The food industry is ageist...
Yes, that's right, the food and drink sector is absolutely 100% ageist! Or to be correct ageing. Over 25% of management in the Food and Drink industry retires in the next five years and the talent required to plug these gaps is just not coming through. Why is this so? Do people not recognise the food industry as having great future prospects and career opportunities?
To add to this, the number of new entrants onto food related degree courses continues to cause concern as the pipeline for new graduates and talent is disappearing. Not everyone can go into media studies!
To add to this, the number of new entrants onto food related degree courses continues to cause concern as the pipeline for new graduates and talent is disappearing. Not everyone can go into media studies!
By Duncan McDougall on 13 February 2011 09:34
In a way these comments are a relief as I had started to take my experiences personally. I virtually stopped applying for operations roles in the food sector for just this reason; no matter how well I performed at interview (if I got one) or how good my personal fit, the minute anyone competent with food experience turned up I was out!
If food companies do not look outside for some of their middle managers, they are bound to end up in the recruitment version of taking in one anothers' washing - and that simply cannot be sustained.
By John Roxby on 13 February 2011 09:34
I live in the Lincolnshire area, where there are lots of food manufacturing businesses and I have regularly tried to find an Operations Manager type role. After numerous non-replies I eventually contacted a job agency that specialised in this area of recruitment and was told that I had no chance of employment unless I had a relevant food qualification that took 2 years to complete. Unfortunately you could only undertake this qualification if you were already in the food business therefore a catch 22 situation. Is this the reason for not enough new blood in the food industry?
By Bob Haydon on 13 February 2011 09:34
All Employers need to accept that the younger generation want an equal work life balance. People are no longer prepared to live to work they want to be able to work to live and enjoy life.
Bob Haydon
By Richard Laine on 13 February 2011 09:34
Transferable skills appear not to be considered, despite having pharmaceutical experience which is probably even tougher standards than the food industry.
Perhaps there needs to be a more flexible approach to recruiting talent from other industries, certainly the salaries on offer are more than competitive to attract talent in.
Richard Laine
By martin hogan on 13 February 2011 09:34
Food manufacture and production is now seen as a processed and pre-packaged industry too, there needs to be a drive to increase awareness of how food arrives at its final state and also to create local industries - from small farms to abattoirs, so that we can again start to educate a population on how food relates to them and is important; maybe cut down on the farms in Africa and Asia that artificially drive down the cost of produce, turning it into a disposable commodity.
regards