Jane Milton

Jane Milton set up her business in 1996, covering not only key aspects of food production and manufacture through to market, but all the additional factors accompanying the development of a successful product.   Born near Glasgow, Jane knew that she wanted to work in the food industry at a very early age; her food interest was sparked by her grandmother’s constant quest for new and exciting recipes.  Aged 10 and already, she says, somewhat strong willed, Jane knew she was headed for the food industry, and whilst her school consistently tried to steer her towards becoming a teacher, she had a Home Economics degree in her sights.
Jane was delighted to be asked by LOCOG to be part of their Food Innovation Group helping to ensure the Olympics in 2012 were an accurate showcase of all that’s great about UK food and producers. She has an Honorary MBA from University of West London, for services to the food industry. She travels regularly working with businesses in the Caribbean, Switzerland and Spain  helping them understand and bring products to the UK and European food markets.

Her client list is impressive including Lakeland, ASDA, Ryland Peters & Small, Harrods and GMTV as well as smaller independent entrepreneurial food companies.

Jane says she is a serial networker, always thrilled to put people in touch with exactly who they need, exactly when they need them. She runs a monthly food business breakfast at the iconic Ace Café in London, where guests indulge in foodie delights like Manx kippers, creamy porridge or some of their special sausages while Jane helps them all to connect and help each other.  She has set up Fresh Banter, a peer knowledge group  for senior managers in the food industry with Sir Eric Peacock.

Jane is a member of The Guild of Food Writers and the author of a number of highly successful cookery books including ‘The Practical Encyclopedia of Mexican cooking’ which has now sold over 98,000 copies worldwide.

A popular speaker at conferences and also to passengers on cruise ships, whether she is talking about food trends to food producers and farmers, or  encouraging people to try the cuisine of a country when they step ashore and immerse themselves in another culture for the first time.

Jane’s strong personality, enthusiastic style, unquenchable sense of humour, wealth of knowledge about food and business and her honest and practical approach to most situations, make her a sought after speaker at both food and business development events and a hot favourite with programme makers and researchers. Jane’s ability to motivate people to action, make her a popular choice of speaker in a wide variety of situations from MBA students in London to food and agriculture experts in St Kitts in the Caribbean, Jane has something thought provoking to say on every occasion.

1.    What age were you when you knew what industry you wanted to work for?
The first time I can remember that I wanted to work in the food industry was when I was age 10.  At the time we were on a family holiday with friends, and my parents’ friend suggested I became a school teacher.  My parents didn’t know anyone else who had a career in food so they thought teaching was a good bet.  I was at a very academic girl’s school and the school were horrified about my decision to work in the food industry.  The subjects I wanted to pursue were all timetabled against each other so my parents put pressure on the school to make it all work.

2.    Who inspired you?
I had some great teachers at school in the cookery department.  They knew their stuff and gave me my initial enthusiasm.  My Dad’s sister was also a phenomenal baker and my Dad a scientist – he was precise and accurate, he believed cooking was not a skill but rather something that was scientifically accurate and on retiring became an enthusiastic bread maker.  My Mum’s Mum, Nana however didn’t follow recipes and never cooked the same thing twice, she just looked in the fridge, picked out some ingredients and made a tasty meal, I’m like that.

3.    Have you had a mentor?
At school I won prizes for Geography and Home Economics and when I was awarded a prize I always chose a cookery book.  I was delighted to meet the author of one of these cook books – Marguerite Patten –.  I wrote to her recently – she is 96 years old now – to tell her that the first time I met her was when she came to my university spoke about Proctor & Gamble laundry products, it really stuck in my mind.  I was sent to interview her a few years ago; she laid on the most enormous afternoon tea.  Even then in her late 80’s she was still seeking out new ingredients and finding things to cook with them.   She is definitely someone who I admire and respect.
I’ve been lucky; I’ve had a few people to mentor me.  I met Sir Eric Peacock, NED of the Management Board at UK Export Finance at a dinner a year ago and also Brian McBride, who was then Chief Executive of Amazon UK.  We all got on so well, and Eric offered to connect me to some amazing business people whose businesses he felt I could make a worthwhile contribution to.  He is a really natural networker and has been a huge help in shaping the direction of my business currently and in inspiring me.  I sent him a copy of ‘the Go- Giver’ by Bob Burg, as I think that sums Eric up perfectly.

4.    Do you see yourself as an entrepreneur?
Yes most definitely – I have that streak.  I had a promise to myself not to get carried away and start a new business regularly.  I am constantly seeing new ideas, I love project related work and thrive on new projects.  Once it’s sorted and up and running I like to pass it onto someone else to maintain and grow and I prefer just to have strategic input.

5.    Did you go to University?
Yes I went to Queens College in Glasgow and got a degree in Home Economic this encompassed practical sessions in cookery and pattern cutting, sewing etc along with, food science, , social studies, and family / business management .   It consisted of every skill they thought people needed in order to effectively manage a family.  It was a good varied degree backed up by me with lots of work experiences at weekends, evenings and in all my holidays too.  I enjoyed it enormously because these were all the things I was interested in and it has given me a great basis for an amazing career   For the social studies part of my degree I embarked on a project with the Salvation Army working in a unit preparing teenage girls who had lived their lives primarily in institutions with  the skills they needed to live alone, cook, budget, apply for jobs etc… I really enjoyed it and thought seriously about whether I would venture into this sort of work long term.  I was advised by staff there that they felt I could always contribute a lot as a volunteer and so throughout the last 20 years I have volunteered in a range of projects including work in prisons , young offenders institutes, helping people start businesses to get out of unemployment etc .

6.     What advice would you give to someone starting their own business while at College or University?
I would say it is the perfect thing to do; you have all the resources and minimal responsibility for bills, overheads etc .  You can do what you want to do and fit your studies around this.  Nothing you do is ever a waste; you should always do something to the best of your ability as you have no idea what will come of it.  I would always hesitate to employ someone who had no employment record during their time at School/College or University.

7.    What has been the most exciting project you have worked on?
Most definitely the 2012 Olympics.  For the past couple of years I have been helping them find regional producers for food and drink, it was so lovely to see all that come to fruition.  I’m in a fortunate position – I won’t take on a new job unless it excites me.  I work with large and small companies alike; I enjoy watching a project grow into something big.  In the last few years I have established a reputation for helping Caribbean businesses create products that are right for the UK and European markets- I have travelled a lot in the Region and have enjoyed meeting people and learning about the cuisines on each of the islands hugely.

8.    What project has made you most proud?
Writing my first book – The Practical Encyclopedia of Mexican cooking.  It’s always such a challenge to get the first one off the ground.  I’m proud to say that it’s still in print 11 years later and on sale across several continents and in many languages; I receive lovely letters from people regarding my books , how helpful they have found them and which recipes they love .  My parents proof read my first book and tasted all the cocktails in it too.  it’s great that they were so involved.

9.    If you weren’t involved in the food industry what do you think you would be doing?
I would have ended up doing social work.  I have been lucky to be involved in a real mix of projects.   I find it a privilege to get a greater understanding of other people’s lives and the journeys that brought them to where they are now.  I love that side of things. I am hoping now to get involved in a social enterprise to help formerly homeless people set up business selling street food.

10.    What are your plans for the future?
Like a lot of entrepreneurial people I have a longer list of things I want to do.  We’re going to launch food  and drink awards next year and also there will be more travel involved as continue work in the Caribbean and also develop my business more into Singapore and Malaysia