[ SPOTLIGHT ] Jason McGhee, purchasing director Hunt’s Foodservice
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about as much disruption to supply chains as was possible and is still ongoing now. Experience helped me to make more right decisions than bad ones over the last 12 months, and having the close-knit community of all the buyers from the other Caterforce group members gave me informed and honest opinions to listen to and benefit from.
‘Make decisions!’ What have been your biggest achievements in work and outside work? Within work, my achievement would be the progression from inexperienced account manager through to buyer and then to purchasing director. Outside work, becoming Dorset Under 9s Chess Champion back in 1986 still makes me feel proud! Who has been the biggest inspiration to you? Over the last 14 years, since I moved from selling to buying, I would have to give credit to Richard Hunt [managing director of Hunt’s Foodservice]. Richard has given me the confidence, freedom and trust to take the purchasing department on the path of my choice. He is always reminding me that standing still is the fastest way of moving backwards and that the worst thing to do is to not make a decision. What were your ambitions when you were growing up? Career-wise, I always wanted to be a journalist. English was one of my favoured subjects and writing essays and stories came naturally to me. I 16
April 2021
carried out two work experiences with local publications but my career path never ended up going in that direction. What are your interests outside work? I was always very sporty until about seven years ago when my son Jayden (pictured) was born. Now I enjoy spending my time outside of work enjoying fatherhood and savouring watching him grow up. Live music is still a passion and I normally always have a diary full of gigs to go to, so unfortunately in the current times these are all on hold. How would you describe your personality and what approach do you take in business (and in life)? Quiet, patient, loyal and supportive. Within work I try to lead by example, never asking someone to do something I haven’t or wouldn’t do myself. I work with a great team and always encourage them to make decisions, use their initiative and look to progress. What has been your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it? From a work perspective, the combination of COVID-19 and Brexit caused just
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What is your favourite film, book and song/piece of music? There are too many films to choose from, but the shortlist would include The Pursuit of Happyness, Back to the Future and Groundhog Day. No specific book is my favourite, but I have everything by Shaun Hutson and Mike Gayle, so any of those. Any hard rock music is fine – I love heavy metal – but specifically Metallica, Iron Maiden and Guns N’ Roses fill my iPod. If you won a holiday, where would you go and who would you take with you? A nice relaxing family break to New Zealand would be most welcome: touring the islands in a motorhome, enjoying the freedom and seeing the stunning scenery over the course of a month would be a nice reward after the CCM last 12 months of restrictions.
Selling to buying After finishing A-Levels in Economics and Geography, Jason McGhee began working in the pub trade with Eldridge, Pope & Co while deciding what he wanted to do next. He ended up staying and joined the company’s licensee management scheme. Four years later – in 2000 – he became a sales advisor for a local Alfa Romeo dealership. Then, in 2003, he joined Hunt’s as a territory sales manager. McGhee was asked to cover the buying role for a maternity leave period of six months in 2007 and has been in buying ever since. He was promoted to his current role of purchasing director in 2013.
