Careers and Opportunities in
the Food and Beverage
Industry
Presented by:
Grahame Pickett, HR Director, Britvic
Ireland
Personal Background
• 25 years +, HR/IR/training
• Various industriesservice/manufacturing
Industry Overview
• Ireland largest indigenous sector with a
turnover approaching €20billion
• Supplies the majority of the food and drink
that we consume in Ireland and also
generated €8.6bn worth of exports in 2007
• 50,000 direct plus 60,000 indirect
employees
• Over 600 companies – small, medium and
large / indigenous and multinational
• Strong presence in all regions of the
country
Industry Overview
• Some facts:
– Largest exporter of beef and sheepmeat in the EU
– Produces 12.5% of global output of infant formula
– Exports to over 120 countries
– The single biggest supplier of food to the UK market
• Everything is here in Ireland - the raw materials, factories,
distribution networks, sales and marketing functions,
research facilities and the HQs
Background on the company
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Company History
1852: Co. established by Cantrell & Cochrane
1968: C&C Group formed
2001: 7Up & Pepsi franchise acquired
2007: Britvic buys C&C Group’s Non-Alcohol business and Britvic
Ireland is created
Brands
Manufacture and market a range of soft drinks and water
Market leaders in Water, Orange, Lemon & Lime and no. 2 in Cola and
energy
Customers base- licensed trade and grocery companies of all sizes
Company Structure
• Supply Chain (Manufacturing &
Logistics)
• Commercial Grocery
• Commercial Licensed Wholesale
• Technical & Development
• Marketing
• Human Resources
• Finance, Admin & I.T.
Employment Entry Opportunities
Function
Positions
Qualifications
Sales
Merchandiser
Business Developer/sales Rep
Business degree/ 1yr retail
Business Degree/
2 yrs merchandiser
Marketing
Marketing Assistant
Marketing Degree/ 1yr
experience
Human Resources
HR Administrators
HR Generalist
CIPD Certifcate/1yr experience
CIPD/3yrs experience
Finance
A/c payable assistant
Credit controller
IT Skills (excel)/ 1yr experience
IT Skills (excel)/2yrs experience
IT
IT Help Desk
IT Degree
Technical
Junior technician
Engineering Degree/Diploma
Career Opportunities
Sales
Marketing
Finance
Commercial Director
Marketing Director
Finance Director
Key A/C National Sales
Senior Brand
Manager/Marketing manager
Finance Accountant
Regional Sales Manager
Brand Manager
Finance Manager
Business Developer/Sales Rep
Category developer
Team Leader
Merchandiser
Marketing Assistant
A/C Payable/A/C
Receivable/Credit Controller
Graduates
• IBEC Food and Drink Survey 2007 (Actual Rate
of Pay @ April 2007)
• Jobs where entry level data available
– Junior Technician (€26K median)
– Trainee Lab Technician (€20k median)
• Jobs where entry level data not available
– Sales Executive/Representative (40k median)
– Marketing Executive (€42k median)
– Telesales (€26k median)
– Production Supervisor (€42k median)
Good skills for Graduates to have
Prepare for interview
Passion and Knowledge for the industry
Work on interview skills
Job Hunting Skills
Activities (societies, clubs)
On the job requirements
Interpersonal and communication skills
Critical reasoning and analytical skills (i.e. Problem solving)
Academic qualifications
Teamwork skills
Emotional intelligence (i.e. self-awareness, motivation)
Work experience (Voluntary work doesn’t have to be paid)
Software skills-Ms office suite
Skills current Graduates are missing
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Software skills /basic IT skills
Work experience (voluntary work)
Communication skills
Interview skills
Future of Industry
• A highly competitive marketplace – both a threat and
an opportunity
• Innovative companies will grasp these opportunities –
manufacturing processes, products, marketing
strategies
• Irelands food and drink industry has a range of
competitive advantages (r&d, consolidated and
sophisticated industry base etc.)
• Outlook is for €20bn industry to grow to €30bn