The food service industry is a tightknit community – especially at the executive level. One generally assumes that once you’re in the industry, you stay for the duration your entire career. It’s both good and bad.
For sales and national account roles, prior industry experience, relationships and connections are a must-have. Most food service manufacturers do not consider hiring outside the comfort of their own industry simply because of existing relationships.
Talent may come at a cost, and a distance
But for many subsets of the foodservice industry, such as equipment manufacturing, for instance (i.e., deep fryers to food storage containers), talent at the senior level often requires a skill set that can be obtained from a seasoned candidate who might not work for other foodservice manufacturers. Certain skills are highly transferable. This is especially true in the areas of engineering, operations, human resources, and finance.
While talent close to home is a safe choice, hiring from outside the industry often brings skills that can be successfully infused into an organization. A fresh perspective and new ideas can lead to effective leadership and innovative thinking. Ultimately, it can help a company evolve with the times.
Outsourcing executive hiring
Executive search firms—especially those that specialize in multiple industries including foodservice—are often adept at finding fresh, strategic talent that fits. The first step is to look for passive candidates in comparable companies outside the industry, such as commercial or B2B manufacturers. A VP of Engineering in one such company will likely possess the right mix of expertise and, in most cases, could seamlessly transfer over.
An executive search firm might require an initial investment at the outset, but the fresh, new talent that it can bring to your organization will more than make up for any associated expense.
Ronald S. Torch is founder, president, and CEO of Torch Group. Contact him at rontorch@torchgroup.com or 440-519-1822 x101.