Work doesn't have to be a chore. Launching a series looking at dream children's careers, Lucy Rodgers unwraps the secrets of the professional chocolate taster.
Work doesn't have to be a chore. Launching a series looking at dream children's careers, Lucy Rodgers unwraps the secrets of the professional chocolate taster.
As far as fantasy jobs go, chocolate tasting must come pretty near the top of many people's lists - children and adults alike.
As far as fantasy jobs go, chocolate tasting must come pretty near the top of many people's lists - children and adults alike.
However, sampling and buying the best sweets the world has to offer for luxury Piccadilly department store Fortnum and Mason is probably beyond most chocoholics' wildest dreams.
However, sampling and buying the best sweets the world has to offer for luxury Piccadilly department store Fortnum and Mason is probably beyond most chocoholics' wildest dreams.
That is what Darren Williams does for a living.Someone has to check they taste nice...
That is what Darren Williams does for a living.Someone has to check they taste nice...
The 43-year-old confectionary buyer spends his working hours researching, sampling and negotiating deals on top-of-the-range chocolate and sweets from across the UK and abroad. And he is unable to disguise his glee.
The 43-year-old confectionary buyer spends his working hours researching, sampling and negotiating deals on top-of-the-range chocolate and sweets from across the UK and abroad. And he is unable to disguise his glee.
"I get to eat and taste an awful lot of sweets and chocolates," he smiles. "I taste them daily.
"I get to eat and taste an awful lot of sweets and chocolates," he smiles. "I taste them daily.
"I get to travel around and search for products and then I get to eat them."
"I get to travel around and search for products and then I get to eat them."
Working in the high-end of the market, Darren is constantly on the hunt for the "best of its type", which can be anything from the perfect Cadbury's sample to unusual and elite single-estate foreign products.
Working in the high-end of the market, Darren is constantly on the hunt for the "best of its type", which can be anything from the perfect Cadbury's sample to unusual and elite single-estate foreign products.
Learning to spit
Learning to spit
All in all, he oversees, and samples, about 500 different lines at Fortnum's - from Fruitellas and Black Jacks, right through to rare ganaches.
All in all, he oversees, and samples, about 500 different lines at Fortnum's - from Fruitellas and Black Jacks, right through to rare ganaches.
"I taste everything - fudge, nougat, Turkish delight - everything," he says, quickly explaining the techniques he employs so as not to get fat. You do have to eat things you don't like, but you have to get over that. It doesn't stop me doing that part of the job Darren Williams
"I taste everything - fudge, nougat, Turkish delight - everything," he says, quickly explaining the techniques he employs so as not to get fat. You do have to eat things you don't like, but you have to get over that. It doesn't stop me doing that part of the job Darren Williams
"I am not the size of a house. You have to get used to spitting. You have to do this to taste the premium products properly. But you do have to be careful.
"I am not the size of a house. You have to get used to spitting. You have to do this to taste the premium products properly. But you do have to be careful.
"I have 16 boxes of chocolates right next to me now - it is a temptation to keep eating them."
"I have 16 boxes of chocolates right next to me now - it is a temptation to keep eating them."
Darren reads widely and visits trade fairs to ensure he is aware of the newest confectionary at all times. The internet has made his job a lot easier compared to that of his predecessors, who would have been forced to "search the jungles" for unusual products, he says.
Darren reads widely and visits trade fairs to ensure he is aware of the newest confectionary at all times. The internet has made his job a lot easier compared to that of his predecessors, who would have been forced to "search the jungles" for unusual products, he says.
The average day begins by assessing what sold well the previous one and what needs to be bought, before the envious task of sampling new products.
The average day begins by assessing what sold well the previous one and what needs to be bought, before the envious task of sampling new products.
"Most of the tasting is done in the morning before the palette is ruined for the day," he explains.
"Most of the tasting is done in the morning before the palette is ruined for the day," he explains.
"If you are doing fillings then you can do more because the flavour variants are so significant. But with chocolate itself, you would probably do about six." CHOCOLATE TASTERS Salary: General retail buyers £12,000-£50,000+Numbers: Estimated 146 UK chocolate buyersBreaking in: Join retail industry after school or take course in supply chain management, logistics or business studies Source: Skillsmart Retail/Careers Advice
"If you are doing fillings then you can do more because the flavour variants are so significant. But with chocolate itself, you would probably do about six." CHOCOLATE TASTERS Salary: General retail buyers £12,000-£50,000+Numbers: Estimated 146 UK chocolate buyersBreaking in: Join retail industry after school or take course in supply chain management, logistics or business studies Source: Skillsmart Retail/Careers Advice
As the store's chief confectionary taster, Darren tries not to let personal preference affect his choices. For example, he doesn't like marzipan and doesn't drink alcohol, but still has to buy products containing those ingredients.
As the store's chief confectionary taster, Darren tries not to let personal preference affect his choices. For example, he doesn't like marzipan and doesn't drink alcohol, but still has to buy products containing those ingredients.
"You do have to eat things you don't like, but you have to get over that. It doesn't stop me doing that part of the job," he says.
"You do have to eat things you don't like, but you have to get over that. It doesn't stop me doing that part of the job," he says.
When judging bars of chocolate, Darren is looking for the balance of cocoa and sugar that best brings out the character of the bean. Contrary to what many assume, it is not necessarily true that the higher the quantity of cocoa, the better the chocolate, he says.
When judging bars of chocolate, Darren is looking for the balance of cocoa and sugar that best brings out the character of the bean. Contrary to what many assume, it is not necessarily true that the higher the quantity of cocoa, the better the chocolate, he says.
Making it
Making it
So, how would budding chocolate connoisseurs get to do what is potentially the industry's top job?
So, how would budding chocolate connoisseurs get to do what is potentially the industry's top job?
Darren began his route to a career in chocolate after leaving sixth form when he entered the retail industry. He went on to become a coffee buyer for Marks & Spencer and it was a short leap to confectionary buyer at Fortnum's, for whom he also continues to buy coffee and tea.
Darren began his route to a career in chocolate after leaving sixth form when he entered the retail industry. He went on to become a coffee buyer for Marks & Spencer and it was a short leap to confectionary buyer at Fortnum's, for whom he also continues to buy coffee and tea.
Apart from having well-trained taste buds and an understanding of quality, he believes one of the crucial parts of his role is understanding what customers want when they enter the store. At Fortnum's that is premium products.
Apart from having well-trained taste buds and an understanding of quality, he believes one of the crucial parts of his role is understanding what customers want when they enter the store. At Fortnum's that is premium products.
But, like other buyers, Darren confesses to sometimes getting it wrong and, he says, this is the most frustrating part of the job.
But, like other buyers, Darren confesses to sometimes getting it wrong and, he says, this is the most frustrating part of the job.
"You are always going to have things that don't sell, but it is always disappointing when you have put a lot of work into a range when it doesn't come off as well as it could."Fortnum and Mason aims to stock the best of the best
"You are always going to have things that don't sell, but it is always disappointing when you have put a lot of work into a range when it doesn't come off as well as it could."Fortnum and Mason aims to stock the best of the best
His advice to those with a sweet tooth wanting to follow in his footsteps is to acquire a reasonable level of education and the ability to do basic maths, but, he says, no professional qualifications are necessarily needed.
His advice to those with a sweet tooth wanting to follow in his footsteps is to acquire a reasonable level of education and the ability to do basic maths, but, he says, no professional qualifications are necessarily needed.
Wannabes can become buyers by entering the retail industry and working their way up through merchandising, or they can join with a specialist tasting skill, for which there are courses available, he says.
Wannabes can become buyers by entering the retail industry and working their way up through merchandising, or they can join with a specialist tasting skill, for which there are courses available, he says.
However, Darren warns the job requires a certain natural flair and is not just for gluttons.
However, Darren warns the job requires a certain natural flair and is not just for gluttons.
"Not everybody can do it," he says. "You can train your palette. To get the basics it shouldn't take longer than six months. But if you haven't got it by then, you probably won't."
"Not everybody can do it," he says. "You can train your palette. To get the basics it shouldn't take longer than six months. But if you haven't got it by then, you probably won't."
The crucial thing is to have a "passion for food" and "to want it enough", he adds.
The crucial thing is to have a "passion for food" and "to want it enough", he adds.
So, does Darren have one of the world's best careers?
So, does Darren have one of the world's best careers?
"It is a job that you would die for. It is really good fun."
"It is a job that you would die for. It is really good fun."
Next week: The professional Lego modeller.
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