​Last week, we brought together Technical professionals from across the food manufacturing industry for an evening of great conversation, new connections, and an excellent roast beef dinner!

Tackling Food Waste with Smart Technology

One of the key discussion points was how manufacturing businesses are addressing food waste across the supply chain. With tonnes of edible food being thrown away due to rigid “use by” dates, it was fascinating to hear about innovations like Blakbear — a business developing sensors that sit within food packaging to monitor gases and provide real-time data on spoilage.
This technology could one day remove the need for “use by” dates altogether, helping both consumers and manufacturers make smarter, more sustainable choices.

Why Don’t We See More Technical Professionals at the Top Table?

Another lively debate explored why so few Technical leaders reach C-Suite level. Are their skills undervalued? Or are Technical experts simply less likely to pursue commercial pathways? The consensus: there’s a need for stronger representation and better advocacy for Technical expertise in strategic decision-making.

Inspiring the Next Generation

We also discussed how to attract younger generations into Technical careers. Ideas included:

• Reintroducing Food Technology at GCSE level

• Collaborating with schools to showcase the range of exciting career opportunities in food manufacturing

• Educating parents about the industry’s innovation, sustainability, and impact - far beyond the “production line” stereotype.

  As one guest put it: “Once they’re at university, the ship has sailed - we need to reach them earlier.”

Don’t Miss the Next One

Those who couldn’t make it missed an evening packed with insight, debate, and a fantastic opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals shaping the future of food manufacturing.

If you’d like to join us at our next Technical networking dinner, let us know; we’d love to see you!