Matthew McIvor

Hi, my name is Matthew McIvor from Magherafelt, now living in the Netherlands. I have just completed a four year Honours Degree course in Food Business Management with the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE). I set an objective during my studies at Loughry Campus to achieve a First Class Honours and I am absolutely delighted that my commitment has paid off.

In the final year of my studies, we completed our research project module and I was able to select an area of personal interest to further develop my knowledge of packaging technology. The project, sponsored by local specialist recruitment agency, Vickerstock, allowed me to gain an internationally recognised packaging award from the Institute of Materials Minerals and Mining.  I would like to thank Vickerstock for their sponsorship and support throughout my final year studies.  As a result, I was very fortunate to secure a job with a very competitive salary as a Packaging Technologist for the Heinz Company at their ‘57 Building’ in Nijmegen, Netherlands.  

I am beyond honoured and thrilled to have joined the Kraft Heinz company as a Packaging Technologist in the Netherlands. I look forward to continuing my packaging career with this iconic global organisation within the 57 Innovation centre. The 57 Building is Heinz’s state of the art innovation centre. It is a vibrant, energetic, professional research and development centre that drives high levels of innovation, collaboration and knowledge sharing. The centre is viewed as a magnet for attracting high-calibre recruits, as well as international staff.  I am excited to meet the team and start this new chapter in my food career.  

Six years ago I made the decision to follow my passion for food and come to CAFRE, Loughry campus to study on the National Diploma in Food Technology as an alternative to A-Levels.  I was delighted to complete the course with full Distinctions, which led to me being accepted onto the Ulster University validated BSc (Hons) Degree in Food Business Management.  It was a great four years which included a year’s placement spent in Golden Popcorn.

Thinking about it now, I would highly recommend a course at CAFRE. If you are interested in the food industry, Loughry is the place to go. It’s a great place to study, with superb facilities including practical a Food Technology Centre and a specialised Packaging Centre. Maximise all the opportunities you are offered, whether that’s applying for a bursary, completing additional training courses, completing placements, equip yourself to make your CV stand out. The food industry has lots to offer graduates with the right qualifications and experience.