Beyond the Classroom: MSc Food Business & Innovation

12 Jun 2026

Ellen Hogan is a MSc in Food Business and Innovation student who is currently with Keohane Seafoods as a New Product Development Intern. 

"Studying a Masters in Food Business and Innovation at University College Cork has been an incredibly rewarding experience for me, both academically and personally. From the beginning of the course, I felt very supported by my lecturers, who were always approachable, encouraging, and genuinely invested in helping students. I also had the opportunity to become class representative, which allowed me to become more involved in the course and represent my classmates throughout the year, which is something I really enjoyed.

One of the highlights of my master’s was winning the Best Sustainable Business Idea award in the Food Entrepreneurship and Innovation module, for our student-led social enterprise, Bits & Bobs. Achieving this gave me a huge confidence boost and really motivated me going into placement. It reinforced my interest in innovation within the food industry and showed me that the ideas and skills I had developed throughout the course could be applied in a real industry setting.

Throughout the programme, I completed a range of modules including Food Entrepreneurship and Innovation, International Food Branding and Digital Marketing, Supply Chain Management and Food Integrity, and Market and Consumer Insights and User-Driven Service Design, among many others. I found the Food Entrepreneurship and Innovation module especially valuable because it encouraged creative thinking and problem-solving within the food industry. International Food Branding and Digital Marketing helped me better understand how brands connect with consumers in such a competitive market, while Supply Chain Management gave me a deeper understanding of the importance of efficiency, transparency, and quality within the food supply chain. These modules in particular have been extremely beneficial in preparing me for placement and helping me build confidence in a professional environment.
I have always had a strong interest in New Product Development (NPD), which is why I was immediately drawn to the opportunity to work as an NPD Intern at Keohane Seafoods. The placement has allowed me to gain first-hand experience in a fast-paced and innovative company while applying so much of what I learned during my master’s.

In my role at Keohane Seafoods, I am involved in generating and developing new product ideas while working closely with existing customers, potential customers, suppliers, and different teams across the business. I am regularly trialling new products, researching packaging developments and designs, and exploring more sustainable packaging solutions, which is something I became particularly interested in throughout my studies.

The above photo is from our intern day at the Bantry location of Keohane Seafoods. It was a great opportunity to learn more about the wider business and hear directly from different departments across the company. We received insightful talks from both the Sustainability Team and the Commercial Team, which gave me a deeper understanding of the company’s approach to sustainability, innovation, customer relationships, and future growth within the seafood industry. It was really interesting to see how all areas of the business work together and it further strengthened my interest in the industry. I have also had the opportunity to sit in on site visits, customer meetings, and product showcases, which has given me valuable insight into how products are developed and presented within the industry. Working closely with different departments has shown me the importance of communication, collaboration, and understanding consumer needs when bringing a product to market. 

During my placement, I was also honoured to be named a finalist for the Early Career Employee Award at the Network Cork Businesswoman of the Year Awards, which was a really proud achievement and reflected the confidence and experience I have gained throughout both my studies and placement.

What I enjoy most about the placement is that every day is different. The experience has allowed me to continue building my confidence, develop practical industry skills, and confirm that New Product Development is an area of the food industry I would love to pursue in the future. Overall, my experience at UCC and at Keohane Seafoods has been extremely positive, and I feel that both have prepared me well for a future career in the food industry."