Innovation Intern in Winston Salem, North Carolina at TW Garner Food Company

Garner Foods is seeking a detail-oriented Innovation Intern to support the Innovation team in the development of new food products from benchtop work through food production process support. This full-time, temporary internship provides hands-on exposure to product development, ingredient preparation, sample preparation, testing support, data recording, and customer sample readiness in a food manufacturing environment.

What You’ll Do

• Assist with ingredient preparation and bench sample preparation for new food product development.
• Prepare, package, label, and test product samples for development activities and customer sample requests.
• Sample and pick up ingredients and materials from the processing facility and warehouse as needed.
• Maintain Innovation kitchen stock of ingredients and materials at appropriate levels.
• Record inventory and traceability information for ingredients and finished product samples.
• Package and transfer samples to the warehouse for customer shipment according to requirements.
• Support internal tasting panels for flavor evaluation of ingredients and finished products.
• Maintain a clean and safe Innovation kitchen in accordance with company, safety, and food safety standards.
• Follow applicable food safety, safety, sanitation, GMP, PPE, and site access expectations.

What Success Looks Like

A successful Innovation Intern is curious, dependable, organized, and detail-oriented. This person can accurately prepare samples, record data, follow procedures, maintain clean and safe work practices, and support the Innovation team with professionalism and a willingness to learn.

• Associate's degree in food science or a closely related field, such as food technology, microbiology, chemistry, or engineering, required or in progress as appropriate for internship placement.
• Basic knowledge of food science principles and laboratory techniques.
• Knowledge of food safety practices and regulations.
• Familiarity with Microsoft 365, especially Excel and Teams.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to accurately measure, record data, and follow procedures.
• Ability to communicate effectively and work as part of a team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior exposure to food product development, food science labs, food manufacturing, or culinary/product testing environments.
• Experience preparing samples, measuring ingredients, recording data, or maintaining inventory records.
• Interest in food innovation, quality, product development, or food manufacturing.

Work Environment

This role works primarily in an Innovation kitchen and may support activities involving the processing facility, warehouse, or other controlled areas. The intern may be required to wear PPE and follow applicable safety, food safety, GMP, sanitation, and site access requirements when entering designated areas.

Safety & Food Safety Expectations

All employees are expected to follow company safety, food safety, sanitation, GMP, PPE, and housekeeping expectations. Employees are expected to report unsafe conditions, product concerns, sample concerns, documentation issues, or food safety concerns immediately.

Equal Employment Opportunity

TW Garner Food Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.