If you’re eating a pre-prepared meal tonight, there’s a chance TAFE NSW graduate Zach Baudinet cooked your dinner.

The former chef decided to take his years of restaurant kitchen experience and combine it with a dash of science mixed in with some hands-on skills to change careers and become a product development chef.

The food industry is one of the largest industries in the world, employing scores of people across various sectors. However, it is a common misconception that only chefs or people in the hospitality sector work with food.

There is a growing need for people with the skills to develop food products that cater to allergies and further-develop plant-based foods. There is also an increasing demand for people with food safety and compliance qualifications as compliance demands such as labelling and food allergies evolve, alongside changing consumer expectations.

Food technology is an emerging industry that can provide lucrative and fulfilling career options for people wanting to combine a love of food with an interest in science.

Mr Baudinet enrolled in the Certificate IV Food Science and Technology course at TAFE NSW Ultimo where experienced teachers armed him with the skills needed to pave the way for his career change.
“Product development in pre-packaged meals is an exciting and growing industry,” Mr Baudinet said.
“I started my product development journey with Woolworths, moving from being a chef to in-house product development, and I'm now working with Salad Servers in Chatswood.

“We create the recipes, source the ingredients and test how to take one kilogram of a meal and make 1000 kilograms without ruining the flavour and nutrients. It’s a satisfying and fast-paced job with no two days being the same,”

“I get to use my skills from being a chef and apply them strategically to problem solve and continuously innovate,” Mr Baudinet said.

TAFE NSW teacher Jeanette Ramos said TAFE NSW prepares graduates to walk out of the classroom and onto the job with practical skills.

“Our food science facilities at the Ultimo campus mirror the industry using simulated food processing, sensory testing, and food analysis in our food microbiology laboratories.

“The food sector continues to evolve and grow. Food safety auditing is another emerging area where demand is increasing for people with the right skills and qualifications.

“Our food science facilities at the Ultimo campus mirror the industry in our simulated food processing, sensory testing  food analysis and food microbiology laboratories.  Many of the required skills are embedded in our Certificate IV Food Science and Technology course, the same course Mr Baudinet enrolled in,” Ms Ramos said.

Media contact: Melanie Pope, TAFE NSW Communications Specialist, mobile 0400 074 007.