Wendy Robinson
Working as: SENIOR FOOD TECHNOLOGIST at Tip Top Ice-Cream
Age: 28
In a nutshell: “I develop new ice-creams and ice-blocks.”
Why food technology?
“I really love my job. It’s always different and you never know what you’re going to do each day.”
My basic job is to develop new ice-creams and ice-blocks. And yes we do eat a lot of ice-cream - when we’re working on a new product we’re eating all the time.
We start with a bit of brainstorming ourselves, then the marketing department will tell us what they want, and we’ll try and turn that idea into something real. It’s quite a long process – it takes about seven months to turn an idea into an actual product.
I helped develop the new Moritz ice-cream, the “Ciao Chocolato”. It’s really exciting to see it advertised on TV and I always ask my family to look out for my new products. When this happens I feel a great sense of satisfaction.
We also advertise in the bus stops so when I’m driving around and see those ads I get really excited.
 How to make a new ice-cream
To start with we have to work out all the costs, the run speed (how many sticks we can make in a minute), how it’s going to be produced, the labeling, how much waste there’ll be and what engineering needs to be done. We have to work out all the ingredients we’ll need, talk with the suppliers, and work out all the processes for production.
Eventually we’ll present it to the bosses on the executive and if they’re happy we move to phase two which include trials, nutritional information, the artwork and the wrap being printed.
Our team created 17 new products this year for our domestic market. We’re trying to be creative, and come up with something original, something that’s not already out there in the marketplace.
How I got here
I did a Bachelor of Technology with Honours at Massey (Albany), majoring in Food Science. Since then I’ve also done a post-graduate diploma in nutrition. At school I did all the sciences and maths subjects.
To be a Food Technologist you need to be creative, but also very organized and able to get on with a whole range of people, from the production guys down on the line, through to the engineers, marketing people, and the bosses at the higher level of management.
I really love my job. It’s always different and you never know what you’re going to do each day.
(Profile courtesy of Futureintech – www.futureintech.com).
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Real people talk about their jobs in food science, technology & engineering (courtesy of Futureintech: www.futureintech.com):
  Simon Loveday, Food Research Scientist for The Riddet Institute, Palmerston North.
 Wendy Robinson, Senior Food Technologist for NZ's largest ice cream manufacturer, Tip Top Ice-Cream, Auckland.
 Harriet Gibbs, Process Manager for multinational dairy processor Fonterra, Edendale, Southland.
 Bronwyn Hawker, Food Technologist with innovative beverage manufacturer Frucor, Auckland.
 Michelle Lucke, Process Improvement Technologist for prepared foods manufacturer, Heinz Watties, Tomoana, Hastings.
 Ben Sutherland, Product Development Technologist for healthy snack manufacturer Mother Earth Foods, Auckland.
 Anna Smith, Development Technologist for milk and dairy foods processor Fonterra Brands NZ.
 Melanie Wong, Food technologist/QA Manager for meat processor and exporter ANZCO Foods Green Island, near Dunedin.
 Rachel Johns, Product Development Technologist for iconic prepared foods manufacturer Heinz Wattie's, Hastings.
 John Evans, Operations Manager for drinks manufacturer Phoenix Organics, Auckland.
 Penny Hosking, Technical Manager for buttercup squash processor and exporter Southmark Quality Foods, Hastings.
 Emily Choi, Product Development Technologist for prepared foods manufacturer Heinz Wattie's, Hastings.
 Tracey Petley-Hibbs, Process Technologist for sweetmaker, Nestlé Confectionery, Auckland.
 Andrew Hutton, Product Development Technologist for prepared foods manufacturer Heinz Wattie's, Hastings.
 Debbie Curtis, Chocolate Technologist for international chocolatemaker, Cadbury, Dunedin.
 Jonelle Taylor, Senior Product Development Technologist for Fresh 'n' Fruity yoghurt manufacturer Fonterra Brands, Auckland.
 Yvette Temple, Senior Product Developer for biscuit manufacturer Griffins, Auckland.
More profiles of careers in food technology at Futureintech: www.futureintech.com. | |
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