. Not from a technical angle, but from a human one.

As AI takes on more of the technical and process-driven work, it’s exposing a gap that has been there for years. Skills like communication, confidence, influence, and critical thinking are quickly becoming the real differentiators.

If you’re leading teams, managing change, or trying to stay relevant in a fast-moving industry, this episode is a straight-talking look at what actually matters and where to focus next.

The post AI Is Not the Problem: The Skills Gap Food Leaders Can’t Ignore first appeared on Fearless Foodies.

The post Bethan’s Bite Sized Bulletin April 2026 first appeared on Fearless Foodies.

In this episode of The Fearless Foodie, I’m joined by David Hamilton, former Chief Innovation Officer at Kerry, for a grounded conversation about what innovation looks like inside a food business.

We explore the messy, human side of innovation. The uncertainty, the nerves, the constant learning, and why building an innovative culture has far more to do with people, leadership, and curiosity than it does with pipelines and processes.

If you work in NPD, technical, commercial, or leadership roles and want innovation to mean more than just another SKU, this episode offers a practical, honest perspective.

The post Why Innovation in Food Isn’t About Products (And What It Really Takes) first appeared on Fearless Foodies.