Recently in Featured Food Jobs Category

It's a well know 'food last in recession first out' for the obvious reasons; we all have to eat. Today's consumers continue to be discerning with high expectations, everyone has their own view on food - the impact of holidays are further a field, the never-ending food related TV programmes become more detailed and sophisticated. This drives manufacturers and retailers to explore new and innovative recipes.
You only have to chat with your local dry cleaner who will tell you times have changed and the stains they have to remove from garments is not what it used to be. With this in mind it's a great time for a skilled and talented Chefs to explore New Product Development as a career option. It really isn't a career for the feint hearted and certainly not a soft option for any Chef. There are the obvious benefits of being able to balance home and work life but there will be late nights and pressure, albeit in a different package from evening service. As a New Product Development Chef (NPD Chef), not only will you need to have a real understanding of ingredients, culinary techniques and food trends you will need to possess a working knowledge of cuisines European and Globally. You'll be challenged to think differently, constant evolution of product ranges, how to deliver a point of difference.

Last year a number of leading retailers cut a launch window it appeared to be mainly about product refreshing but now its all about new innovation - looking further a field for new food ideas across every category; sandwiches, soups, sauces, ready meals, salads, meats and desserts. The product options are endless. A wander round any supermarket or food store it is easy to detect new packaging formats and fantastic product ranges. As a Chef it's a great time to be considering New Product Development as a next move, consumers will always eat out but the success of the dine in offers, started originally by Marks & Spencer have spread to all supermarkets demonstrate the popularity of prepared foods. The exciting product ranges in all stores are created by talented and skilled Chef who have served their time in Rosette and Michelin starred establishments, they work in NPD kitchens all over the country (and the world) researching, trialling, tasting, refining and presenting then working with factory teams to ensure that consumers keep returning to make repeat purchase. Consider, as a Chef do you have the patience, know how and determination to work with demanding retail clients to make a real impact on food retail shopping.

There are certain types of people cut out for management or supervisory roles, but if you've got the confidence and ambition to succeed, you should be able to progress well in the food industry. Team manager food jobs exist in most companies, as it is vital that all members of staff are working towards the same goals in order to take the company forward.

The food industry is extremely fast-paced, so you've got to be able to keep up. If you impress in this kind of food job, you could be instrumental in the growth of the company.
To find out if you've got what it takes to be a team manager, have a look at the following list of essential qualities. You may still need certain qualifications and definitely relevant experience, but possessing these qualities can be a great starting place.

Are you...

• A great communicator?
• Good at teamworking?
• Passionate about the food industry, standards or customer service?
• Enthusiastic and ambitious?
• Organised and able to work to daily plans?
• A good motivator and developer?

Any or all of these character traits can take you far in the exciting world of the food and drink industry.

The creation of loyalty cards has allowed the Retailers to gain an amazing insight into our daily and weekly shopping habits. This week Tesco is launching a quarterly food magazine and this will be accompanied by an insight initiative to help advertisers see the impact of ads on shopper behaviour, led by the creator of Tesco's Clubcard loyalty scheme, Dunnhumby.

Marketing is all around us and it is the companies that are able to get a real handle on the consumer and their shopping patterns and behaviours that can capitalise and shape their business strategy.

Therefore excellent Marketing Managers, Brand Managers and Communications Managers are worth their weight in gold.

In the food industry, production planners usually work within the field of food manufacturing. A production planner ensures that the entire product range of a particular company is manufactured efficiently, cost-efficiently and to the highest standards of quality possible. This role also involves finding resources, technology and materials and knowing how best to use them. This is a crucial role in any manufacturing operation, but you need certain skills to be eligible for this particular type of food job.

Key skills
To be a manufacturing production planner, you must:

• Be organised
• Be accurate under pressure and pay great attention to detail
• Understand processes and technologies used in the manufacturing industry
• Have excellent ICT skills

Working conditions vary depending on the nature of the company, but salaries for these food jobs generally start at about £18,000 p.a. and can go all the way up to £30,000 p.a.

How do I become a production planner?
There are a number of routes available for this type of food job:

• Apprenticeships in manufacturing, which progress to operative, team leader and eventually production management roles.
• You can get a Diploma in engineering, manufacturing or product design, or all three
• Alternatively, you can get into the industry by completing a foundation degree, HND/HNC, BTEC or a Degree in manufacturing.

In general terms, a buyer is someone who works within the purchase and supply field of the food industry. The kind of company the buyer works for will determine what sort of products or materials they will source. For example, if you have a buyer food job in a manufacturing or processing company, you will be sourcing raw materials for new products, whereas if you work for a supermarket or other retail company, you will mainly be sourcing finished goods or packaging to sell to consumers.

How to get these kinds of food jobs
As well as having incredibly high standards for quality, you must also be able to keep a watchful eye on market developments, and the buying trends and demands of consumers. You also need the following set of key skills:

• Organisation and time-management - to enable you to see a project through to completion
• Excellent communication skills -in order to liaise with colleagues and develop strong working relationships with suppliers
• Problem solving - You need to be able to think on your feet, and come up with effective solutions as and when problems arise.

In addition to this, a business-related or specialist qualification will definitely be an advantage, as will any relevant experience. A further way into this kind of food job is to undertake a training scheme or buyer apprenticeship programme.

When most people think of food jobs, they usually think of either customer-facing roles such as restaurant managers, chefs and serving staff, or of farmers in the very early stages of food production. However, there is a whole spectrum of roles across the whole of the food supply chain, and many of the most important positions are often overlooked. Skilled and trained employees are constantly required to fill these vital positions in order to keep the whole process running smoothly and efficiently.

Here is a selection of just a few of these unusual yet crucial food jobs:

• Wine producer - When you think of food jobs, you may often forget about the many roles available in the production of drink products. Being a wine producer requires you to understand all of the processes involved in making wine from grapes; you must know about viticulture and vinification, as well as having a passion for the art of making quality wine.

• Abattoir operative - This food job is only right for certain people. Working in a slaughterhouse, you will be part of an essential process required to supply the UK with quality meat. You need to be conscientious about standards and humane slaughter, willing to work with dead animals and waste products, as well as being physically fit.

• Confectioners- A craft-related food job, being a confectioner making sweets and chocolate can be extremely rewarding and enjoyable. As long as you have high standards of personal cleanliness, patience and attention to detail, you should go far in this industry.

Within the UK food industry, the area of food production covers a multitude of different roles. One of the major attractions of food jobs is that you get a glimpse of the food production process before food and drink items arrive on supermarket shelves. This is an exciting and ever-changing industry, so why not get involved?

Here are some examples of food production roles:

Butcher
To enjoy this type of work, you need to have an interest in meat and related products and also in interacting with customers. It can be a fascinating job, seeing firsthand how meat is prepared and stored, and you can pride yourself on upholding the highest standards in quality and safety. What's more, no qualifications are essential as most butchers train on the job.

Baker
Bread and baked goods are the foundation of any country's food needs. Similarly to a role as a butcher, bakers are involved at the ground level in the field of local food production. If you have an interest in cookery or food and enjoy practical work, consider being a baker in either a plant, in-house or craft bakery.

Production Operative
These food jobs are essential in the production and processing of any number of food and drink products. You need to be interested in manufacturing processes and food technology, and need to be efficient, responsible, and able to work as part of a team.

When you think of a role in the food industry, the food jobs you consider might be the more hands-on roles like production, preparation and distribution, but there is a whole world of exciting food jobs available behind the scenes. Some of the most interesting roles are in marketing. There are a whole host of different food jobs related to marketing to choose from, if you have the right skills.

There are opportunities in analysis; a marketing analyst, for example, must be able to interpret data and recognise trends, patterns and potential problems.

If you are interested in a job as a Commercial Manager, then you'll be expected to build strong relationships with customers, clients and contacts. This high profile role is perfect for someone with great people skills and a determined, driven attitude.

These marketing food jobs can expand your horizons too; an assistant to a marketing team will help to spread news of a brand around the country, the continent and perhaps even globally. This is sure to open up a lot of doors as you progress on your career path in the food industry.

If you play your cards right, you could end up as a highly paid Marketing Executive, leading your team and reaping the rewards. If you've got the necessary skills and experience there is nothing to stop you getting a great marketing-related food job.

An agronomist is a trained specialist in the field of agriculture and farming; someone with extensive knowledge of the science behind the growth of crops and soils. This includes:

• All of the processes involved in the growth and development of plants
• How the nutrients and water provided by the soil contributes to plant growth
• The reproduction and seed-producing methods of plants

Agronomists also work closely with farmers and other food producers, helping them to efficiently and cost-effectively grow their crops. They are always on hand with advice and Best Management Practices relating to the use of fertiliser and pestcide use, harvesting, and storing crops once they have been gathered.

How can I get a job as an agronomist?

To get an agronomy food job, you must obtain a Bachelors degree from a college or university specialising in agriculture. In addition to this, you can also attend annual training sessions to keep up to date with the latest innovative practices and technologies, and maybe even go on to become a Certified Crop Advisor.

Many people think that food jobs are limited to working in fast food restaurants or supermarkets, but agronomy food jobs are the prime example of how diverse and interesting the food industry can be.

By choosing the job of a development technologist, you are opting for a highly involved and exciting food job.

A development technologist is required to create new and original products. It is a path which many food science graduates choose to take as you can use your skills and expertise learned on your course to create new food items and enhance flavours, textures and the appearance of a range of food products.

This food job involves a lot of research and part of the job is to prepare data and information on the results of any research conducted.

There is plenty of room for progression with the role of the development technologist. Once in this role, you can advance your career through research based options and you may find yourself progressing into leadership roles.

The main requirement is to generate new ideas for new recipes and products. Once you have developed the ideas, these need to be taken through the development kitchen, pilot plant and factory stages. This can be a challenging role but it is highly rewarding when you get to see your idea right through to the end.