News in brief
Nutella maker Ferrero in search of tasters (no experience required)
Nutella maker Ferrero is looking for 60 non-professional tasters to become sensory judges and test raw ingredients for the Italian confectionery group.
The vacancies were posted on the Open Job Metis website on behalf of Soremartec Italia, the Ferrero research and development company. The job description reads: “Ferrero seeks part-time non-professional tasters, willing to evaluate different types of cocoa, hazelnut grains and other semi-finished desserts.”
Candidates need to be computer-literate, ‘normal’ and ‘free of allergies and diseases’ that may affect sensory capacities.
How to taste cocoa
Ferrero has until now entrusted tasting of products to internal staff, but are looking for external candidates, whom they describe as "people who would like to learn how to taste cocoa, hazelnut powder and other semi-finished sweet products.”
Chosen candidates will be required to attend a three-month paid training course in autumn, which the advert says will seek to “educate the sense of smell and taste and improve the ability to express in words what they perceive with the tasting of semi-finished products.”
Following completion of the course, the successful candidates will be hired on a four-hour-a-week contract at Alba, Ferrero’s headquarter in northern Italy.
The move follows a recent one by Mondelēz International, who advertised for external tasters for its chocolate snacks and drinks, including popular brands such as Cadbury and Oreo. The advert attracted thousands of applications.
