Ollie is based in our Princes’ headquarters in Liverpool and is responsible for building and maintaining strong relationships with our customers in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Ollie says:

I’ve always been interested in the food and drink industry and how products end up on supermarket shelves.

I studied Business Management at Liverpool John Moores University, and it was while I was a student there that I started to understand more about the size and complexity of the FMCG industry.

After I graduated, I applied for a job on Princes’ award-winning Commercial Graduate Scheme. As part of the process, I had to write 500 words on why I wanted to work for Princes, do a SWOT analysis of the Princes brand – no pressure! – and present a new product development idea. I was thrilled to get the job.

The Commercial Graduate Scheme is great because it gives you the opportunity to explore different areas of the business. Over three 8-month rotations, I spent time in the Buying, Marketing and Sales teams which gave me great experience of the industry and an idea of where I wanted to head next in my career.

I’ve got an exciting role at Princes and no two days are ever the same. I work in Princes’ MENA team and I’m responsible for understanding the needs, preferred ways of working and business objectives of our customer accounts there.

My role is about driving sales and revenue growth. I negotiate pricing and promotions, as well as longer-term contracts, all while making sure that our customers are happy. I also ensure we’re compliant with legal and regulatory requirements,

I work in a number of time zones and across different work cultures, so communication is particularly important and it makes the role very interesting.

I love working for Princes and take pride in working for a company that makes and upholds its commitments: from pledging to source 100% of our branded tuna from Marine Stewardship Council certified fisheries by the end of 2025, to our work in Italy with Oxfam and Coldiretti to ensure financial security and human rights protection for tomato growers.

It’s rewarding to work for a company that cares about what we do and about our impact.

My tip for other graduates looking to apply to Princes? Keep an eye on the industry and how it is evolving. It’s essential to understand the latest industry trends, market dynamics, regulatory changes and consumer preferences.