Some employees selling goods for a food and beverage manufacturer can be covered by an industry award.

To work out whether an award covers employees selling goods for a food and beverage manufacturer, it’s important to consider:

• the specific duties and qualifications of the employee
• the industry or industries their employer operates in
• where the work is done.

Production employees selling food or beverages from the manufacturing establishment

The Food and Beverage Manufacturing Award can cover employees who mainly do production work but sometimes do retail sales work from the manufacturing or processing establishment.

For example, a production employee who sometimes sells goods directly to the public from the factory floor of a soft drink manufacturer will be covered by this Award.

The employee won’t be covered by the Retail Award because it doesn’t apply to retail activities conducted from a manufacturing or processing establishment (other than a seafood processing establishment).

Non-production employees selling food or beverages from the manufacturing establishment

Take away foods and beverages

The Fast Food Award can cover a business where employees sell ready to be consumed goods made by the food or beverage manufacturer, for customers to mostly take away.

For example the award may cover employees working in a shop at a pie factory selling hot pies and other food.

If the business isn’t in the fast food industry, these employees may be covered by the Miscellaneous Award.

Other foods and beverages

Employees selling goods made by the manufacturer at the manufacturing or processing establishment that aren’t ready to be consumed at the time of sale may be covered by the Miscellaneous Award.

Employees will be covered by the Miscellaneous Award if:

• they’re not covered by another award
• they’re not a managerial or professional employee
• they fall within a classification contained in the Miscellaneous Award.

For example, the Miscellaneous Award may cover employees selling bread from a retail shop at a bread factory.

They’re not covered by:

• the Food and Beverage Manufacturing Award because although it covers employers in the food, beverage and tobacco manufacturing industry, there’s no classification for them
• the Retail Award because it doesn’t cover retail activities conducted from a manufacturing or processing establishment (other than a seafood processing establishment).

Cafes or restaurants

The Restaurant Award can cover a café or restaurant business operated by a food or beverage manufacturer, where employees sell some of the goods made by their employer.

For example, employees working in a café at a food manufacturing establishment that sells some of the goods made on site.

If the business isn’t in the restaurant industry, these employees may be covered by the Miscellaneous Award.

Non-production employees selling food or beverages away from the manufacturing establishment

The Retail Award can cover employees if they’re selling goods made by the manufacturer in a shop located away from the manufacturing or processing establishment.

For example, employees selling frozen baked goods made by the manufacturer from a retail shop away from the factory may be covered by the Retail Award.