A fresh perspective from young professionals
After studying Food Technology at WUR in Wageningen, a career in the food industry was the logical choice for Laurine Krol. During her studies, she worked part-time at Yama Products. After a brief stint at Jacobs Douwe Egberts, she returned to Yama. Since January 2024, she has been working as a product developer at Double Aces Food.
Small organisation
“Double Aces Food is the production facility for Yama. We manufacture Asian sauces and seasonings.” Double Aces Food is a relatively small company, with around forty employees. Laurine enjoys working in a small organization, as it allows her to gain insight into all aspects of the company. “It’s very dynamic; we experience a bit of everything. I work in product development, but I also contribute to quality management and get to see the entire production process.”
Production facility
At Yama, she worked in the quality department. “I was involved in some product development, but Double Aces Food is the actual production facility. When a product developer position opened up there, I didn’t hesitate and switched jobs. This role suits me better and aligns with what I want to do.”
Support
As a young professional, Laurine is guided by her manager. “We work closely together, and I appreciate the support. However, there is a generational gap, which sometimes means we communicate differently or have different perspectives on certain matters.”
Solid foundation
She recognizes that her studies at WUR provided her with a solid foundation, even though the business environment is entirely different. “At university, you focus on research, whereas in the business world, there is little room for that. During your studies, you don’t get much exposure to the industry; you conduct research during your graduation project. In applied sciences (HBO), you do more internships, which give you a better understanding of the industry you’ll enter. I didn’t have a clear picture of the ingredients industry beforehand.”
Career path
For now, she plans to stay at Double Aces Food. “I don’t have a fixed career path in mind, but I’ve promised myself that I will stay somewhere as long as I enjoy it. That is certainly the case with my current employer.”
Young IFFI Network
Laurine has applied for a board position at Young IFFI. “At my company, I’m one of the youngest. In larger companies, groups of young professionals often form. I find it very valuable to network with other young professionals and learn from each other’s experiences. That’s why I’m committed to Young IFFI.”
Fresh perspective
Laurine believes that young professionals have a lot to offer the ingredients industry. “Especially in a small company, I notice that things are often done a certain way simply because that’s how they have always been done. A fresh perspective from a young professional can be incredibly valuable, leading to new insights or different approaches. Even if certain questions have been asked before or changes have been considered in the past, technological advancements may now make new solutions possible. It would be a shame to overlook those opportunities!”
Laurine Krol
Product Developer at Double Aces Food