Food and Beverage Factory Worker Kaimahi Tohitū Whakanao Kai/Inu

Food and beverage factory workers prepare ingredients, operate machinery, and bottle or package food and drink.

Food and beverage factory workers may do some or all of the following:

  • measure, mix and cook ingredients
  • peel and slice food
  • control the temperature and automated processes for making products
  • check the quality of the product and record results during the production process
  • operate and maintain machines
  • inspect and pack the final product
  • clean and sterilise the factory processing area.

Physical Requirements

Food and beverage factory workers need to be reasonably fit and strong as they can spend long periods on their feet and may need to do heavy lifting.

A high standard of personal cleanliness and good hand-eye co-ordination are also important.

Useful Experience

Useful experience for food and beverage factory workers includes:

  • supermarket and restaurant work
  • factory work
  • bakery work
  • brewery work
  • manufacturing work.

Personal Qualities

Food and beverage factory workers need to be:

  • accurate and careful, with good attention to detail
  • able to work at a fast pace
  • good at maths
  • responsible and able to make good judgements
  • honest
  • good team workers
  • good at communicating
  • able to follow instructions.

Skills

Food and beverage factory workers need to have knowledge of:

  • the product being made or processed
  • safety and hygiene regulations
  • practical skills to operate machinery. 

Conditions

Food and beverage factory workers:

  • may work overtime and do shift work
  • work in factories
  • usually work on their feet, and in conditions that may be noisy, wet, slippery, hot or cold.

Food and Beverage Factory Workers can earn around $23-$25 per hour.

Pay for food and beverage factory workers varies depending on experience.

  • Food and beverage factory workers usually start on the minimum wage.
  • Workers with one to two years' experience usually earn about $24 an hour.
  • Food and beverage factory supervisors can earn up to $25 an hour.

Sources: PayScale, 2018; and Trade Me Jobs, 2018.  

Food and beverage factory workers may progress into supervisory roles on the factory floor or move into management roles such as production manager. 

Food and beverage factory workers may specialise in:

  • blending drinks
  • packing
  • machine setting
  • brewing beer
  • bottling wine
  • milling flour
  • quality control.

Years Of Training

There are no specific requirements to become a food and beverage factory worker. However, some employers may require you to have a driver's licence and pass a pre-employment drug test.

Food and beverage factory workers may complete a New Zealand Certificate in Food and Beverage Processing (Level 2 or 3) while working.

Food and Beverage Factory Worker