"10 years and still going strong!"

I enjoy the pace. The days when the phone keeps ringing, emails are coming in, and things are moving across markets - that's when the work feels most engaging.

It’s never really been about meat in itself. It’s the process I’ve always been drawn to - buying, selling, negotiating. That part has always made sense to me.

When I first heard about ESS-FOOD, it was the international aspect that pulled me in. The idea that I could be part of something global. I don’t think I realised how big it actually was at first. But I do now. And I'm still here. 

Not because I’m chasing the next deal - although that's part of it. But because I'm driven by something else, too. 

People

I’m motivated by seeing others succeed. By supporting the young talents who walk through our doors - showing them the ropes, watching them grow, giving them space to find their own way.

That gives me real joy.

Because that’s what I was given. The chance to grow. The chance to lead. And the trust to do both. ESS-FOOD is full of people who support each other. Who actually listen. And who believe that ambition isn’t something to be contained - it’s something to be cultivated.

We laugh. We challenge each other. We have Friday bars and cycling tours. And we talk. About work.  About life.

For me, the job is about relationships. With clients. With suppliers. With the people around me. Understanding who they are, what they need, and how we grow together - that’s what I'm proud of. I hope that's what the new generation sees in me. That there’s not just one way to do things. That you can lead by being human. That hard work looks different for everyone - and that's okay. 

Because if you put in the effort, there’s a place for you here. Just like there was for me.