Profile of Ruth Dolby

Ruth has focused on new product development and has a deep knowledge of the various strands essential to build successful products, ranges and brands. Ruth has proved that products are both items and services and that strategic research leads to successful regional branding as well as items on shelf.

In the role of mentor, her approach is to coach people to enable them to be more comfortable with what they are doing now and to reach a greater depth of knowledge, technical and practical; they learn about their role and their ability to develop themselves and the company they work for, whether they are the most junior member of staff or the business owner.

Ruth has a broad range of business experience, spanning nearly 30 years, in many aspects of retail and production industries. As a consultant and interim member of the company she gives hands on practical assistance as well as advice on the strategic planning of departments, companies and sectors.

Qualified as a Cordon Blue Cook and Home Economist, Ruth has been elected as a member of the Institute of Food Science & Technology.

Ruth is a great believer in “if nothing changes then nothing changes”.

Core Skills:

  • Project Management
  • Emergency Aid – managing around a crisis and then ensuring causes are addressed
  • Interpreter between different disciplines, building communication channels
  • Customer relationship management (Internal and external B2B and B2consumer)
  • Coach and mentor for all levels
  • Networking -  introducing clients to key contacts
  • Lateral thinking to manage issues and change
  • New Product Briefing
  • Flavour Memory, matching and recipe enhancement
  • Initiating New Product Ideas
  • Ingredient and equipment sourcing
  • Review audits of current production facilities, including hygiene
  • Step by step development with review against brief
  • Organoleptic standards  - setting, reviewing, test panels and quality control including writing and reviewing dictionary for describing products introducing a common language for all departments to communicate with
  • Packaging tests and back of pack information, including cooking instructions and photographic styling
  • Production trials and quality control procedures as part of hand-over to production
  • Launch review   
    Sector Types & industry experience:
    Manufacturing – single site, group
    & multi-national
    Retail – multiple, single stores
    & farmers markets
    Agriculture – Cooperative & family 
    Education & Training
    Public Sector
    Charities/ Volunteer Sector
    Limited Company
    PLC   
    Family Owned 
    Start Up 
    Diversifications
    Highlights of Ruth’s career history
    SNPD
    		 New Product Development Specialist 8 years
    Coventry University
    		 Project Manager, FNDnet

    3 years
    Northern Foods
    		 Development Manager 2 years
    S&A Foods
    		 Company Home Economist 1.5 yrs
    Tesco Stores
    		 Product Evaluation Officer 7 years
    .
    		Food Technologist (seconded) .
    .
    		Buyer (seconded) .
    GW Padley (Poultry) Ltd
    		 Senior Home Economist 3 years
    Central London Area        
    		Restaurant & Agency Chef 3 years