International Women’s Day 2024
March 8, 2024
This year we interviewed a few of our exceptional female colleagues to find out more about them, their roles and their inspirations. Read our interviews with Karolina and Sue, two of the many remarkable women in the FMCG industry.
- Please tell us your name, job title and what you do?
My name is Karolina Fitzpatrick and I’m the Brand Development Manager based at Westwick, the added value site in Norfolk. I’m responsible for all product and packaging development from concept through to the manufactured packed finished product. - What do you love most about your job here at Albert Bartlett?
I love working with the team here at Westwick. No day is ever the same and we are always busy. I still take pride in launching new products and delighting the customer with great potato dishes. - How did you get to where you are now?
I graduated from Cardiff University with a degree in Home Economics where I specialised in Food and Nutrition in my final year. From there I started my career as a Technologist with Ross and McVities Prepared Foods at their R&D centre. We developed products for all the sites over the UK. I was promoted to Development Manager when I transferred to Norfolk in 1999 and was responsible for the development teams across two sites. Both sites were purchased by Heinz during the same year. In 2003 the other Norfolk site was sold, and I have been based solely at Westwick ever since. When Heinz closed the site in 2015, I joined Albert Bartlett as part of the team to launch the business into the Added Value market. - What does gender equality mean to you?
It means that every individual, regardless of their gender, should be entitled to the same rights and opportunities. Gender equality should promote fairness and social justice by ensuring that all individuals are treated with equal dignity and respect. - Is there a particular female figure that inspires you?
When asked this question I instantly think of Zofia Osiak, my Babcia or Grandmother in English. Having suffered absolute tragedy in Poland during the second world war where she lost all of her young family, herself and my Grandfather came to England in 1946 as refugees with a new born baby, my Mum. With no language skills and all their qualifications not recognised in the UK, through hard work and determination they forged successful new lives for themselves going on to have another family, new careers and both immersing themselves in their local community. She was such an inspirational head of the family and loved nothing more than having her children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren around her for family meals and celebrations. She was immensely proud of her family and all that they achieved, and I have always been amazed at what a positive outlook she had on life after living through such an awful life experience. We still maintain many of her traditions as a family and even replicate her broken English skills as she never became fully fluent even though she lived in UK until her death in 2005. I named my eldest daughter after her, so her memory continues to inspire me daily. - Based on your own experience, what advice would you give to women considering pursuing a career in your field?
Go for it! If you are prepared to work hard and you have a love for food and creative recipe development, there are lots of opportunities to have a very rewarding career. Being part of a manufacturing team means you have to be confident and knowledgeable, but all of that comes with experience and hard work. - Lastly, what is your favourite way to eat your spuds?
Well, potatoes are so versatile and there are many delicious ways to prepare them – dauphinoise, smashed roasted baby potatoes and beef basted crispy roast potatoes for example. But for me nothing beats the perfect chip. Having spend nearly 30 years perfecting this product, a golden brown, crispy, slightly salted chip is absolutely delicious!
- Please tell us your name, job title and what you do?
Sue Williams – QA Manager for Fresh – overseeing the quality function for the Boston site across dayshift/backshift and intake, managing the quality on arrival and throughout the packing process until the stock leaves site. - What do you love most about your job here at Albert Bartlett?
The people, I am part of a great team, not just the immediate team but throughout each department. Each day comes with its own challenges, but with each other’s support we overcome them together. We are like a little family. - How did you get to where you are now?
I have worked within the food industry for the last 33 years starting on the shop floor of a salad factory at the age of 16, I have worked my way up taking different routes along the way. I took a few years out of factory life to work in recruitment and then in HR for a security firm. After being made redundant I came back to Manufacturing within a Potato factory where again I worked my way up from a QC team leader to Quality and Technical Systems Manager, after 14 years I found myself being made redundant again, I then spent a short time as the Quality Manager at an organic fruit and vegetable organisation before being welcomed into AB Boston as the Quality Manager. - What does gender equality mean to you?
I believe that we are all equal irrespective of gender and should all be treated the same. - Is there a particular female figure that inspires you?
No one really in particular other than I would have to say mum, coming from a large close nit family in Scotland and after meeting and marrying my dad they set of across the world where he had a career in the RAF, she had never been outside her town let alone going across the world, my dad was very career driven and took posting after posting leaving my mum alone for months on end in a strange country with then 2 young children. My mum would never let a situation get to her, she would always find a positive and would always have a can-do attitude, if you want it, you have to work hard to get it she would say. My mum had a saying, and it has stuck with me my whole life, (if you do right I’ll back ya, if you do wrong I’ll have ya) I have applied this in life and I believe she has inspired me and my brother to be the people we are today. - Based on your own experience, what advice would you give to women considering pursuing a career in your field?
I would say its very worthwhile and although it can be stressful and demanding it is also very rewarding especially when you see the hard work pay off and everyone comes together as one team. It can open up a world of opportunities and doors into other avenues of work, treat everyone with respect and never ask anyone to carry out a task you are not prepared to do yourself. Never think you are above anyone as we are all important and remember there is no I in team. Always remember without the team below nothing will get done. - Lastly, what is your favourite way to eat your spuds?
I love spuds and would say roast is my favourite, crunchy on the outside and fluffy in the centre, closely followed by no lump creamy mash. Perfect on all counts.