Samira Cabral De Almeida, Pastry Category Manager
What’s your role at Classic Fine Foods and what are your main responsibilities and challenges?
At Classic Fine Foods, I've never been afraid to chase what excites me for the last 13 years being here. I started as a Buyer of Fresh Produce, putting my studies to good use. But after a while, the customer connection was missing. So, I took an opportunity at the telesales, then Sales Executive, and even Customer Service Manager – building and leading teams at every step. In January 2020, I took the reins of the Customer Service Team, relishing the daily customer interaction and the chance to shape it the way I envisioned.
But the sales itch never quite faded. So, when a Sales Manager role opened in 2021, I grabbed it! Leading a team of six and driving a whopping 75% of the turnover was exhilarating – a constant challenge, but one that kept me on my toes. Now, as Pastry Category Manager, I get to combine my sales expertise with a deeper product focus, leading a team and championing specific pastry brands. It's been a journey of growth and discovery, and I wouldn't trade it for anything!
What do you like the most about your role?
In this new role at Classic Fine Foods, it's like everything clicked! I get to wear many hats – chatting with suppliers, managing brands and a team, and visiting customers. My favourite is product sourcing! That's the holy grail for me. I thrive on variety, and Classic Fine Foods has given me this amazing opportunity to keep things fresh and exciting. It's the perfect blend of everything I love about this industry!
What do you like the most about Classic Fine Foods so far?
It's hard to pick just one thing! It's become like a second nature to me – Classic Fine Foods is in my DNA. There's always something new: a challenging problem to solve, a product to discover, an event to attend, or a hot new restaurant to visit. The best part is the people! It's a dynamic team, a real melting pot of personalities and cultures, all working together with a common goal – Customer Centricity (and having some fun along the way!).
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