Food & Beverage: where people come to dine
Anywhere food and drinks are sold to customers is the Food and Beverage (F&B) part of the hospitality industry. There is a wide variety of outlets - take-aways, fast food, cafes, ethnic restaurants, fine dining restaurants, clubs, pubs, taverns, hotels, reception lounges and conference venues.
Food and Beverage service staff are called waiters, bar tenders, baristas, cocktail makers, restaurant or bar supervisors and managers.
Work in this sector can be very busy, interacting with customers during exciting and fun occasions. Those who have good interpersonal skills, enjoy working with and talking to people, have good attention to detail and excellent personal habits and presentation can do well in the Food and Beverage sector. They need to have an extensive knowledge of all the food dishes and drinks they will be required to serve, to take orders, and record them accurately. They are sales staff and need to be able to meet the customers’ needs, to “up sell” and to meet sales targets set by the employer.
Work hours are often when most people are relaxing or socialising so workers in this sector do their own socialising at other times of the day, often much later at night, and often with other F&B workers.
Those starting as a junior waiter or bar person can progress to being a supervisor or manager. Those in bigger establishments can progress further to regional or general management positions.
A career in this sector is a great choice if you are a ‘people’ person and like the variety, flexibility and challenge of serving people who are enjoying New Zealand’s fine food and beverages.
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