Why did you apply for the Danish Crown Graduate Programme?

My main motivation was the sustainability journey that Danish Crown is on right now. The food industry faces some important challenges, and I think it is very exciting to be a part of a company that wants to bring positive changes in the industry, not to mention becoming completely climate neutral by 2050. Furthermore, as a graduate in Danish Crown you get a unique opportunity to work in 3 different business units, in both production and business rotations, and you also have a rotation abroad. You basically have 3 different jobs in 2 years, so there’s a very steep learning curve, you get a broad, holistic understanding of the company and have a fantastic chance to develop yourself professionally. I think Danish Crown’s graduate program opens many doors for your career and you’re given a whole new world of possibilities.

What does a typical workday look like for you?

My first rotation is in Poland, the R&D center in Sokolow Podlaski. The days here can be very different, so it is difficult to describe a typical day. I have my own project that I am coordinating, so I often have to send some emails, collect some data, make sure that everyone is updated on the progress. I also help my manager and my colleagues with various tasks, such as creating presentations, researching different packaging solutions, preparing for product assessments. We have a lot of product tastings, and it is always very exciting to try some products that are not out on the market yet. Some days I go to the production to familiarize myself with the work there - how our products are produced, packed, what kind of machinery we use.

What is the best project or task you have worked with so far?

The project I am working with right now is aimed to change some of our non-recyclable plastic packaging to recyclable monoPET. It has been very interesting to learn about the steps that have to be taken before the new packaging is approved. First, it must work well with all our existing machinery, and it must be able to maintain the current shelf life of the product. To ensure that, we carry out a range of different tests: we test the changes in atmosphere within the package (the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide), the strength of the package seals, microbial counts, and, of course, the physical appearance, smell and taste of the product throughout its shelf life. We are also looking into paper packages and some very innovative solutions for trays. Generally, it has been very motivating and rewarding to work on a project that contributes to Danish Crown’s sustainability goals.

What was it like being a new employee at Danish Crown?

It has been great – in the beginning we had 3 introduction days in Vejle, where all the new graduates could meet each other and spend some time together before going separate ways to our rotations. We had some great team-building exercises, and got a better insight into Danish Crown’s strategy, leadership principles, and culture differences. We also met some of the graduates from previous year, who kindly shared their experiences with us. I had a very good start in Poland as well. Although it was not only a new job, but also a new country, I got all the support I needed from the local HR, my buddy, and the rest of my colleagues, so it was an easy transition.

Tell us something that others might not know about you.

Others might not know that I have a great passion for horses, and a newly discovered one for plants!

I have been around horses for 18 years of my life, and was headed down a very different career path, until a bad fall and an injury made me reconsider. Still, I can’t wait to have a horse of my own and come back to the competition arena someday.

When it comes to plants, I caught the plant fever in the beginning of this year. I got a couple of plants as a gift, they started growing and thriving, and that made me so excited that I got 20 more plants. Soon I realized that the apartment has turned into a mini-jungle. I also painted all my plant pots to make them less boring!

Danish Crown Foods Japan Ltd