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Job title: Marketing manager, Foodservice Solutions.

For: Heinz Watties

After four years in England, lifestyle and marriage brought Nick Thompson back to New Zealand - and to the role of food service marketing manager for Heinz Watties.

His new job involves working with institutions, restaurants and other big buyers to get more of the company's produce - "from baked beans and spaghetti to fruit and veg and soups, from bulk to cash and carry" - into their kitchens.

The role is still to be completely defined, he says, but will involve technical and marketing skills. It is also, in part, about capitalising on the fact that people are spending more of their extra money on eating out.

"Food service is taking a larger slice of the pie in terms of revenue," says Mr Thompson, who has a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Business Administration from Massey University. "There's significant opportunity."

However, he admits the sector has been seen in the past as a poor cousin to retail.

His new job requires him to juggle New Zealand and Australian business, and he will be reporting directly to Australia.

Mr Thompson admits it's a bit of a culture shock getting reacquainted with the New Zealand retail scene after four years immersed in that of Britain, where he worked for a market research firm. "There's always a transition period."

OCG consultant Mary Sutton says she received 40 applications for the job.