SK People – Emma Bell

It’s a good job Emma Bell has Sky+ with a lot of memory, because she needs it for all the food-related shows she records.

From Great British Menu to Masterchef, her planner is always crammed full and that’s not just because she enjoys watching cooking shows.

The main reason is that in her role as a New Product Development Manager for SK Foods, she is always looking for inspiration for “that next big thing”.

She explains: “Like anyone involved in NPD, it’s vital that you keep track of the latest trends, so that means watching food programmes, eating out or reading lots online.

“Everyone wants to identify the next amazing dish; so, it’s just like a competition, and like TV shows such as MasterChef, not all ideas make it through to the final.”

Emma started as a Technologist before recently being promoted to NPD Manager. She says there’s no typical week in her job, so one day she can be meeting customers, the next working with the development chefs in the kitchen and another taking part in factory trials.

“It can be a long process, from the conception of new ideas through to launching them in store.

“Sometimes, your ideas never get off the ground, but I always ‘bank’ them because as trends and tastes change, there’s always the possibility of being able to use them at a later date.

“The most rewarding part of my job is seeing the final product on the supermarket shelf or even seeing a consumer put one of your products in their basket!”

About Neil Shaefer

Marketing & Communications Executive of SK Foods.

Your food. Our Passion.

View all posts by Neil Shaefer | https://www.skfoods.co.uk