Due to the current global economic recession, the majority of food manufacturers reduced the amount they were investing in product development food jobs. However, according to The Oxford Research Agency, it is predicted that as consumers start to spend money again, thoughts will again turn to investment in greener, eco-friendly technologies.
Due to a positive outlook for 2010 after the instability of the previous year, The Oxford Research Agency are encouraging manufacturers to take advantage of the opportunities created by an increase in consumer confidence to reinvest in innovative technology.
This will also mean good news for those currently undertaking specialist training courses for food jobs in the fields of food technology, food science, and product development. As an increasing number of graduates are choosing this career path, it sets the food industry up well for the future. This is because not only will it be able to cope with future demand for increased volume and sustainability of food products, but it will also help graduates due to the availability of specialist food job opportunities.
In terms of brand and product development, the grocery think-tank IGD expects to see the following by the year 2012:
• 37 per cent more consumers will be buying locally produced foods on a regular basis
• 34 per cent will be buying a larger number of fair-trade products
• 15 per cent on consumers will buy more organic products
