The Three C's of Hiring for Scale
On The Nick Bare Podcast, entrepreneur Nick Bare outlined his hiring philosophy for building a strong team, focusing on three key attributes. He advised leaders to evaluate candidates on Competence (skills), Character (values), and Chemistry (team fit). He noted that true character is often revealed months into a role based on how individuals handle success, failure, and stress.
- Intensifying competition is expected in the global rice market as India, which accounts for over 40% of world rice exports, lifted its ban on non-basmati white rice exports on September 28, 2024. This move has already led to a decrease in global rice prices, pressuring exporters in Thailand and Vietnam. - The Thai Ministry of Commerce is actively repositioning Thai rice as a premium product to command higher margins, focusing on varieties with distinctive textures and functional qualities for health-conscious consumers. This strategy includes promoting nearly 900 native rice varieties with commercial potential and featuring them on cooking shows and in airline lounges to increase visibility. - European buyers are increasingly prioritizing sustainably sourced rice, with over 90% of industry actors viewing it as a priority. To access this market, exporters must comply with EU Organic certification standards under Regulation (EU) 2018/848 and meet stringent pesticide residue limits governed by Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. - The EU's General Food Law (Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002) mandates comprehensive "farm-to-fork" traceability for all food imports, requiring operators to identify where their products came from and where they are going. For certain products like Basmati rice, authenticity certificates are required for entry. - New trade agreements are shifting market access in the Asia-Pacific region. In November 2025, Thailand and Singapore signed a five-year memorandum of cooperation for up to 100,000 tonnes of rice to enhance Singapore's food security. Conversely, a recent US-Japan trade agreement may slash Thailand's 300,000-tonne duty-free rice quota to Japan by more than two-thirds. - Currency volatility presents an ongoing challenge; the Thai Baht is expected to weaken in the second half of 2025. Meanwhile, the Euro's value is influenced by European Central Bank interest rate decisions and trade tensions between the EU and the US. - To build a team capable of navigating international expansion, some leading exporters implement 90-day "market immersion" assignments for key staff. This practice aims to embed local market knowledge and cultural understanding directly within the headquarters' team. - Leading food industry trade publications read by European procurement managers and importers include Germany's *Lebensmittel Zeitung*, Poland's *Portal Spożywczy*, and the pan-European *European Supermarket Magazine (ESM)*. Understanding the perspectives in these journals is key to anticipating buyer priorities.
