Ever wondered what it’s like working for a fast growing food start-up?
Every week a different member of team Livia’s takes over the Livia’s Instagram account to answer all your burning questions. Whether you’re starting a business of your own, work for a start-up yourself and want advice or are just curious about start-up life and business, we hope the answers we share are insightful and helpful! In this post, we will share the most asked questions and answers.
Product
First up, we speak to Evie, the head of product at Livia’s. Evie started at Livia’s as creative assistant nearly 4 years ago! She now leads all product development and packaging innovation. She works very closely with the supply chain teams and CEO Olivia to help create and deliver the best quality indulgent treats and packaging solutions for our customers! Here are some of the questions you asked…
Question: How did you start your career?
Answer: I initially went for an interview for an internship at Livia’s but the timing ended up not being quite right so I went to work for an events company in London. A year later Olivia asked if I was still interested in the company and that a Creative Assistant role had just come up. I jumped at the opportunity, started helping Olivia with NPD (New Product Development) and now nearly 4 years later, here I am!
Question: What’s the biggest challenge in your role?
Answer: Launching the most delicious treats under tight deadlines. We have had some very early mornings at the factory but although it can be tough, it’s a lot of fun!
Question: What’s your favourite thing about start-up work life?
Answer: Everything! I love the fast pace, the level of responsibility and ownership.
Marketing
We had lots of questions about marketing come in. Let’s see what Charlotte, Senior Brand Manager has to say! Charlotte joined Livia’s 3 1/2 years ago. She heads up the marketing team and oversees all things branding and marketing from social advertising and collaborations to TOV and design to ensure the Livia’s world is always consistent and scrumptious.
Question: How does your job make you feel?
Answer: Excited! I love how fast paced it is and watching the business grow and grow every year is hugely satisfying. I’m so proud to be a part of it.
Question: Do you find there is a different atmosphere in a start up compared to big companies?
Answer: Of course. There are lots of pros and cons to both however I love the responsibility that comes with working in a start up and how the teams work so collaboratively. In a big company I would never have worked so closely with finance or supply chain teams and I love working with all areas of the business and understanding how each function plays a big part in driving growth!
Question: What part of brand do you love the most?
Answer: I love seeing a vision come to life! I’m currently working on new website designs and creating an online Livia’s world which is a lot of fun. I also love having the opportunity to read reviews and comments from Livia’s customers.
Supply Chain
Supply Chain is an incredibly important function within any business. Here we hear from Amy, Livia’s Supply Chain Manager. She has worked for Livia’s for over 2 1/2 years and is responsible for managing the day-to-day supply chain from manufacturing and packaging to deliveries and stock management. Amy works closely with the whole team to ensure that the operations are planned efficiently and that new products are launched smoothly.
Question: What made you want to work in Supply Chain?
Answer: I enjoy having a thorough understanding of the intricate process it takes to get our products on the shelves! It requires so much careful planning and analysis to get the balance right when it comes to manufacturing and ordering raw materials, but it is so rewarding when it comes together! It comes with many challenges but I chose to work in Supply Chain as I knew it would give me great operational exposure and understanding of the wider FMCG industry.
Question: What does a typical work day look like?
Answer: There isn’t really a typical day here at Livia’s which is something I love. We are always working on different projects which require different types of work. The daily and weekly staples include planning manufacturing, managing packaging volumes, monitoring retailer orders and forecasting general demand.
Question: What is the most challenging part of your role?
Answer: Relying on so many third-party suppliers can be challenging and trying to ensure that all deliveries and productions correlate.
Thank you so much for reading! We hope this content is useful. Keep an eye on Instagram and our newsletter for more team Q&A’s! We’re always here if you want to DM and ask any questions.
