In SAMECA I am going deeper in food industry processes, helping industries to develop and optimize products, by advising the best ingredients available, to excel performance.I deal with some of the greatest European food ingredients suppliers, being responsable to represent them, understand strategy and products, developing business, in Iberian territory. In parallel, I am responsable for the most important industrial food accounts in the territory, being capable of negotiate, advise, support and supply, on time, the best ingredients for the targeted products.The aim is to enlarge the available portfolio with more interesting products in order to develop local market, so the key word is be updated, take part in National/International shows, understand where Retail and Market Trends goes, making food world move on!I am responsible to share technical information, guide and motivate a 4 people team as well,

Private Label Product Manager job comprehends a full business following, from product development - under client and market requests, with a narrow client relationship, as well as R&D and industrial area -, till its launching, as well as product’s market performance continuous follow up . It’s a job that combines a commercial and a marketing function.Breakfast cereals business, for Cerealis, begun intensively, with focus and investment, 11 years ago and it is, now, company’s second business.There was a huge industrial investment - upgrading existing industrial plant as well as acquisition of 3 new, high tech and high capacity industrial lines. We developed winning products, focused in consumer and market needs and a very aggressive strategy in important clients.My role demands a tentacular connection to all Group areas and deep direct and indirect markets knowledge, in an international point of view, following trends and product launches. Regarding biscuits, although the job is similar in most points, market reality and Cerealis dimension in this area is truly distinct, being more limited. The big challenge is keeping the business profitable – in the last few years I focused our product development and commercial efforts in more profitable products, despite technological limits. My job includes business plan preparation and implementation, profitability analyzes – for product and clients scope, negotiation with several international retail chains: Agenor Switzerland, Auchan PT/SP, Carrefour SP/FR, DIA PT/SP, AMS Netherlands, ALDI PT/SP, Casino FR, ITMI FR/SP/PT, Jerónimo Martins PT, LIDL PT, Eroski SP, Caprabo SP, Metro PT, between others. It also includes International Shows organization and attendance (PLMA, ANUGA, SIAL).

What can I write when asked for a brief description of being a “Partner in a Restaurant”? You have to do everything, be everywhere, anytime!It’s really passionate, but very tiring, specially when you deal with very different people, have too many problems related with their behaviors and feelings.Anyway, all the time the aim was to focus on clients needs and profile, which was to experience high standard service, high standard food in a high standard place (the restaurant was sited just in the World’s Heritage Porto area).We usually changed our menu twice a year and we did several different menus (degustation menus) all over the year for different kinds of groups: “pure” tourists group, conferences, pharmaceuticals, wine businesses…We also had a close relation with local media, travel agencies, hotels, local specialized stores.

Being a distribution store manager is a very passionate function that takes you a lot of time, as stores are open almost always, but involves you a lot. I believe this was a very fine way to start in, to face the market and I learned a lot, especially in 1999 when I opened Jumbo Aveiro as area manager (Dairy and Frozen foods). My main functions sales management, profit, costs, staff, supplier’s negotiation (store spaces, local and national propaganda), marketing area plan, new members trainer. I was an area manager in Aveiro, Famalicão and Vila Nova de Gaia stores.Later I was promoted and become a “ Fresh Foods” Department Manager.