CAREER TALK - INSTANT ALUMNI presented by Solène Malchien (2017) - Area Manager at Suntory Beverage & Food France in Dijon

The 4th year Wine & Beverages specialisation students did not discover a typical hospitality and food service career path on Tuesday 31 May, when they were invited to meet Solène Malchien (2017). After completing her Bachelor's degree in International Hospitality and Food Service Management, Solène went on to study for an MSc in Trade Marketing, Distribution and Business Development at INSEEC Lyon.

After internships in the hospitality and food service industry (reception, dining room, kitchen) during her first three years of studies at Institut Paul Bocuse, Solène decided to specialise in the world of beverages by opting for the International Wine and Beverage Management programme. Once she had obtained her Bachelor's degree, which gave her expertise in this field, Solène obtained a work-study contract in the wine business as Assistant Wine Product Manager for the Cavissima site in Lyon, while continuing her Master's studies in Trade Marketing at INSEEC.

This dual skill set enabled her to obtain her first field sales position in the out-of-home sector for a beverage brand upon graduation. She fulfilled her objective of working for Alain Milliat as Area Manager for Paris and the Ile-de-France region.

“I worked for two years for Alain Milliat, a company with a human dimension, which gave me the opportunity to discover the work of a salesperson while remaining in the world of beverages. I had the pleasure of promoting and distributing high-quality products to boutiques, delicatessens, wine shops and upmarket bakeries in the Paris Ile-de-France region. I was selling directly to 300 independent customers”.

Back in her native region, in Dijon, Solène wanted to further develop her commercial skills with a position in the field, to take on more important assignments and responsibilities (distributors) and to join a large group that is well-known in the food sector. This is how, in February 2021, she landed the job of Area Manager at Suntory Beverages & Food France, a Japanese group whose products are prepared in France and which distributes the Orangina, Schweppes, Oasis Pulco and MayTea brands. In charge of sales development for the Burgundy and Franche-Comté regions, Solène travels the roads to cater for out-of-home customers (in-house restaurants, fast-food outlets and warehouses).

“The courses I attended in the 4th year of the wine and beverage specialisation are still useful to me today when working with restaurant owners, in particular I can offer them products adapted to cocktails and vary them according to their menu. I also enjoy working for Cash & Carry and stockists to help them optimise their shelf space and assortment, and then negotiate and implement promotional action plans. But the disadvantage for product launches, for example, is that I am dependent on the decisions of the distributors, which can have long lead times of 6 months to 1 year.

By joining a major group with 3,000 employees working in eight sectors in France, I was afraid I might lose the human touch that I appreciated at Alain Milliat, but in the end, I find that we are considered for our true worth, and I am always directly in touch with my manager and the rest of the team. I'm in charge of a portfolio of 150 high-potential clients, which gives me more responsibility and independence”.

Solène took the time to answer the various questions asked by the students, who were curious to know more about her career path, her remuneration and the standards of a major group that is a leader in several beverage segments.

A big thank you to Solène. We wish you every success in the beverage industry.