Food & beverages Jobs in Uk

Why Work in the Food & Beverages in UK

1. Diverse Career Opportunities

The UK food and beverages sector offers a wide range of roles—from food production and quality assurance to marketing, logistics, and hospitality—catering to both skilled and entry-level professionals.

2. Thriving Industry

The industry is one of the largest manufacturing sectors in the UK, contributing significantly to the economy. With consistent demand and export potential, it offers strong job stability.

3. Innovation and Sustainability Focus

UK companies are increasingly investing in sustainable practices, eco-packaging, and plant-based innovations, giving professionals a chance to work on cutting-edge projects.

4. Cultural Diversity

Working in this sector means engaging with diverse cuisines and teams. This makes the work environment rich, inclusive, and collaborative—especially in cities like London, Manchester, and Birmingham.

5. Opportunities for Growth and Development

With many UK companies offering structured training programs, apprenticeships, and clear career progression paths, it’s a great industry for long-term professional development.

6. Flexibility in Employment

The sector offers part-time, full-time, seasonal, and contract-based roles, allowing flexibility for students, parents, and career changers.

7. Contribution to Public Well-being

Food and beverage professionals play a direct role in shaping what people consume. This sense of purpose—feeding the nation—can be highly rewarding.

Creative Food & Beverages in UK for International Candidates

1. A Global Culinary Playground

The UK’s food and beverage industry is a melting pot of global flavours — from Michelin-starred Indian cuisine to Caribbean street food. International professionals bring valuable cultural insights that enrich the UK’s dynamic food scene.

2. Innovation Meets Tradition

British brands are blending heritage with innovation — think classic fish & chips reimagined as gourmet small plates or sustainable vegan twists on the full English breakfast. There's ample space for creatives to push boundaries in product development, food tech, and fusion cuisine.

3. Diverse Career Pathways

From artisan bakeries and craft breweries to global FMCG giants like Unilever and Nestlé UK, there’s a role for every passion — be it culinary arts, food science, marketing, or operations. International candidates can find niche or mainstream paths suited to their skills.

4. Startup Scene & Food Entrepreneurship

The UK’s startup ecosystem encourages innovation. Food tech startups, ethical snack brands, and sustainability-focused ventures welcome fresh ideas — a great space for entrepreneurial international talent to thrive and even start their own ventures.

5. Cultural Appreciation & Inclusion

The UK celebrates diversity. Many employers actively recruit globally and offer support for visas and relocation. International employees often feel welcomed and valued for the global perspective they bring.

6. Sustainability & Ethical Focus

Sustainability is a priority — from zero-waste restaurants in London to plant-based product lines in supermarkets. International professionals with experience or interest in eco-conscious practices are in high demand.

7. A Gateway to Europe & Beyond

Working in the UK opens doors to international markets. Many companies use the UK as a European base, providing potential for travel, networking, and international career development.

Types of Food & Beverages Jobs in UK

1. Food Production & Manufacturing

Food Technologist – Develop and improve food products, ensuring quality and safety standards.
Quality Assurance Officer – Monitor production standards and compliance with UK food regulations.
Production Operative – Work on the factory floor managing machines and packaging processes.
R&D (Research & Development) Specialist – Innovate new products and improve existing recipes or methods.

2. Hospitality & Catering

Chef / Sous Chef / Line Cook – Prepare meals in restaurants, hotels, or catering events.
Kitchen Porter – Support chefs with prep work and maintain kitchen hygiene.
Restaurant Manager – Oversee front and back-of-house operations, staff, and customer service.
Waiter/Waitress / Bartender – Serve food and drinks, often in fast-paced, customer-facing environments.

3. Beverage Industry

Brewery Assistant / Brewer – Assist in brewing beer, craft ales, or managing brewery operations.
Barista – Prepare coffee and espresso-based drinks in cafés and coffee houses.
Wine & Spirits Specialist / Sommelier – Expert in wine selection, pairings, and service.
Beverage Sales Representative – Sell drink products to restaurants, bars, and retail clients.

4. Retail & Supermarkets

Food Merchandiser – Plan product placement and promotions in stores.
Butcher / Fishmonger / Baker – Prepare fresh products for retail sale.
Store Manager / Assistant Manager – Manage store operations, staff, inventory, and sales.

5. Logistics & Supply Chain

Food Supply Chain Coordinator – Manage sourcing, transport, and distribution of food items.
Warehouse Operative – Handle food storage, packing, and order fulfilment.
Procurement Officer – Source food ingredients and negotiate with suppliers.

6. Food Safety & Regulation

Food Safety Officer / Environmental Health Officer – Inspect facilities for hygiene, safety, and compliance.
Regulatory Affairs Specialist – Ensure food products meet UK and EU legislation.
HACCP Coordinator – Implement food safety systems and risk assessments.

7. Marketing, Branding & Sales

Food Brand Manager – Develop brand strategy and marketing campaigns.
Sales Executive – Sell food and drink products to retailers and wholesalers.
Social Media & Food Content Creator – Promote brands through digital platforms.

8. Sustainability & Innovation Roles

Sustainable Food Consultant – Advise on ethical sourcing and environmental practices.
Packaging Technologist – Develop sustainable, safe packaging solutions.
Plant-Based Product Developer – Innovate vegan and alternative protein products.

Average Salary of Top 20 Job Profile of Food & Beverages in UK

Job Profile	Avg. Salary (GBP £)	Avg. Salary (USD $)	Avg. Salary (INR ₹)
Executive Chef	£42,000	$53,340	₹4,49,4000
Sous Chef	£30,000	$38,100	₹3,21,0000
Line Cook / Commis Chef	£22,000	$27,940	₹2,35,4000
Restaurant Manager	£35,000	$44,450	₹3,74,5000
Bar Manager	£30,000	$38,100	₹3,21,0000
Waiter/Waitress	£20,000	$25,400	₹2,14,0000
Barista	£21,000	$26,670	₹2,24,7000
Food Technologist	£33,000	$41,910	₹3,53,1000
Quality Assurance Officer	£31,000	$39,370	₹3,31,7000
Food Production Operative	£25,000	$31,750	₹2,67,5000
Supply Chain Coordinator	£32,000	$40,640	₹3,42,4000
Procurement Specialist	£38,000	$48,260	₹4,06,6000
Food Safety Officer	£34,000	$43,180	₹3,63,8000
Environmental Health Officer	£40,000	$50,800	₹4,28,0000
Marketing Manager (F&B)	£45,000	$57,150	₹4,81,5000
Sales Executive (Food Products)	£33,000	$41,910	₹3,53,1000
Brand Manager (F&B)	£48,000	$60,960	₹5,13,6000
R&D Specialist (Food Innovation)	£42,000	$53,340	₹4,49,4000
Brewer / Brewery Assistant	£28,000	$35,560	₹2,99,6000
Packaging Technologist	£36,000	$45,720	₹3,85,2000

Job Eligibility to Work in Food & Beverages in UK for International Job Applicants.

Job Role / Category	Education Required	Experience	Visa Options	Additional Requirements
Chef / Sous Chef	Culinary Diploma / NVQ Level 2 or 3	2–5 years	Skilled Worker Visa	IELTS, Job offer from licensed sponsor
Commis Chef / Line Cook	Basic culinary training (preferred)	0–2 years	Skilled Worker Visa (select employers)	Entry-level jobs may require less formal training
Restaurant Manager	Hospitality or Business degree	2–4 years	Skilled Worker Visa	Leadership and communication skills
Waiter / Waitress / Bar Staff	High school or equivalent	0–2 years	Not eligible unless internal transfer	May require right to work or student visa
Barista	High school diploma	0–2 years	Not eligible unless on student visa	Hospitality experience helpful
Food Technologist	Food Science / Nutrition degree	1–3 years	Skilled Worker Visa	Degree must be recognised in the UK
Quality Assurance Officer	Science / QA or Food Tech degree	2–3 years	Skilled Worker Visa	Knowledge of UK food safety regulations
Production Operative	No formal education required	0–1 year	Often not eligible	Manual skills, basic English
Environmental Health Officer	Environmental Health degree	2+ years	Skilled Worker Visa	CIEH registration may be needed
Food Safety Officer	Science or Food Safety degree	2+ years	Skilled Worker Visa	HACCP certification is an advantage
Supply Chain Coordinator	Logistics / Business / Supply Chain	2+ years	Skilled Worker Visa	Excel & ERP system knowledge
Procurement Specialist	Business / Procurement degree	2–4 years	Skilled Worker Visa	Knowledge of UK supply chain laws
Brand / Marketing Manager	Marketing / Business degree	3–5 years	Skilled Worker Visa (limited roles)	Digital & branding experience
Sales Executive (F&B)	Business / Sales-related field	2–3 years	Skilled Worker Visa (some cases)	Must meet salary threshold
R&D Specialist (F&B)	Food Science / Biotech / Chemistry	2–5 years	Skilled Worker Visa	Innovation and lab skills required
Brewery Assistant / Brewer	Brewing qualification (IBD, etc.)	1–3 years	Skilled Worker Visa (select breweries)	Manual work, health & safety knowledge
Packaging Technologist	Packaging / Engineering / Science	2–4 years	Skilled Worker Visa	Experience with sustainability is a plus
Butcher / Fishmonger	On-the-job training / NVQ preferred	1–2 years	Skilled Worker Visa	Knife skills, food safety knowledge
Food Retail Staff	No formal education required	0–1 year	Not usually eligible	UK citizen or visa holder preferred
Sustainable Food Consultant	Environmental Science / Sustainability	3–5 years	Skilled Worker Visa	Experience in eco-food practices

General Roles and Responsibilities in Food & Beverages Jobs in UK with 20 Job Profiles

Job Title	General Roles & Responsibilities
Executive Chef	Lead kitchen operations, manage staff, design menus, ensure food quality and safety standards.
Sous Chef	Assist Executive Chef, oversee kitchen during shifts, supervise junior chefs, maintain hygiene.
Commis Chef / Line Cook	Prepare ingredients, cook menu items under supervision, maintain cleanliness, follow kitchen protocols.
Restaurant Manager	Oversee daily operations, manage staff, ensure customer satisfaction, handle budgets and reports.
Bar Manager	Manage bar staff, stock inventory, create drink menus, ensure responsible alcohol service.
Waiter / Waitress	Take orders, serve food and drinks, manage customer needs, maintain cleanliness and table settings.
Barista	Prepare and serve coffee beverages, maintain equipment, handle cash and customer interactions.
Food Technologist	Develop and test food products, ensure compliance with safety standards, manage R&D documentation.
Quality Assurance Officer	Monitor product quality, conduct inspections, ensure compliance with UK food safety standards (HACCP).
Production Operative	Operate machinery, pack food items, maintain production line speed and hygiene standards.
Environmental Health Officer	Inspect food premises, enforce health regulations, investigate complaints, issue compliance reports.
Food Safety Officer	Implement food safety programs, audit processes, train staff on hygiene and compliance.
Supply Chain Coordinator	Manage logistics, coordinate orders and delivery, track stock levels, liaise with vendors.
Procurement Specialist	Source ingredients and supplies, negotiate with vendors, manage supplier relationships.
Marketing Manager (F&B)	Develop marketing campaigns, manage brand strategy, analyze market trends and consumer behavior.
Sales Executive (Food Products)	Promote and sell food products, build client relationships, achieve sales targets.
Brand Manager (F&B)	Build brand identity, coordinate advertising and promotions, ensure consistent customer messaging.
R&D Specialist (Food)	Conduct research on new food products, test for quality, develop prototypes and improve formulas.
Brewery Assistant / Brewer	Brew beer, sanitize equipment, manage fermentation processes, monitor product consistency.
Packaging Technologist	Design packaging, test materials, ensure compliance with food safety and environmental standards.

General Job Eligibility to work in Food & Beverages in UK with 20 Job Profiles

Job Title	Educational Requirement	Work Experience	Visa Eligibility for International Candidates
Executive Chef	Culinary diploma or degree	5+ years	Eligible under Skilled Worker Visa with sponsor
Sous Chef	Culinary diploma	3–5 years	Eligible under Skilled Worker Visa with sponsor
Commis Chef / Line Cook	Basic culinary training (preferred)	0–2 years	Eligible under Skilled Worker Visa (limited roles)
Restaurant Manager	Hospitality or business degree	3–5 years	Eligible under Skilled Worker Visa
Bar Manager	Hospitality training or diploma	2–4 years	Eligible under Skilled Worker Visa
Waiter / Waitress	High school or equivalent	0–2 years	Not typically eligible unless with UK work rights
Barista	High school or vocational certificate	0–2 years	Not typically eligible unless on a Student or Graduate Visa
Food Technologist	Degree in Food Science or Nutrition	1–3 years	Eligible under Skilled Worker Visa
Quality Assurance Officer	Science or Food Tech-related degree	2–4 years	Eligible under Skilled Worker Visa
Production Operative	No formal education required	0–1 year	Not typically eligible unless already in UK or part of seasonal visa
Environmental Health Officer	Environmental Health degree	2+ years	Eligible under Skilled Worker Visa
Food Safety Officer	Food Safety or Science-related degree	2+ years	Eligible under Skilled Worker Visa
Supply Chain Coordinator	Business or Logistics degree	2–4 years	Eligible under Skilled Worker Visa
Procurement Specialist	Degree in Supply Chain or Business	3–5 years	Eligible under Skilled Worker Visa
Marketing Manager (F&B)	Marketing or Communications degree	3–6 years	Eligible under Skilled Worker Visa (salary threshold must be met)
Sales Executive (F&B)	Sales or Business background	2–4 years	Eligible under Skilled Worker Visa (some roles)
Brand Manager (F&B)	Degree in Marketing or Business	4–6 years	Eligible under Skilled Worker Visa (limited roles)
R&D Specialist (Food)	Food Science, Chemistry or Biotech	2–5 years	Eligible under Skilled Worker Visa
Brewery Assistant / Brewer	Brewing certificate or on-the-job training	1–3 years	Eligible under Skilled Worker Visa (some craft breweries sponsor)
Packaging Technologist	Degree in Packaging, Science, or Engineering	2–4 years	Eligible under Skilled Worker Visa

Experience Required to work in Food & Beverages in UK

Job Role	Typical Experience Required	Job Level	Notes
Executive Chef	5–10 years	Senior	Proven leadership and high-end kitchen experience required.
Sous Chef	3–5 years	Mid-Senior	Experience in fast-paced, high-standard kitchens preferred.
Commis Chef / Line Cook	0–2 years	Entry-Level	Basic culinary skills; suitable for new graduates or trainees.
Restaurant Manager	3–5 years	Mid-Senior	Requires both front-of-house and management experience.
Bar Manager	2–4 years	Mid-Level	Bar operations and staff management background essential.
Waiter / Waitress	0–2 years	Entry-Level	Customer service experience helpful; training often provided on-site.
Barista	0–2 years	Entry-Level	Some barista or coffee shop experience preferred.
Food Technologist	1–3 years	Junior–Mid-Level	Industry lab or R&D experience preferred; graduate roles available.
Quality Assurance Officer	2–4 years	Mid-Level	QA/QC experience in food or manufacturing industries required.
Production Operative	0–1 year	Entry-Level	On-the-job training usually provided.
Environmental Health Officer	2+ years	Mid-Level	Must be qualified and registered; local authority experience preferred.
Food Safety Officer	2–5 years	Mid-Level	Experience with HACCP, audits, and food safety regulations essential.
Supply Chain Coordinator	2–4 years	Mid-Level	Logistics, planning, or inventory management experience required.
Procurement Specialist	3–5 years	Mid-Senior	Food or retail purchasing experience and supplier negotiation skills.
Marketing Manager (F&B)	3–6 years	Mid-Senior	Brand and digital marketing experience in FMCG or hospitality needed.
Sales Executive (F&B)	2–4 years	Mid-Level	B2B or retail food sales experience required.
Brand Manager (F&B)	4–6 years	Senior	Strategic marketing, brand positioning, and leadership experience needed.
R&D Specialist (Food)	2–5 years	Mid-Level	Lab-based food product development and testing experience essential.
Brewery Assistant / Brewer	1–3 years	Junior–Mid-Level	Experience with brewing processes or formal training in brewing required.
Packaging Technologist	2–4 years	Mid-Level	Experience in food-grade packaging and material testing preferred.

Top Hiring Companies in UK of International Candidates in Food & Beverages

Company Name	Industry Segment	Visa Sponsorship	Notable Roles Hired	Head Office
Compass Group UK & Ireland	Food services & catering	Yes	Chefs, kitchen staff, catering managers	Chertsey, Surrey
Nestlé UK & Ireland	Food & beverage manufacturing	Yes	Food technologists, R&D, supply chain, QA	Gatwick, West Sussex
Unilever UK	FMCG / Food brands	Yes	Brand managers, food R&D, marketing	London
Greencore Group	Convenience food manufacturing	Yes	Production operatives, technologists, logistics	Dublin (UK operations in Leeds)
Bakkavor Group	Fresh prepared food	Yes	Line operatives, QA, chefs, technologists	London
Hilton UK	Hospitality & food service	Yes	Chefs, restaurant managers, bar staff	Watford
Marriott International (UK)	Hospitality	Yes	Culinary staff, hotel food services	London
Whitbread (Premier Inn, Beefeater)	Hospitality & restaurants	Limited	Chefs, team members, kitchen managers	Dunstable
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners	Beverage manufacturing	Yes	Supply chain, production, logistics	Uxbridge, London
ABP Food Group (UK)	Meat processing	Yes	Butchers, QA, production operatives	Shrewsbury & UK-wide sites
Tate & Lyle Sugars	Food ingredients	Yes	Food technologists, packaging, production	London
Greggs PLC	Bakery chain	Limited	Bakery production staff, food safety roles	Newcastle upon Tyne
Pret A Manger	Food-to-go retail	Yes (select roles)	Baristas, kitchen prep, team leaders	London
Leon Restaurants	Sustainable fast food	Limited	Kitchen crew, team leaders, store managers	London
Müller UK & Ireland	Dairy & beverage production	Yes	Production, engineering, QA	Market Drayton
Warburtons	Bakery manufacturing	Yes	Production line workers, engineers, food safety staff	Bolton
J Sainsbury (Sainsbury’s)	Food retail	Limited	In-store bakery & hospitality roles, supply chain	London
Marks & Spencer (M&S Food)	Retail food & innovation	Limited	Product development, food technologists	London
Arla Foods UK	Dairy cooperative	Yes	Technicians, operators, food safety experts	Leeds
Heinz Kraft (UK)	Packaged food manufacturing	Yes	Production, R&D, logistics	Wigan