Beverage Industry Workers
Outlook
Employment Prospects
Employers
Employers in the beverage industry range from small bottling companies and importers of tea and coffee to international corporations such as the Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA (Hills Brothers, Kauai Coffee), The Kraft Heinz Company (Maxwell House, Gevalia Kaffe, Capri Sun), Nestlé USA, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, and Unilever (Lipton). Positions in route sales, advertising, and distributing are available in most cities and many smaller communities.
Starting Out
Positions in the beverage industry may be advertised in employment Web sites and the classifieds section of local newspapers. Some workers belong to unions, and information about employment is available through union offices. Applying to the human resources department of a local plant or company is a good way to find out about available jobs. Talking to a route salesperson who may be visiting a local supermarket is another method of gaining information about companies. Large plants may offer tours to students and other individuals who may be seeking employment or who want to learn about the industry.
Advancement Prospects
With sufficient technical education and training, such as a degree in chemistry, workers can expect to advance to more technical positions in research and development or quality control. A college degree in business, management, or marketing as well as in-house training may lead to supervisory and management positions. Many years of experience in the industry may be necessary to reach higher administrative posts.
Tips for Entry
Join the International Society of Beverage Technologists (ISBT) to access member-only resources such as publications and job listings.
Visit the following Web sites for job listings:
- https://www.bevnet.com/jobs
- https://forcebrands.com/bevforce
- https://www.indeed.com/q-Beverage-jobs.html
Read industry publications such as Beverage Industry, Beverage Digest, and Tea & Coffee Trade Journal to learn more about the industry.
Attend BevTech, the annual meeting of the ISBT, to network and learn more about the industry.