A Cardiff Met University graduate has been named as a “future superstar” of the baking industry by one of the most prestigious sets of awards in the UK baking calendar.
Nishitha Kannan, who graduated this year with a Food Science & Technology master’s degree from Cardiff Met University, has been named one of three finalists in the Rising Star category in the Baking Industry Awards 2022. The Rising Star award aims to shine a light on the best and brightest people who are in the earlier stages of their career.
Having successfully been longlisted for the award in June, Nishitha was invited to the Institute of Directors in London where she presented to a judging panel about her career to date in the food industry, her passion for baking, new products that she’s developed and her future ambitions.
Going up against competitors from across the UK, Nishitha was delighted to be named one of the three finalists and will find out whether she’s the overall winner at an awards ceremony taking place at the Royal Lancaster hotel in London on 20 October.
"I'm super amazed and excited too. I'm so happy now but if I get the award, I will be even happier,” said Nishitha.
Nishitha credits her studies at Cardiff Met as playing a big part in her success and has special thanks for Dr Anita Setarehnejad, Programme Director of MSc Food Science & Technology, and Lee Pugh, Head of Baking.
Nishitha said: "It feels like I've already won, and I've already got what I want because Anita was telling me I'm so proud of you and Lee was so happy. I would like to thank them both for everything.
"I'd also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to my parents, brother and best friend Puneeth who trusted me to travel overseas to focus, grow and shine in my career."
Originally hailing from Chennai in India, Nishitha moved to Wales in 2021 to complete a master’s degree at Cardiff Met University following her undergraduate studies in Biotechnology, industrial placements with major food and drink manufacturers including Coca Cola, and a one-year role as a New Product Development assistant with a food consultancy.
Whilst Nishitha had developed a range of skills in her career so far, she wanted to use the master’s to boost her theoretical knowledge of food science and enhance her practical skills.
"The reason I chose Cardiff Met is that in the second semester they have an elective module for new product development. In other courses I didn't find new product development, which I was very interested in," said Nishitha.
%20with%20other%20food%20science%20students.jpg)
During her studies at Cardiff Met, Nishitha used ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre’s state of the art pilot bakery facilities to carry out a practical research project looking at the role of gluten formation in bread production. As part of the course, she also undertook a premium dessert pot New Product Development project for a major UK manufacturer.
Earlier this year, Nishitha was named as a Next Generation Baker by Puratos, a major UK manufacture of baking ingredients. In this role, she was provided with the company’s vegan baking ingredients and had to use them to develop a set of products.
It’s fair to say that Nishitha has taken a lot away from her 12 months studying at Cardiff Met.
Nishitha said, “The course at Cardiff Met gives an overview of what food science is. It covers lots of areas whether you want to work in quality, microbiology, NPD, or research and development. It can take you wherever you want to go. The lecturers are amazing too. Whenever you ask for help, the response comes immediately.”
Since finishing her studies, Nishitha has started working as an NPD Food Lab Technician for Biocatalysts in Nantgarw near Cardiff, where she’s developing new enzymes and enzyme blends that can be used in the food manufacturing industry.
"The reason why you do a master's is to land a job and I got that, so it's been a great thing for me,” said Nishitha.
“Cardiff Met has showed me lots of different things - it didn't just make me sit in my room, finish a degree and graduate. It also gave me a job.”
Wherever her career takes her Nishitha, hopes to stay in New Product Development.
"I only want to do New Product Development - it's fun and every day is different. One day I'd like to do a PhD but at the moment I'm completely focused on my current career path."
