What's your job about?
Frucor Suntory is one of the largest beverage manufacturers in NZ and owns an array of iconic brands such as V, Just Juice, and Ribena. The R&D graduate role is a two-year program that involves rotating through multiple functions within the business, including product development, packaging, quality, regulatory affairs, raw materials, and manufacturing. The rotations are a great opportunity to learn about all aspects of developing a product – from idea generation to manufacturing the final product in the on-site factory.
One of the projects I worked on in the Product Development rotation was developing new V flavours. This included training on flavours and colours, spending time trialling new formulations in the lab and working with consumers to ensure the drink was exactly what they wanted. It is very exciting to know that the products I helped develop will be on the shelves one day.
Another highlight was working with the batching team in the factory to understand how upscaling production works. This was very eye opening as it helped me understand the factors that need to be considered when developing a product.
The rotations not only help you find what area of the business you are passionate about but also give you a broad range of business knowledge that is very valuable for any future role.
There is a great network of grads throughout the company, and we regularly catch up to see how each other is doing. We also have a netball team and a bunch of grad traditions that get passed along every year.
What's your background?
I grew up and went to school in sunny Hawkes Bay. I studied for a Bachelor of Food Technology (Hons) at Massey University as it was a perfect combination of my two passions – food and science. I did a summer internship at Frucor Suntory before my final year of uni. The internship confirmed to me that Frucor Suntory would be a great place to work, so I applied for the grad program and started the role the following year.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Anyone keen to learn about the beverage industry and has studied food technology, science, or chemical engineering would be a great candidate for the role.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
I love the innovation! The process of starting with a consumer need, developing a product, and then seeing that product on the shelves in the supermarket is the best.
What really made Frucor Suntory stand out to me was the following:
What are the limitations of your job?
If you aren’t curious and don’t like asking questions, then this role wouldn’t be for you. Dress up’s and having a laugh is also requirements of the job, so you can’t take yourself too seriously.
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