VIDEO: The BEST Ways to Research a Business Before Your Interviews

This video covers the six essential facts you must know about any FMCG business before stepping into a first-stage interview. These basics give you the foundation to ask smart questions, show genuine interest, and build rapport from the moment you walk in.

1. Company size & structure

Head to Companies House to check:

• Who owns the business?

• Who runs it?

• Latest accounts and turnover

• How the company is structured gives you a clear sense of scale and leadership.

2. Company headcount

Use LinkedIn to see how many employees are listed and where they’re based.Your recruitment partner (internal or agency) should also be able to give you a solid idea of the team size.

3. What the company actually does

Understand the business model:

• What products do they make?

• Which customers/channels they sell into?

• Where their strength lies (e.g., grocery, convenience, discounters, foodservice). This is the bread and butter of why the role exists.

4. Geography & site locations

Know where everything sits:

• Are sales/marketing on the same site as manufacturing?

• Do they have multiple sites across the UK?

• Is it manufacturing, distribution, or both? This helps you judge the travel requirements and day-to-day expectations.

5. Company culture

Don’t skip this — culture is often overlooked but absolutely crucial. Research via:

• LinkedIn profiles of the team you’d be joining

• Insights from your recruiter

• Trusted industry contacts who can give you a “horizontal reference” You want a realistic view of what it’s actually like to work there.

6. Market trends & competitors

Understand the wider market backdrop:

• Who are the key competitors?

• What are those competitors up to?

• What challenges and opportunities does this create for the business? This context helps you understand the pressures on the team and the role.

Summary

Nail these six fundamentals and you’ll walk into the interview with strong foundations, well-targeted questions, and the ability to build alignment from the start - showing them you’re switched on, prepared, and genuinely interested.