Waheed

Commercial: Food

Technical and Development Manager

Joined Tesco June 2002

Tesco always treated their suppliers fairly and the way I would like to be treated myself.

I joined Commercial on own label soft drinks. This included "high-risk" products such as chilled juice and smoothies, as well as all cordial / carbonated / water drinks. Basically, it's any non-alcoholic drink. Recently, I moved to the non-foods area for baby/femcare and some skin care areas such as wipes and cotton wool.

I joined Tesco because having worked in manufacturing I saw what it was like to work with the majority of retailers. Tesco always treated their suppliers fairly and the way I would like to be treated myself. When I decided to join a retailer to see what it was like on the other side, that's what really influenced me.

Basically my job involves closing product gaps in the market and giving something back that helps the customer. It involves developing products that aren't currently on the shelf so that we constantly provide the best for customers.

The old adage, 'no two days are the same' is so true. Our roles here are very varied - one minute you're involved with creating a brand new range, the next you might be involved in a product recall. I have to be honest and say it's an environment that has at times felt a little like being thrown in at the deep end, but it's helped me discover my strengths and weaknesses and you soon realise that you're never allowed to truly get out of your depth. It's often been a steep learning curve, but with the right training and support close at hand it's been worth it and fun too.

Find out more about Commercial: Food.