If you have a passion for food and want to get a well-paid and successful food job, your options aren't just limited to becoming a chef or professional cook. In fact, you need no cooking skills at all to get ahead in this fast-paced and exciting industry. This is because there are a number of processes and factors involved in the production, retail and distribution of food in the UK, and you could be making a valuable contribution to this industry in more ways than you might think.

Here a just a few examples of the types of food jobs on offer, and the different areas in the industry you can work in:

• Sales and marketing - Marketing campaigns are the first step in the food sales process. They are responsible for everything from labels, branding and packaging to undertaking market and consumer trend analysis. The sales team will then take over to complete the process.

• Finance - For someone with a finance or accountancy qualification, this type of food job could be perfect. The focus here is more on managing the finances of a food retailer, manufacturer or distributer, but it is still a vital part of the food industry, and you may get to work for some fairly prominent and influential companies.

• Health and Safety - This is an essential part of the food industry, and underpins every practise and process involved. Those working with food need to adhere to strict health and safety standards, and without official officers to ensure these are upheld, the industry would be in chaos.

• Human Resources - Like every other industry, employees in food jobs need support and management. If you are organised and good with people, apply for a HR food job today.

Despite not receiving full support from the Scottish Government in the past, the management of Sainsbury's supermarkets has been granted permission to build a flagship store in the Highlands.

The new store, which is expected to cost £20 million, will be the first Sainsbury's store in the North of Scotland and will have a number of beneficial consequences for the region:

• It will create over 300 new retail and food jobs
• The Co-op is currently the market leader in the Highlands region, but the new Sainsbury's store is expected to challenge their monopoly
• The 25,000-square-foot store will offer an extensive range of products and a petrol station, allowing residents to take advantage of 'supermarket' fuel prices
• It will attract visitors from throughout the entire region, moving them away from busy shops in Forres, Inverness and Elgin and providing them with one major store

Sainsbury's has however faced opposition when attempting to get government approval for the store, with some council members protesting that it will take business away from local stores. However, the overall opinion on the planning proposals is that the hundreds of food jobs it will create are vital for the region's employment figures.

The store will be located at Balmakeith in Nairn, and is expected to be open and trading by December 2010.

A large number of major food brands have recently been invited to join forces at an event intended to improve training for those is food jobs, with a focus on food engineers in particular. The companies involved, to name but a few, include:

• Warburtons
• Thorntons
• Britvic
• Kellogg
• Premier Foods
• Diageo
• Cadbury

All of the companies involved, as well as HR and training professionals, attended a seminar in Cheshire entitled 'Skills to Maximise Plant Efficiency', which was organised and run by consultancy firm MCP, industry leaders in the field of maintenance and engineering training. The aim of the seminar, which was supported by the National Skills Academy, the Centre for Robotics and Automation and Reaseheath College, was to forge an initiative between companies in order to provide better training for those is particular food jobs such as engineering and maintenance.

It is hoped that the steering group of companies created will set an example of best practice when it comes to training, which will enable all food companies to improve factory efficiency through more skilled and trained employees.

A second seminar has been planned for 2010, which will attempt to incorporate professionals from the pharmaceutical industry into the steering group.

At the moment, recycling and climate change is top of the agenda. And along with most other sectors, the food sector is attempting to do its bit in order to reduce its carbon footprint.

Food jobs are now being created to try and deal with the important issue of sustainability and recycling and Muller is one of the companies leading the way with its latest move.

Muller Vitality yogurt drinks have now been launched in 100 per cent recyclable packaging. Muller Dairy reportedly sells more than 145.6 million bottles of Vitality yogurt drinks a year and now they have got rid of the shrink-film from the bottle which was not recyclable and they have replaced it with packaging which is 100 per cent recyclable. All the parts of the new bottle can be recycled including the six pack sleeve and the shelf ready tray.

It's a great way for the brand to improve their product and get noticed by the consumer. After all, consumers reward businesses who consider such factors and this in turn, leads to success for the business.

The weight of the Vitality yogurt drink bottle has been reduced as too has the weight of the cardboard carton sleeves and trays. This will save over 350 tonnes of packaging per year.

Recycling is a hot topic across the world at the moment and with food jobs related to the issue constantly cropping up, it's an important issue for food manufacturers to consider too.

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.

In a year which has been tough for businesses across the world, it seems that Britvic have been left unscathed as they posted a 23 per cent hike in annual profits.

The group makes Pepsi, 7Up and J20 as well as Tango and Robinsons and they have reported a pre-tax profit of £86.5 million in the year to September 27th.

The sale of Britvic's still drinks rose by 3.6 per cent and the sale of its fizzy drinks rose by 7.9 per cent in Britain despite other soft drinks manufacturers reporting a slowdown in their sales.

Britvic is the second biggest fizzy drinks supplier after Coca Cola and it is putting its success down to a revival in consumer demand for carbonated drinks. The successful year may also be down to new launches such as Robinsons Be Natural and Juicy Drench.

Paul Moody, the chief executive of Britvic said that the soft drinks market as a whole is seeing some improvements. But he is quick to point out that it is difficult to see how things will pan out in the future and that the drinks market should be cautious.

It seems that the spotlight is well and truly on local British food at the moment. And now Gary Rhodes has launched a Truly British and Truly Local food campaign with the world's largest caterer Compass Group.

The new scheme will only give a Truly British status to products with guaranteed British origin which can be traced back to the source.

This new scheme was born out of the fact that far too many food companies were claiming that their products were sourced locally, when really, they came from a local wholesaler which could never guarantee that the products were genuinely local.

The Truly Local standard goes to products which are made from local ingredients and produced by small, local companies within 50 miles of where they are being served.

Interest in the food industry has soared in recent years. More and more people are now looking into the availability of food jobs and the public are showing more of a keen interest in local produce. The number of people who look for locally produced food has almost doubled in the past three years as more cookery programmes crop up and also, as people try to support their local businesses in these tough economic times.

Hovis have managed to put a smile on the face of hundreds of farmers across the country with their announcement that they will only be using British wheat in loaves.

At the moment, Hovis is using between 25 per cent and 50 per cent British wheat and it is importing the rest from Canada. But this is all set to change in the New Year when Hovis will start to just use British wheat.

This follows trials over the past five years of growing a strain of Canadian red wheat in Britain. These trials were successful and so now, an extra 600 farmers are growing wheat for Hovis loaves.

It's excellent news for Britain's food industry as not only is it keeping local farmers in business and using this country's produce, but the move will also create new food jobs.

With this new policy coming into place early next year, one in eight wheat fields across Britain are being used to grow wheat for Hovis.

In total, £18m was spent on importing Canadian wheat and this £18m will now go to British farmers.

As the focus in the food jobs industry turns well and truly to local produce, it's fitting to see British farmers receiving a little bit of good news.

Fresh food counters are seen half as much as they used to be. But with more and more people taking an interest in fresh produce in recent years, the supermarkets are starting to see that fresh food counters are very much in demand. And now, they are coming back.

Last month, Marks & Spencer reintroduced fresh food counters including butchers and fishmongers in store.

This was good news for the customer as they now have much more choice of quality food. But it was also excellent news for talented butchers and fishmongers who were looking for food jobs.

The idea was tested out in Meadowhall in Sheffield and the second at Bluewater in Kent. Fresh produce always goes down well with the customers; as has been seen with supermarkets such as Morrisons which has attracted a huge, loyal customer base through its range of fresh produce.

The food division of M&S accounts for slightly more than half of their revenue so it is important that they make the right decision when it comes to these fresh food counters.
But with the amount of food jobs they will create and the customers they attract, it seems that everyone is a winner.

At any food establishment, hygiene is of paramount importance. Hygiene is not only important for ensuring that food standards remain high, but it is also important for the reputation of the food establishment.

In fact, hygiene is so important, that hundreds of food jobs are created out of the need to keep food establishments hygienic and healthy.

And one food establishment in particular which has been recognised for its high hygiene standards is Domino's Pizza in Harlow. This store has scored a top rating of five stars in the Scores on the Doors programme which runs nationwide.

Scores on the Doors acts as a public information service where people can find out the official local authority hygiene ratings for thousands of food businesses.

The Food Standards Agency has issued a Food Law Code of practice and this is what is used to inspect each premises.

The Domino's Pizza store in Harlow, was rated for hygiene, the structural condition of the premises and the management of the business. And it was awarded five stars for excellence based on these factors.

The standards at the store have always remained high and the staff work hard to ensure that hygiene is always considered. And now they have five stars to prove it.

It's a battle that we witness every single week; the battle between the country's major supermarkets.

Supermarkets including Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury's are constantly fighting for the customers' attention. Their television adverts are designed to make us think that each of these supermarkets can offer you the best value for money.

But one supermarket which seems to be enjoying huge success at the moment is Morrisons. This supermarket, known for its reasonable prices and fresh produce, has recently announced that a record 10.8 million customers went into its stores between August and October this year.

Morrisons is the UK's fourth largest supermarket and like for like sales during this period rose 4.3 per cent.

The supermarket has enjoyed steady success this year and that is being put down to its focus on cost efficiencies and a constantly increasing number of customers.

Because of all of the success it has enjoyed this year, this particular supermarket has been steadily expanding. This year alone, the company has opened up 37 new stores, creating hundreds of food jobs across the country in a variety of sectors. And in a year which has been difficult for most businesses, that's not bad going.

It's one of the most recognisable logos across the world. For years, the Coca-Cola brand has been at the top of its game. And now, as the world is beginning to focus upon climate change and sustainability, Coca-Cola is following suit with their new steps to reduce their environmental footprint.

The company is focussing on water use, refrigeration and packaging. Coke Chairman and Chief Executive Muhtar Kent has said that they will be focussing on these issues. He also said that Coca-Cola have worked with Greenpeace and World Wildlife Fund as part of this project.

The Chairman said that as the consumer is beginning to consume more responsibly and is rewarding those businesses who provide sustainable goods, those companies in turn, can create a sustainable business.

Kent also highlighted that no company can do this alone and that they will all need to work together.

So as the world turns its attention to sustainability, so too do the food and drink manufacturers across the world, constantly creating new food jobs along the way. It's an important issue which must be addressed. And Coca-Cola is taking the lead to ensure that they become a sustainable company and one that will continue to thrive at the top of their game.

Are you a hospitality student aiming to get ahead in the food and drink industry? If so, then the 'Future Stars of Gastronomy' competition could help you to showcase your talents, pick up some valuable skills, mingle with like-minded people and win some prestigious prizes; all of which could help you as you pursue the food job of your dreams.

The event is organised by The Academy of Food and Wine (AFW), who are inviting people in hospitality and food jobs, as well as student chefs and wine waiters, to take part in a national competition designed to showcase and test their skills.
The competitors must team up and create an original two-course menu accompanied by complementary wines. This menu will be assessed by an AFW judging panel, who will look at:

• The reasoning behind the food and wine choices
• The execution and quality of the meal
• The standard of service

The winner, once chosen, will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to various nations famed for their gastronomical prowess, courtesy of Discover the Origin. Not only this, but winning this prestigious award will also look brilliant on any food job application, which will help aspiring chefs, wine waiters and bar staff to succeed in their chosen careers. So, if you want to enter, you have until January 4th 2010 to submit an application.

Nigel Dunnington, a McDonald's franchisee who started his career in Blackpool and has been with the company for 27 years, has now returned to the store he opened back in 1982. The Bank Hey Street McDonald's, along with Mr Dunnington's other stores in Blackpool, Preston and Leyland, has enjoyed a very successful year financially, despite the economic downturn.

Due to the excellent performance of Mr Dunnington's franchise stores, as well as the overall success of the McDonald's brand this year, the chain is planning to encourage more investment in franchises and open even more stores in the Fylde area in 2010. Mr Dunnington's Blackpool franchises already employ over 160 people during the high season in the summer, and it is expected that the new investment will create even more food jobs in the area.

Mr Dunnington has said that his franchise has had to quickly adapt to economic changes, but has always stayed ahead of the competition by focusing on delivering quality food and high standards of customer service. He went on to say that despite the credit crunch, an increasing number of people have been choosing to eat in McDonald's in the last 12 months.

McDonald's owns 1,200 restaurants throughout the UK and has always been a rapidly expanding business. The company runs a number of graduate schemes and has always been proud of the fact that they offer more food job opportunities than any other fast food chain.

When searching for available food jobs, it's not always easy to distinguish which ones you are suitable for. Some have elaborate titles which don't really give any clues as to what they are and others seem to sound much more complicated than they need to.
One job which often comes up is that of a food technologist.

Food technologists are responsible for developing the manufacturing processes and recipes of food and drink products. It is a highly creative job which involves working with new ingredients and technologies to invent new recipes and concepts.

A food technologist will conduct experiments and create sample products and also develop ways in which the finished product can remain consistent when it comes to being produced.

It's a highly involved job which requires someone who is confident in their knowledge and their ideas. Food technologists have some incredibly exciting responsibilities which can be highly rewarding.

So next time you are searching through the vacancies and you come across the food technologist section, remember that this food job is for the ambitious, enthusiastic applicant who has some excellent ideas that they want to put into practise.

If you've just spotted your dream food job, you will want to ensure that your application is the best it can possibly be.

You might have the right qualifications and the appropriate experiences, but without a fantastic CV and covering letter, you may be selling yourself short.

If the food jobs you are applying for are particularly competitive, there is an even stronger need to make your CV and covering letter stand out because it is likely that the employer will be receiving hundreds of applications and he or she will need to be ruthless with narrowing down the candidates.

The trick is to not give the employer any excuse to put your application into the 'no pile'. And the way to do this is by concentrating on the covering letter first.

Begin your covering letter by addressing it to the correct person by name. Then tell them which job you are applying for and where you saw it advertised.

You then need to look at the food job advert and, in your letter, write how you answer the person specification by referring to your previous experiences and interests.

Keep your covering letter concise and ensure that you cover all the points in the person specification. That way, you won't be giving the employer any excuse to put you into the 'no pile'.

When it comes to food, quality is of paramount importance. Anyone involved in any food jobs will know that in this industry, more than others, quality and standards are the most important aspects to consider. And that is certainly the ethos that foodservice company 3663 works to.

3663 First for Foodservice is the UK's leading foodservice company. The company delivers quality food, products and equipment to the catering industry and it has earned itself a remarkable reputation.

And now, there is a new string to their bow as they have just been awarded The Investor in Excellence Standard which is a recognised mark of quality.

The Investor in Excellence Standard promotes business excellence by considering continuous improvement, reducing waste and using best practice.

3663 have been working towards achieving this standard in recent years and their hard work has finally paid off. The company also received particular praise for their inclusive people culture. 3663 give their employees the opportunity to get involved and offer feedback. The company also excels at communication and offers staff positive recognition where appropriate.

3663 has always thrived on exceeding customers' expectations and therefore building healthy relationships with their clients.

When you've been in a food job for a while, there is a danger that you become just that little bit too comfortable with it. The job no longer challenges you and you feel like you are simply stuck on autopilot.

It's at times like these when you may decide that it's time for a career change. The good thing about the food industry is that there are plenty of food jobs just waiting for you. It's a vast industry which has room for you to spread your wings and develop your career.
So if you are a restaurant chef, looking for something a little more challenging, it might be time to consider the role of a development chef.

This is often the role that restaurant chefs progress to and as a development chef, you will usually be working with major food companies to design chilled or frozen dishes.

To be a development chef, you will need to be experienced in professional kitchens and you should have a food preparation qualification. Of course, this is not always the case though. It has been known that people with a natural gift for food design have managed to become development chefs because of their natural talent.

No matter what industry you work in, health and safety is an issue which is constantly top of the agenda.

These days, there are health and safety procedures for absolutely everything and that is particularly the case with food jobs. With so much machinery to contend with, there have to be strict health and safety procedures in place to ensure that accidents and injuries are kept to an absolute minimum. But this is no easy task and most food manufacturers will require a health and safety manager to oversee this role.

Of course, there is a huge range of sectors within the food industry, but one specific area in which health and safety is hugely important is in bakeries.

In a bakery, there will always be heavy lifting to be done and there will be hot objects to contend with. As well as this, there will be loud noises created by machines slicing bread and mixing dough.

But one problem which people may not consider is the problem of flour dust. Flour dust can irritate the eyes and the nose and can cause tightness in the chest, particularly for asthma sufferers.

This is why food job websites are always advertising for health and safety managers because with these people in place all of these risks are assessed and minimised,
meaning that the food industry continues to be a safe and healthy industry to be in.

Leaving school or university is an extremely daunting time. You can feel completely overwhelmed by the decisions you have to make.

Choosing the career that you want to follow for the rest of your life may seem like huge decision, but you will already have something in mind; some interests and talents that have become apparent over the last few years. So the best thing to do is follow your instincts and start applying for jobs relevant to these interests and talents.

The food industry is one which is bursting at the seams with opportunities and there are plenty of ways in which to develop your career once you have made it into the industry.
But with so many opportunities out there, it is important to get a clear idea of where you want to be before you start applying for anything and everything which comes along.

Look at some of the food jobs advertised and see where your skills would be most relevant to try and narrow down the jobs that you apply for. Get a clear idea of what kind of food job you would suit, whether it is in marketing, packaging or food production.

Stay focussed when you are applying for your chosen roles and only apply if you are suitable for the food job advertised.

We've all had that dream where we are the official taster for a chocolate factory. Imagine munching your way through all that chocolate all day, every day. Heaven.

Well, it doesn't have to be a dream. In fact, if you bag yourself a job as a product developer for a food manufacturer, this is likely to be one of your tasks. You will spend all day tasting products and researching and deciding on how they can be improved. It's the ideal food job.

As you will know, just the smallest change to a recipe can make all the difference to the success of a product. Just a touch more butter or a different type of sugar can mean the difference between a product which sells like hot cakes (literally) and one which sits on the shelves, completely ignored.

And that is why the role of a product developer is absolutely essential; particularly to the supermarkets that are constantly fighting off stiff competition from each other.

As a product developer, you will be involved in each product every step of the way; from the recipe to the packaging. So if you have a passion for food and you're looking for your ideal food job, perhaps look into the role of the product developer and make that dream come true.

If you've been applying for endless food jobs and you have not had any feedback from any of them, then it's time to give your CV a makeover.

Remember, your CV is designed to sell you as an employee and it needs to make a good impression. The first thing to consider is whether it looks good. For example, is it typed? Is it clear and simple to read? Has it got all the relevant information on it? Are there any spelling or grammatical errors?

These things are the first aspects that a potential employer will look at, so they need to be right. Some employers may even completely disregard your CV if it contains errors or it looks like it's an effort to read.

The next thing to remember is that you need to tailor your CV to each specific job that you are applying for. Don't simply type out a CV and send the same one off for each food job.

The job description will tell you what the employer is looking for. So it is your task to ensure that you answer all these criteria in your CV and ensure that everything on there is relevant. Only include information which demonstrates that you are suitable for the food job and take anything out which doesn't demonstrate your strengths for that particular food job.

Give your CV a makeover and soon the phone may be ringing off the hook with people offering you your dream food jobs.

If you have recently graduated, you may be struggling with how to get started in a particular industry. If this is the case, then a work experience placement or apprenticeship could really help you to gain the valuable skills, experience and contacts you need to succeed.

For a career in the food industry, relevant qualifications are sometimes required but experience is always essential. Getting a placement at a major food manufacturer, retailer or restaurant chain can be a fantastic way of gaining real-life experience of an actual food job. Big food companies such as Heinz, Lidl, Marks & Spencer, McDonald's, Mars, Morrison's, Sainsbury's and Tesco all regularly employ graduates, so there are loads of opportunities out there!

So, if you have a passion for food or for a particular aspect of the food industry, the following industry fields are open to you:

• Produce and product sourcing
• Product development
• Distribution
• Sales and marketing
• Finance
• Engineering and manufacturing

These and many more opportunities are available if you choose a career in the ever-growing food industry.

How do I get a food job?

Having food-related work background will always give you an advantage, as will a relevant degree, HND or any other postgraduate qualification, but many employees are also willing to offer placements to those demonstrating a sufficient passion and enthusiasm for food.

UK superstore chain Tesco recently demonstrated their intention to move into the luxury food market by rolling out price cuts on their 'Tesco's Finest' range, to compete with the likes of Marks & Spencer and Waitrose. As part of a nationwide promotional campaign, Tesco is shaking off their 'value' image by cutting prices in time for Christmas, in order to hold on to their market share.

Tesco bosses have taken advantage of the fact that consumers are tentatively starting to opt for luxury food items again, after initially trading down due to fears over economic recession, a period which negatively affected luxury food stores like M&S and Waitrose. As these customers start to go back to luxury food items, Tesco's aggressive marketing drive is hoping to stop those customers going back to upmarket stores by getting in first. It seems the strategy is working too; city analysts have reported a total sales increase of 8.8% for Tesco.

As part of their expansion, Tesco are also placing great importance on opening new stores. This strategy will not only create thousands of new food jobs for UK workers, but will also provide the group with good momentum, as well as making sure their rivals have plenty of competition during the run-up to Christmas.

Due to the global recession, the state of which is not expected to improve until late 2010 at the earliest, the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) have informed the government of a number of ways they could help the food industry.

The FDF, in association with the British Plastics Federation, the Manufacturing Technologies Association and manufacturers' organisation EEF, sent a detailed letter to the Chancellor ahead of the upcoming pre-budget report, outlining strategies which could be implemented, including:

• A freeze in the rate of corporation tax for small food companies until 2011
• A delay to the introduction of new business-limiting regulations
• A 12 month extension to 40% first-year capital allowances
• Finally, an initiation of dialogue between EU authorities in order to extend the Letter of Credit Guarantee scheme, which is in place for developed economies

In the letter, the FDF also stressed that the food and drink manufacturing industry, with a gross turnover of £72.6 billion, is the largest sector in the UK at present, and that these measures are essential to not only help struggling businesses to survive and continue to support a balanced economy, but would also mean greater financial security for the 440,000 British people in food jobs throughout the UK.

If you already work in the fast food industry, have management experience and are looking for a new challenge, or are simply deciding what career to choose; a job in fast food management could be the most rewarding and challenging option.

A fast food manager is essentially a commercial business manager, who is responsible for the financial success of a particular fast food outlet or chain of restaurants. However, there is a considerable element of hospitality experience required in this role. In this kind of food job, you need to be both business-minded and customer-focused at the same time, with knowledge of operational management, sales and marketing, and finance, as well as being good at people management and establishing working relationships.

How do I become a fast food manager?
There are a number of ways you can get such challenging and exciting food jobs. You can start in any fast food position and rise through the rankings due to experience and good performance, or you can undertake any of the following specialist training courses:

• Hospitality management
• Hotel and catering management
• Culinary arts management

Both of these options will help you get a job as a fast food manager, along with excellent customer service, organisation and communication skills, energy and stamina, and the ability to motivate people.

When you are producing consumer goods there must always be some sort of quality control checks in place to make sure that the products you are delivering meet a certain standard every time. And, in the food industry sector it con not be understated how important quality control is.

Quality assurance is one area in the food industry that always needs qualified professionals. This type of role usually has to encompass health and safety procedures and also product quality, testing and sampling of products and of course dealing with any type of customer complaints.

If you have a wide range of knowledge concerning different food groups including canning, chilled and frozen categories and are well versed in HACCP principles (the international system of choice for food safety management), there are many opportunities available. Employees in this area should ideally also have knowledge of good hygiene practices and operational hygiene controls.

If you can work as part of a team and also take responsibility for your actions and are suitably qualified you can apply for this type of food job using specialist websites that cater specifically to food industry professionals.

With the economy showing the first signs of a slow recovery it comes as good news that supermarket giant Morrisons is about to create 240 food jobs in the Birmingham and Black County region.

The new superstore in the Birmingham and Sandwell area is hoped to be open by 2011 after the go-ahead was just given be the city's planning team. The store will be situated on an old industrial site on Holyhead road and around 240 jobs are hoped to be created.

"This is an impoverished area, we need the investment and the local jobs for local people."

Morrisons will give around £750,000 to the local council to pay for upgraded local community facilities and to update the road network as part of the package.

Although the planning approval has been given, Morrisons still need the development officially sanctioned by the government before building work can start.

The multi-national supermarket chain Asda is planning to invest £65 million to create three new superstores in Northern Ireland. Asda has performed well in the last year, selling over £55 million of locally sourced food in 13 stores across the region, and has boosted Northern Ireland's agri-food sector by almost £60 million in this year alone.

With figures set to improve by 26% next year, Asda are capitalising on their success by planning three new stores in Crumlin, Antrim and Larne, which are expected to create 900 new food jobs. Asda currently employs 3,500 people in the UK, but believes that their Northern Ireland stores are the pinnacle of their achievements.

Asda bosses believe that by meeting their customers' needs and using over 100 local food suppliers in their Northern Ireland, they have created an excellent model for growth, which they hope to use to enhance existing stores as well as adding new branches throughout the region. They also believe that the Northern Ireland model can be applied to all of their stores in the UK.

To honour Asda's contribution to the local economy and job market in Northern Ireland, company bosses were invited to the Parliament buildings for a special 'NI: Good food is in our Nature' event, which was also attended by government ministers and representatives from agri-food sectors.

If you are looking for a job in the food industry sector, one specialist area of career that is always needed involves hygiene standards and systems.

A company that operates a food production business always has to take full responsibility for the safety of its customers. To do this staff that work in production areas have to be trained appropriately in all aspects of food handling and food hygiene. The European Food Hygiene regulations state that businesses that produce food must

"ensure that food handlers are supervised and instructed and/or trained in food hygiene matters commensurate with their work activity".

All staff who have food jobs must be aware of personal hygiene requirements and food hygiene issues. The National Qualifications Framework level 2 in food safety (or The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health qualification CIEH) is a highly regarded food industry qualification for anyone who works with or serves food. A level 3 or level 4 qualification is also important if you want to progress to a staff managerial level or higher.

As a graduate or a school leaver, you will ideally be looking for a job that is challenging and interesting, has a decent level of pay, and is in an industry with a large scope of opportunities. The food industry has a wide range of jobs that meet all of these requirements, and a particularly higher-paid and exciting field is that of food technology.

What does a food technologist do?
A food technologist is involved in developing the food manufacturing process, enhancing recipes, ingredients and technologies to create products to suit all market requirements and demands (ie. fat-free foods).

How do I get into the industry?
A food-related degree will help you obtain a position within this exciting industry, such as:

• Food science/technology
• Applied science
• Food, nutrition and health

However, as with most food jobs, experience counts just as much as a qualification. A part-time food job or work experience as a lab technician or on a food manufacturing production line will be invaluable to future job applications, as you will acquire contacts and develop the following essential skills:

• Attention to detail
• An interest in food science and its applications
• High standards of cleanliness and hygiene
• Communication, numeracy and team working skills

A career as a food technologist can be particularly rewarding, and after gaining the relevant qualifications, skills and experience, you should be able to earn upwards of £20,000 per year.

How about if I told you that you could earn £30,000 without ever having to do a single days work? Would you be interested? The Catch? There is none! Well.... We are currently looking for x2 Area Managers..... working the night shift! (6pm-6am, 4 on 4 off, based Spalding). It had to be too good to be true!

However, the silver lining is this role offers a great package, an excellent working environment and a real chance to forge a rewarding career with this behemoth food producer. What we are looking for are strong man managers who are both motivated and inspiring to increase productivity and drive continuous improvement. You will ideally come from a chilled food background however someone from a fairly automated background could also be of interested. You will also be involved in taste panels and assisting the NPD team to ensure successful trial production runs are achieved.

So, if you want a decent role, for decent money, with real potential for the future, please email me on dominic.cooke@focus-management.co.uk.