Nicole Prieto: Adapting Marketing Strategies for Food and Beverage Businesses

It is an exciting time to consider a career in the food and beverage industries, as there are many directions to pursue beyond roles in the kitchen. For those who like to seek out undiscovered brands and help promote those businesses, the field of public relations and social media marketing is a great option. This role is always needed in the food and drink world, and it's a career that allows you to advocate for companies in which you believe. Nicole Prieto tells how her appreciation of the craftsmandship found within the food and drink profession led her to a career that helps showcase the industry's artistry.

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Name: Nicole Prieto
Job Title: Account Manager
Company: Curate & Co.

Nicole's Career Path:
The joy, energy and sense of community that a great meal brings is something I’ve always found fascinating. I held various positions in the restaurant industry throughout high school and college. It wasn’t until I moved to San Diego that I considered a professional career in the industry. I was lucky to land a position on the opening team at a celebrity chef-driven concept that made me realize the importance of quality ingredients and craftsmanship. Having the opportunity to work alongside this team of artists was an extraordinary introduction to the great world of food and drink.

We are a small, but mighty team at Curate & Co. – we’re accustomed to wearing many hats and collaborating on anything from small projects to major campaigns together. As we’ve grown our client roster, I’ve spearheaded many of our influencer marketing campaigns and am excited to continue to grow that side of our business. This year, our team will double and with that growth comes the responsibility of mentoring and managing our new employees. Working with the right people is the key to our success and personally, I’m excited to help develop a unique culture at Curate & Co. and share our passion for food and drink.

To date, Curate & Co. has grown organically through word of mouth. Our team has had the pleasure to collaborate with like-minded brands from all over the world to share their stories in an authentic and meaningful way via social media, traditional PR and events. With the growth of our team this year, we will expand our “family” and actively pitch and align with progressive-thinking businesses that we admire and that are changing the landscape in the food and drink industry.

Our team has planted roots in Jacksonville and we want to help develop this region into a culinary destination in the coming years. With this, we want to help shape food and drink trends, define and conceptualize new concepts and advance the green agenda. I’m a firm believer that a rising tide lifts all boats and there is no doubt in my mind that the Northeast Florida region is on the brink of something beautiful. We’re excited to help share the story of this region and plan to celebrate every step of the way with a glass of wine in hand!

As much as I love being home, travel reinvigorates my creative energy and I do my best to get away on a somewhat regular basis. During my travels, I always incorporate a class or tour that will teach me something new about the food and drink industry – that may be a winery tour, a trip to a local farm or a cooking class. At Curate & Co., we encourage professional development and I plan to obtain my WSET 2 certification and take a few other classes/workshops to broaden my understanding and appreciation of our industry. This part of my “job” allows me to spread the universal language that brings us all together: food and drink.