Food and Drink Retailing Jobs
Working in a shop that serves and sells food and drink often requires specialist knowledge. For example, you might need to advise a customer on how to prepare or store an item, suggest which types of food or drink go well with others, or explain unfamiliar items.
Strict hygiene and health and safety standards are usually required for these types of jobs.
Fishmonger
A fishmonger selects and buys fish from a wholesaler and prepares it by hand for retail sales. This involves removing scales, skin and bones and gutting the fish.
Fishmongers advise customers about different types of common fish and shellfish and how best to store and cook them; they sometimes give out recipe leaflets.
They have to maintain strict standards of hygiene, and health and safety. Fishmongers use tools and equipment such as knives, tongs, fish slices, sharpening tools and pliers; these have to be cleaned and well looked after.
Many of the opportunities for fishmongers occur on fish counters in supermarkets.
Retail Butcher
Retail butchers cut, store and display meat in a shop, market or supermarket. They are responsible for using sharp tools and machinery safely and for keeping the tools and work areas clean and hygienic. They also serve customers and some deal with money.
Butchers often have to package the meat and poultry and prepare labels showing the weight and price.
They display the meat in refrigerated cabinets, and monitor the temperature. They might also prepare processed meat products such as sausages, pies and burgers.