Without this segment, there would be no food for most of the other segments to make the food and food products they sell and serve to their customers.
The food and beverage manufacturing segment of the industry makes food and related products - including the food distributed to restaurants and hotels and the food we all buy in the grocery store or at places like Costco and Sam's Club. Manufacturers process both raw foods (such as fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy) and packaged goods (such as soft drinks, breakfast cereals, and snacks). Companies in this segment work with the farmer who grows food and grain, suppliers of raw ingredients like salt and flour, and consumers (that's you, your family, and your friends). Some companies in this segment also manufacture foodservice related products, such as napkins, table cloths, paper products, and kitchen and hotel equipment.
This segment is a lot more scientific than you might imagine. For example, it has taken years to develop French fries that come out from the microwave and are still crisp. Doesn't sound like much till you become responsible for figuring out how to do it without ruining the taste. That's true of lots of microwaveable food - it has to look, taste, and feel like the "fresh cooked" version, remain nutritious, but also let you freeze it for months without going bad. Complicated work for people with degrees in biology, chemistry, nutrition, and many other sciences.
Then there is the marketing. Lots of great, funny, goofy, and memorable work - always creative - comes out of this industry. Perhaps you will dream up the next "Real Thing" (Coca-Cola) or "Jolly Green Giant," or an Oscar Mayer "I Wish I Was..." song.
Professionals from these companies are usually in high demand in other industries because their experience is so rich and they learn so much about everything from developing new products to manufacturing millions of units to selling and distributing them. |