“Logistics is a broad field where you certainly never get bored!”

Published: October 2023

According to Martin Arula, Logistics Director at Maag Food, it is essential to understand and sense the environment in which one operates. He enjoys helping others do their jobs better, as implementing major changes is difficult to achieve alone.
He took on the role of Logistics Director on 1 June 2022.

How did you become a member of our team?
I joined the company through a recruitment process. Since I had reached a natural point of completion in my previous role, I was looking for new challenges—and I have certainly found plenty of them here.

What is your previous professional background?
I earned my higher education degree in logistics from Tallinn University of Technology (TTU, now TalTech), and all of my previous work experience has been related to logistics. I have not yet managed to move outside this field, but logistics is such a broad area that it never becomes boring.
Overall, my career path has followed a logical progression. After graduating, I started working as an operational logistics specialist, and over time, I have taken on increasing levels of responsibility and new challenges.

Before joining us, did you know anything about the company or our brands?
A company as large and significant in Estonia as ours is impossible to overlook. Both Rakvere and Tallegg products are part of our everyday meals, so I was already familiar with the basic idea of what the company does.
If I go further back and think about my very first experiences with Rakvere and Tallegg products, the first product that definitely comes to mind is Rakvere sausage. As a child, I enjoyed it both alongside fried potatoes at home and grilled over a campfire with friends. 😊

Why did you decide to come and work here? What was the deciding factor?
Being part of the development of a company like this and having the opportunity to contribute to its journey is a great value for my personal growth and represents the kind of challenge I was looking for.
Although I did not know anyone from the company beforehand, my first interactions were very warm and friendly, which certainly helped influence my decision. So far, my onboarding has gone well, and by now I have already adapted to my role. My new colleagues have been supportive and very helpful, which has made the transition much easier.
I believe you also need to be open-minded and curious yourself, as that helps you adapt to a new environment more quickly. At first, you need to get to know the people and processes in order to understand how everyday life in the company is organised. I believe there is still a lot to learn and many valuable experiences ahead.

What does your everyday work look like? What are your specific responsibilities?
Many days tend to be filled with meetings, and on some days there is very little time left for focused thinking and strategic work. A significant part of my role involves both communication within my own department and cooperation with other departments.
In logistics, we carry a great deal of responsibility for the entire preceding supply chain and the work of many people—to ensure that our products reach customers on time and in the right quantities. Making this happen requires taking into account many time-related factors, product-specific requirements, and customer expectations.
Our department works hard every day to achieve this goal, and my main responsibility is to ensure that we have the necessary conditions and resources in place to successfully fulfil this task.

What is the most challenging part of your job?
Sometimes it feels like the entire system you need to consider is enormous, and the pressure comes from having to quickly find the right solutions and answers to different challenges and problems. Often, behind larger topics there are many small details that can make decision-making quite complex.
That means you need to stay informed about a wide range of nuances and understand where to focus your attention. However, there is also a simple and effective solution: you need to ask for help and discuss possible solutions with colleagues and partners. Someone will usually know what has worked before and what could work again in the current situation. You have to ask!

What are the advantages of your job? What do you enjoy most about your work?
What I enjoy most about my work is when I have helped other people do their jobs better. And when, through that, we have been able to create added value for the company as a team. It is a team effort.

What qualities do you need in your work? What kind of person is needed for this position, and what skills should they have?
Since the level of responsibility is high and the department needs to fulfil its role within the company, it is essential to first and foremost understand and sense the environment in which you operate.
You also need to remain calm, be willing to ask questions, and provide direction in order to find the right solutions for different situations. Being a team player is absolutely essential, as implementing major changes is difficult to achieve alone.

Please describe your work environment.
One of the great advantages in logistics has been the opportunity to move into the newly completed warehouse in Jüri, which offers excellent working conditions.
As a newcomer, it is easy to notice and appreciate that a lot of thought has been given to the employees and that their needs have been taken into account. I certainly want to support and continue developing this approach by ensuring that our people have access to modern tools and that they have the opportunity to contribute their ideas when it comes to improving and developing the work environment.
I believe this is extremely important because the time we spend at work for a large part of our day should be valued and cared for just as much as the time we spend at home with our loved ones.

What is your team like? How would you describe your colleagues?
The people I interact with on a daily basis are kind and friendly. In general, we try to maintain a good sense of humour in our everyday work—without it, things would certainly be much more difficult.
Humour creates a positive atmosphere where it is enjoyable to work. It seems to me that this kind of environment is definitely present within our team.

How important are opportunities for growth and learning through work to you?
Personal growth is definitely very important to me. In my work, I try to maintain the mindset that you need to stay curious and explore different solutions that help make our work easier and more efficient.
If the desired result is not achieved on the first attempt, you need to find another approach and try again. It is a continuous process of development and learning.
When you add the perspectives and ideas of people who think along with you, that is when truly great things can happen.

Let’s talk about food – which products from our range are your favourites, and how do you use them when preparing meals?
I am often the one standing by the stove and taking on the role of the family cook. I genuinely enjoy preparing food.
Since we have three sons in the family, the dishes that usually receive the most praise are those made with minced meat. Whether it is lasagne, minced meat sauce, or simply pasta with minced meat, these are always favourites.
At the same time, we also have plenty of plant-based meals on our table, as we try to keep our diet balanced. However, for some reason, it often happens that Rakvere Pereviiner sausages disappear from the fridge before they even make it to the pan.

How do you manage combining your work with your other activities?



Overall, this has not been a major challenge for me. I have tried to maintain clear boundaries between my working hours and personal time, so that the two do not interfere with each other too much.
Of course, there are situations where work-related topics and thoughts continue to occupy my mind even during my free time, but fortunately, that is more the exception than the rule.

What are your hobbies and interests outside of work? What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Sport and physical activity play an important role in our family. Weekends are often spent at sports halls, where one of our three sons is playing basketball and we get to support them from the sidelines.
Another great form of therapy for me is riding a motorcycle. It helps clear my mind completely, especially when taking a longer trip outside Estonia.