What it does: Kraft Heinz Philippines manufactures food and beverage products, as well as packaged food items like cheese and dairy products
Best known for: being part of the fifth-largest food and beverage company in the world
Staff stats: more than 500 employees in the Philippines
Financials: US$26 billion in global net sales for 2020
The good bits: Fresh grads can join Kraft Heinz Philippines as interns or trainees. The company also offers employment programs for MBA students.
The not-so-good bits: Kraft Heinz Philippines seems to offer limited entry-level career opportunities for fresh grads.
Kraft Heinz Philippines started as early as 2015 as a result of a merger between H.J. Heinz Company and Kraft Foods Group. The business combination created the fifth-largest food and beverage company in the world.
As part of The Kraft Heinz Company, Kraft Heinz Philippines supports the company’s global operations for eight US$1-billion+ brands. The merged entity’s portfolio also includes five brands worth between US$500 million and US$1 billion.
These brands include the well-known Heinz Ketchup, as well as Kraft’s cheese products that are pervasive in retail outlets across the Philippine
Insiders described Kraft Heinz Philippines’ workplace culture as flexible in terms of career development. Fresh grads may see opportunities for lateral transitions in a different role, which may help with acquiring extensive experience.
Most promotions at the company are based on meritocracy, so it’s a conducive place for ambitious and driven people. The workplace challenges exist to test their capacity to handle problems as they move up the corporate ladder.
The biggest challenges for fresh grads, though, would be dealing with Kraft Heinz Philippines’ Management by Objectives (MBO). Some employees revealed that the MBO has caused too much internal conflict.
The company also focuses on zero-based budgeting (ZBB), which can be difficult for marketers. On the bright side, an MBO and a ZBB put things into perspective for fresh grads.
In terms of actionable objectives, these core business practices provide them with clear goals for work performance.
Kraft Heinz Philippines’ local and foreign competitors include Monde Nissin Corporation, Nestlé Philippines, Republic Biscuit Corporation, and Universal Robina Corporation.
In 2019, The Kraft Heinz Company deployed its second class of Meal Ambassadors to the Philippines. The initiative was part of the company’s campaign against alleviating hunger in underprivileged communities.
The team went to rural areas and discovered how locals use food as an entrepreneurial tool to ease financial challenges. The Kraft Heinz Meal Ambassador Program is a joint effort with the rising Against Hunger (RAH).
The Kraft Heinz Company has also partnered with RAH through the Kraft Heinz Foundation. The company said that it supports RAH’s efforts by providing nutritional and technical advice (eg label compliance and packaging).
Fresh grads should be patient if they genuinely desire to join Kraft Heinz Philippines. The company seldom offers opportunities for inexperienced graduates, so it may take a while for them to find their dream job.
Once they do find a suitable role, fresh grads should be ready to pass a tedious hiring process. Successful candidates should also prepare for a meritocracy-based culture, where employees navigate through demanding metrics.
Fresh grads should sign up for Kraft Heinz Philippines’ Talent Network to stay updated with the latest job postings.
Applicants should expect a thorough hiring process that may involve up to six steps:
Candidates may need to present a business case study instead of attending an assessment centre. Previous applicants said that the case study involved hypothetical solutions for dwindling sales.
As of 2020, fresh grads should also expect online interviews for safety reasons (eg COVID-19 protocols). An HR representative and the hiring manager are usually the ones who conduct the initial and final interviews, respectively.
As of 2021, there’s little to no information available about salaries at Kraft Heinz Philippines.
If fresh grads join as interns, their monthly salary may align with the average national rate of approximately Php6,000. On the other hand, a management trainee’s average salary starts at Ph25,000 per month.
Kraft Heinz Philippines doesn’t seem to post vacancies for fresh grads. The company, however, offers student and graduate programs:
Interns learn more about the consumer packaged goods industry, particularly Kraft Heinz Philippines’ operations. The trainee programs consist of roles in corporate, field sales, R&D, or manufacturing functions.
Kraft Heinz Philippines may also recruit MBA students in their first or second year. The program allows them to take on a leadership role from the get-go.
When the need arises, the company provides fresh grads with direct employment in the following teams: