Food Business Consultant: The Career and Growth Path

By Achal Mehrotra

The term, food business consultant, itself reveals a lot of information. Basically, it is the industry that provides with all the knowledge, guidance and assistance required by the people in their businesses that involve food, including hotels, restaurants, schools, and cafeterias, or any other place where the food is served to the people.

The main purpose of the people belonging to the particular business is to serve their clients in order to offset the problems that occur in their food business. Also, not only at the time of the problem, but the consultants can be approached when someone is about to start his/her new business related to food, they can seek the advice of the food business consultants. As they have the proper and required knowledge, they can assist to solve any kind of problem in a cost-effective way.

Two parties, the consultants and their client (who is in need), are involved in the process. A specific time is decided in advance with a specific aim to achieve and accordingly the fees is charged.

Career path to become "Food business consultant"

Foodservice Consultants Society International (FCSI) is a worldwide industry association that promotes professionalism in foodservice and hospitality consulting.The eligible candidate must clear the two exams to become professional members of the Foodservice Consultants Society International (FCSI).

Various steps involved in the process of becoming a food business consultant:

� Degree

One must attain a bachelor's degree in food science, food industry management, hospitality or any field related to food industry, in order to pursue the same as the career path. One can get the degree online as many organizations offer the online courses as well.

� Gain experience

In order to become a professional member of the FCSI, an individual must have at least three years of experience in the foodservice industry. Capable consultants can gain the practical experience by working at various levels in the variety of work environments, including, school cafeterias, hospitals, restaurants, fast food establishments, etc.

� The position of an employee of a food business consultant firm

An individual must work his or her way up in the professional hierarchy of food industry consultants and seek employment with a food industry consulting firm. At the initial level, the employee may work in any of the job related to food that is available at the firm and should strive for opportunities to become a project manager in the later course.

� An Associate Member of the FCSI

Before the topmost level, there are a lot of executive levels for a person to clear. Executive or the associate levels are majorly termed as the learning or the trainee levels, where the capable person learns everything in order to attain the higher position in his/her field. An FCSI associate member, after working as project manager, qualifies to become a senior associate member of the FCSI.

� Professional Member of FCSI

After completing the above steps, an individual is eligible to become a professional member of the FCSI. Individuals who succeed to become the professional members are further eligible to serve people that are seeking the help of the qualified food industry consultants.

Furthermore, an individual can even open his own consultancy to offer assistance to the clients and make money.

Conclusion

In short, to become a food industry consultant, one must possess a bachelor's degree, managerial experience for up to three years of working in a consulting firm, become first an associate member of the FCSI and then a professional member.

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Article Source: Food Business Consultant: The Career and Growth Path