The Food Chain The buyers
Jun 4, 2025
Chloe Doutre-Roussel, a globetrotting cacao bean sourcer, shares insights on building relationships with farmers to ethically source chocolate. Beatrice Muraguri, a dedicated tea buyer from Kenya, discusses the unpredictable impacts of climate change on tea production. Jim Gulkin, CEO of a seafood trading company, explores the complexities of sourcing frozen seafood across continents. Together, they reveal the balance of quality, trust, and ethics in their sourcing strategies, highlighting the importance of compassion and adaptability in today's food supply chain.
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Buyers Prioritize Reliability
- Buyers must find reliable suppliers producing quality products at market prices.
- The relationships with sellers and their integrity are as important as the product itself.
Fake It Till You Know It
- Jim Gulkin entered seafood buying without experience and had to act knowledgeable to be taken seriously.
- Through memorization and practice, he gradually built expertise and rapport.
Passion Led to Chocolate Buying
- Chloe Doutre-Roussel was passionate about chocolate from childhood, self-educating to become an expert.
- She won a competitive chocolate buyer role at Fortnum & Mason after pursuing her passion.