Ep. 151 – Procuring the Candy Empire with Darius Chen, Sr. Commercial Operation Analyst for Mars Wrigley

Darius has been a long time fan of My Food Job Rocks, who emailed me when we were in the episode 50 range. This year, I was able to meet Darius at IFT where we talked, and I loved how he talked about his job and his love of chocolate. Wow, I had to get him on the show! He has the coolest job in the world, playing his part making candy!

Darius is in the procurement field, we talk a lot about this, as I find that it’s one of the most lesser known fields in the food industry. Procurement is super important in the food industry and you’ll learn a ton about how to get into this field. It’s not a well taught academic field, but it can be learned while doing your job. Procurement people can come from anywhere. Finance, supply chain, or even R and D all make amazing procurement people. And if you’re interested in negotiating and learning about the impact of ingredients, then maybe procurement is for you.

Also, best thing about meeting people from Mars is that they will give you a shoe box size full of your favorite Mars chocolates and confections!

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Show Notes

When someone asks what you do for a living, what do you do in a sentence or less?: I manage the mints and confection buyers. We have 14 manufacturing sites in US and Canada What the difference between mint and flavors?: Really based on the market they operate in. Vetting Process: How do you know who’s a really great vendor? It’s the sourcing manager’s job to find players in the market. My function is really about buying it well and defining buying it well We’ve been working without vendors What’s your favorite thing to do with your job?: I have a  sweet tooth. I love having a say and making the products come to life. Bringing what’s coming out from 2019 to 2020 to 2021 What’s your favorite Mars’ candy?: In my childhood, Skittles. Now twix is getting more popular. Portion control Describe the steps it took to get to where you are today?: I went to college at St. Joves and majored in Food Marketing. I actually did projects for Candy. Then I went to C+S Grocer Store for 2.5 years. Then joined Mars. Managed the ingredients like salt. We merged with Wrigley recently. How did you get to Procurement?: If you were to ask 9 out of 10 people how you got into procurement, they will say they got their job by accident. Very few major in procurement. Some R+D folks go to procurement and we like them because they have more depth in understanding Emperors of Chocolate: Hershey had to lower the gram weight of the chocolate, but Mars was pretty safe. What is the most important skill you need for your job?: Intellectual curiosity. Marry that with a good work ethic, you become so valuable. What is your definition of a good work ethic?: Don’t make any commitments that you can’t keep. Why Does Your Food Job Rock?: I’m a kid in the candy store Singapore What keeps you in Mars?: The opportunity to be challenged Food trends and technology: Regional flavors and authenticity of flavors. Whenever I travel, I give them awesome flavors to try Small meals or no set meals Favorite regional flavor: Incorporating a whole dessert into different products. For example: Birthday Cake 3 Muskateer Bar. We just launched that. We have edible glitter in that product Adam’s favorite dessert: S’mores Cooling technology: Menthol and mint. We also have warming perspectives. For examples Spicy Sprinkles Cross-Functional Collaboration Flaming Hot Cheetos What are the biggest challenge the food industry needs to face right now?: From a procurement standpoint, it’s a traceability and transparency standpoint. It’s great, but it’s a huge challenge. Every year we have to maintain the same level of flavor, but food changes every year Vanilla Crisis Legacy Brands have an advantage to shortages because our long-term suppliers can save us For smaller, niche ice cream shops, not the case What is one thing in the food industry you’d like to know more about?: How can the Japanese make money on gifts? Type 1 and Type 2 grocery stores The convenience stores in Japan can be completely different from one another Work ethic in Japan Culture of Work How did you get into food?: I grew up in Singapore Crazy Rich Asians Favorite thing you’ve eaten recently: Hokkaido crab (snow crab, king crab) Favorite Kitchen Item: I went to a casino, won money, and spent it all on a rice cooker Zoji Rushi Top of the line rice cooker Do you have any advice for anyone who wants to join the food industry?: Find what area of the industry really interests you. What should colleges teach you about life?: It’s really about what you like. The individual needs to make that call Where can we find you for advice?: LinkedIn

 

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