Profile
Ifan Thomas
"Be curious, not judgemental"
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About Me:
I live in Norwich with my wife, two boys, and our two cats. I work as a Food Scientist/Technologist for a famous drinks company. I love baking delicious treats, playing rugby, practising archery, and exploring new places.
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Hello. I’m excited to share a bit more about myself with you. My name is Ifan, and I live in the lovely city of Norwich with my wonderful wife, our two energetic boys, and our two adorable cats.
I work as a Food Scientist/Technologist for a famous drinks company.
Originally, I’m from Wales, a place known for its beautiful landscapes and rugby! Even though I don’t play rugby anymore, I still love the sport and enjoy watching matches whenever I can.
One of my favourite hobbies is baking. I love creating delicious treats like cakes, cookies, and pastries. It’s always fun to see the smiles on my family’s faces when they taste something I’ve made.
I also enjoy practising archery. It’s a great way to improve focus and precision, and it’s a lot of fun hitting the target! Exploring new places is another passion of mine. Whether it’s a new city, a hidden gem in the countryside, or a different country altogether, I love discovering new sights and experiences.
I’ve been married for a decade now, and it’s been amazing to start a family. However, I must admit, I’m not very good at looking after the house. My wife often jokes that I’m better at making a mess in the kitchen than cleaning it up!
In my free time, I like to binge-watch shows on Disney+ and Amazon Prime.
I hope this gives you a better idea of who I am.
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My pronouns are:
He/Him
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My Work:
I make sure the food you eat is safe, legal, and of high quality, working with one of the biggest companies in the world to keep standards high.
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Hey there! I work in making sure the food you eat is safe, legal, and of high quality. I have a lot of experience working with different types of food and companies all over the world.
In my job, I’ve done many things like checking that food meets safety standards, working with suppliers, and making sure everything is up to code. I’ve worked with manufacturers, big retailers, warehouses, and distributors, so I know a lot about how food gets from the farm to your table.
One of the coolest parts of my job is the travel. I get to visit different countries and see how food is made and handled in various places. It’s amazing to experience different cultures and bring back new ideas.
Another great part of my job is helping other people in my field grow and succeed. I’ve coached teams from different countries and helped them work together better. I love bringing people together and making sure everyone is doing their best.
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My Typical Day:
I wake up early and get my boys ready for school. After breakfast and a coffee, I start my day. No day is ever the same for me. When I’m in the UK, I work from home, but I also travel a lot. One day I might be in the USA, and the next in Japan. It’s always an adventure!
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This year alone, I’ve travelled to Italy (twice!), Bulgaria, India (twice!), Pakistan, Poland, Spain, Cyprus, Japan, Gibraltar, and Hungary. My job involves making sure that food sold in stores is safe to eat. I work on something called HACCP, which stands for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points. It’s a system that helps identify and control potential hazards in food production to keep it safe.
I also focus on food security, which means ensuring that food is protected from any kind of contamination or tampering. Part of my job is to visit suppliers and franchise partners to check that they are following all the safety rules. These visits are called audits, and they help make sure that everyone is doing their part to keep food safe.
In addition to these tasks, I also work on strategies for managing global franchise operations. This means I help create plans and guidelines to ensure that all our franchise partners around the world are maintaining the same high standards. It’s important to have a consistent approach so that no matter where you are, you can trust the quality and safety of the food.
So, whether I’m working from home or travelling around the world, my goal is always to make sure the food you eat is safe, legal, and of high quality. It’s a big job, but I love the variety and the chance to see new places!
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What I'd do with the prize money:
Imagine a Mobile Food Science Lab that travels to your school, bringing exciting food experiments right to your doorstep!
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Education:
I started my education at Ysgol y Berwyn in Bala, where I completed my GCSEs and then A-Levels in Chemistry, Business Studies, and Electronics. After that, I went to the University of Wales Institute in Cardiff to study Food Science and Technology and earned a Higher National Diploma (HND).
I continued my studies at the University of Wales, where I got my Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc Hons) in Food Science and Technology. Along the way, I also picked up several professional qualifications, like Level 4 HACCP, ISO9001 Lead Auditor, and various Food Safety certifications.
I’m also a Fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology (FIFST), a Certified Food Scientist (CFS) with the Institute of Food Technologists, and a Registered Scientist (RSci) with The Science Council. My journey through school and university has been key to my career as a Food Scientist/Technologist.
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Qualifications:
Education:
- GCSEs: Ysgol y Berwyn, Bala
- A-Levels: Ysgol y Berwyn, Bala
- Chemistry
- Business Studies
- Electronics
- Higher National Diploma (HND): University of Wales Institute, Cardiff
- Food Science and Technology
- Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc Hons): University of Wales
- Food Science and Technology
Professional Qualifications:
- Level 4 HACCP
- ISO9001 Lead Auditor
- Various Food Safety Qualifications
Professional Memberships and Certifications:
- Fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology (FIFST)
- Certified Food Scientist (CFS) – Institute of Food Technologists
- Registered Scientist (RSci) – The Science Council
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Work History:
Right now, I work as an International Technical Manager at Costa Coffee (Coca-Cola). I’ve been in this role since November 2022. My job involves managing the supply chain for Costa Coffee’s international franchises across different regions like Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas. I focus on making sure all the products meet high standards and are exactly as they should be.Before this, I worked at NSF International for over eight years, also as an International Technical Manager. During that time, I worked with Costa Coffee and Whitbread Hotels & Restaurants, making sure their products were top-notch and their suppliers were performing well.
Before NSF, I was a Quality Assurance Manager and Technical Sourcing Manager at Hotel Chocolat from 2011 to 2014. My job there was to ensure that the suppliers were doing a great job and that all the products met safety standards.
Earlier in my career, I worked on various short-term quality assurance projects for companies like Bakkavor, Samworth Brothers, and Morrisons/Rathbones Group from 2004 to 2011. These roles helped me learn how to work well in a team and focus on customer service.
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Current Job:
Right now, I work as an International Technical Manager at Costa Coffee (Coca-Cola). I’ve been in this role since November 2022. My job is pretty exciting and involves a lot of responsibility. I manage the governance of food safety policies for our global supply chain, ensuring that all the coffee and other products you enjoy at Costa Coffee shops around the world are of the highest quality.
Imagine if you were in charge of making sure all the snacks and drinks at your school canteen were perfect every day. That’s a bit like what I do, but on a much larger scale. I work with teams in different regions like Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas. I make sure that every product meets our high standards, from the coffee beans to the cups they come in.
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Employer:
Costa Coffee, started in London in 1971, is now a popular coffee brand found in over 30 countries. In 2019, Costa Coffee was bought by The Coca-Cola Company, which is famous for drinks like Coca-Cola, Sprite, and Fanta. Coca-Cola, around since 1886, helps Costa Coffee reach even more people worldwide.
I am representing myself and not The Coca-Cola Company on this platform; I am here as a scientist.
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
integrity-driven, kind-hearted, and adventurous (sorry used "-" 5 words?)
What did you want to be after you left school?
I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do, but I knew it had to be something with food.
Were you ever in trouble at school?
No I was the the quiet one.
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
I’d love to work at an airport because it’s always buzzing with the excitement of new adventures and destinations.
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Stereophonics
What's your favourite food?
I have a sweet tooth for any dessert.
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
If I had three wishes for myself, I’d wish to lose some weight (I can’t resist desserts!), find more time to relax and unwind, and spend more quality time with my family. Balancing work and life can be tough, but these are the things that matter most to me.
Tell us a joke.
Which days are the strongest? Saturday and Sunday. The rest are weekdays...
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