"When I started out in the food industry over 40 years ago in the City of London as a Cordon Bleu Chef, I was often the only female in the brigade; when I moved to manufacturing again, I was often the only female in management meetings. When I moved to retail the split was more even in lower ranks, but not in the boardroom. I currently have an all-female team, not by design, but by recruiting the right talent for the role I have found some talented women. I have had the challenge of scrambling up ladders and am in a position to build a staircase for others to follow. Women make 50% of the population but not in all parts of the food & beverage industry. If you are talented, you should be given the opportunity to shine."
Ruth Dolby’s 40 years+ career in the food & drink industry has revolved around kitchens, test kitchens, factories and boardrooms. Spanned food service, manufacturing, retail [selection, development and auditing], freelance food developer/ project lead and 10 years ago co-founded heading up Food Science Fusion. Ruth is a Fellow of the Institute of Food Science & Technology; is passionate about developing new innovative ingredients and products; learning and knowledge exchange. She has built a company that offers a blend of practical development for innovation application where culinary and food science meet commerciality. The Food & Drink Industry is at a stage where great responsibility and opportunity are merging as key drivers for best practice: health & safety, nutrition & diet, sustainability & affordability. If it is not eaten it is not nutritious; if it is not sold and paid for it is into commercial and if it is wasted, it is bad for the planet.
