Michaela’s passion for food started at home watching her mum cook Tuna Spaghetti at home instead of watching the tele. This continued with a 4 year stint in the culinary capital of Paris as a student (in French not culinary studies!) followed by a less foodie start in FMCG with brand and category roles for sustainable household brands Ecover and method. Whilst the product passion was there, the food wasn’t, so she attended culinary school on a fast-track course to get into the world of food and drink.

Michaela then spent 4 years in hospitality; a short period in brewing and the rest as a chef in restaurants, most notably British-led tasting menu favourite “nest’ in Hackney, London. As with many in the industry, the pandemic put an unfortunate stop to this and Michaela was lucky enough to use previous experience to get back into the FMCG world, leading product development for Pulses & Grains brand, Merchant Gourmet. She has been there for 4 years leading the Product Development and launching numerous award-winning NPD including a Gold Grocer New Product Award and 4 Great Taste Awards. She is passionate about both sides of the food industry especially trends, innovation and sustainability.