Food and Drink Manufacturing Jobs
There are some job roles that involve working with food and drink long before it has been served or sold to the public.
These types of jobs might involve making sure the food and drink is made correctly, and that it is safe, of good quality and can be stored, if appropriate.
Quite often, these jobs involve the use of machinery or an understanding of the processes and ingredients involved in making food or drink. Knowledge of science may also be necessary, for example, for researching or testing food and drink products.
Baker
In large automated bakeries, machinery is used to prepare the dough and then pass it through different processes. These include moulding, proving (rising the dough), baking, cooling, slicing and wrapping.
In smaller craft bakeries, a greater variety of goods are produced. Tasks such as dipping eclairs in chocolate and decorating fancy cakes have to be done by hand.
Bakers prepare, bake and finish a range of bread, pastries, cakes and savouries.
Bakers have to follow hygiene, health, and safety regulations and wear protective clothing – usually a white coat or apron and a hat.
Food Scientist/Technologist
Food scientists are experts on the biological, chemical and physical make-up of food, and how food can be processed, stored and preserved. Food technologists apply this knowledge to make new food products and ensure that they are safe and of good quality.
Although food scientists are more likely to go into research, and food technologists into production, the division between them is not clear-cut. Both may work in research and development, production, and quality assurance management.
Food Technician
Food technicians help scientists/technologists to develop food products. Technicians test the safety and quality of raw materials and finished products, as well as testing packaging, processing and storage techniques.
They look after the day-to-day running of the laboratory, and may also help in the research and development of new products.
Technical Brewer
Technical brewers are responsible for producing good quality beer and related products.
They know all about the raw materials, such as hops and yeast, and the process of turning raw materials into the final product.
Much of the work involves controlling the brewing process. Brewers do this by working closely with a laboratory team, who perform tests on samples of beer.
Accurate records must be kept, showing times of the various stages in the production process and the amount of the raw materials used.
Technical brewers wear protective clothing and work in hot or cold, noisy and wet conditions when they are overseeing the production process.