By Raewyn Bleakley, Chief Executive, NZ Food & Grocery Council
One thing I love about our industry is the enduring relationships and connections that run through it. We have a wide range of organisations, from family businesses passed from generation to generation, to large multinational companies, to entrepreneurs working hard in start-ups, and everything in between.
For our industry to reach its potential we must keep attracting and growing our talent. NZFGC is committed to this, from supporting a range of events to our involvement in an award-winning intern programme. And we need your help to achieve even greater outcomes, nurturing the next wave of innovators and leaders in the FMCG space.
We held our first FMCG Future Leaders event for 2025 recently in Auckland, with over 90 people turning out to network and hear from our NZFGC Board Members – Mike Cullerne, Managing Director at The Arnott’s Group, Matt Donn, General Manager at NZ Sugar Company Ltd, and Cameron Scott Managing Director at Griffin’s Snacks. Thanks also to Janine Baldwin, General Manager from Kellanova for doing a fantastic job facilitating a robust and insightful panel conversation about each panellist’s journey in FMCG to where they are today. There will be more events in this series coming up over the next few months like this, keep an eye on our NZFGC LinkedIn page for details.
A great turnout like this – on a school night – shows the appetite for connection among young professionals in our industry. It also reminded me of the responsibility we have as leaders to give back. We truly believe that to keep moving forward and growing as an industry, we need to invest in the new generation coming in, which is why we create time and space for this kind of connection.
With that in mind, places are available now at one of FMCG’s showpiece events, the 2025 Kaleidoscope Forum. The theme this year is ‘The Upside, Positivity By Design’. The Kaleidoscope team have intentionally set the theme to consider the economic uncertainty and offer the topics, tools and inspiration to help attendees adapt and thrive.
So here’s the pitch: people attending past Kaleidoscope Forums tell us they really valued the access to senior leaders, from hearing their stories on stage to table discussion sessions. Throughout the day you’ll hear inspirational and powerful stories and connect with people facing the same challenges as you. With breakout sessions and dedicated networking, the programme is designed to ensure you take a lot from the day both professionally and personally. It’s an opportunity to break out from the everyday routine and dedicate time to connection and collaboration. An investment in your career now, and in the future.
Perhaps you have someone in your team who’d benefit in attending? We encourage you to get them along, head to www.fmcgfutureleaders.co.nz.
NZFGC is also proud to partner with Talent Solutions and bizadvisor on the FMCG Futures intern programme, and held an employer kick-off event recently. This is a 12-week paid internship opportunity for students that runs from mid-November to early February. The programme is structured to give graduates valuable experience that will help with their studies, and get them ready to hit the ground running in our sector.
Finding the right talent is one of the biggest issues facing us all, and employers on the programme benefit from access to high-calibre and motivated students and report great experiences that frequently result in permanent hires.
We’re pleased that this programme has recently been recognised with a New Zealand Association of Graduate Employers award for innovation, showing the professionalism on offer and value for students and employers alike.
I hope this gives you a flavour of the work NZFGC supports, building the next generation of FMCG people and leaders. There are numerous ways for young people to get involved, as well as for those more senior – or perhaps just more ‘seasoned’ – keen to give something back. If you’d like to learn more, please just get in touch.
