Product Technology

Our Food, Fashion and General Merchandise teams together make up our Commercial function, the second largest function within the Tesco business. Our teams drive and deliver the phenomenal sales and profit growth to ensure we maintain our number one position in the UK.

Decisions we make in the Commercial team directly affect all our customers and stores, as well as the rest of the business as a whole. It’s our job to make sure we offer the best range of products, at the best possible prices. Product is our lifeblood.

As a Graduate Trainee Technologist you will be working in one of 3 business areas  - Food, Fashion or General Merchandise - depending on your specialist background. You will have a structured programme that allows you to develop both the broader Commercial skills that you will need and more specialist skills that are specific to your product area. Below are further details of what you can expect from each of the business areas.

Product Technology - Fashion

Our fashion range is a great example of Tesco taking a new idea and really making it work.

These days, Tesco fashion has something for everyone, with prices to suit every pocket. The real success has been our brands, led by Florence + Fred and Cherokee – amongst the fastest growing fashion brands in the UK.

Garment Technologists play a hugely important role in setting the quality and fit of our ranges. Your unrivalled passion for the latest trends will ensure that you produce the best shape, style and colour for our customers for the best possible price. Not only will you get involved in new product development and will take on the responsibility for researching and implementing the latest trends. As a Graduate Trainee Garment Technologist you will also be responsible for the safety and legality of our garments, trims and accessories. All of this in addition to ensuring our supplier base conforms to our ethical codes. This is a huge and varied role where you will control the specification of an entire range of products, from our luxurious cashmere range to the latest catwalk-inspired dress.

Product Technology - Food

Our company began selling groceries, and food still remains at the very heart of who we are and what we do today.

Because everyone is welcome at Tesco, we appreciate that our customers have different tastes and requirements. We want graduates who can put products at the heart of our business by improving prices for our customers and developing partnerships with suppliers.

Food Technologists play a hugely important role in setting the quality standard of our products. Not only will you get involved in the development of new products and the implementation of the latest trends. You will also be responsible for the safety and legality of our products and supplier bases, along with ensuring they conform to our ethical codes. This is a huge and varied role where you will control the specification of an entire product range.

From the very start, as a Graduate Trainee Technologist, you will have the opportunity to get involved in decisions that determine what we sell, the ingredients and packaging. The global nature of the food business means that even as a graduate you will be required to consider the environmental impact of all of our products.

The food environment is one of enormous pace and one of the most highly reactive in the business. We will give you all the support you need to complete our 12 month structured development programme, but it goes without saying that you will need to demonstrate the drive, commercial understanding and have bags of enthusiasm to really fly high.

Product Technology - General Merchandise

Step into a Tesco store, and it's pretty obvious we mean business about expanding our non-food range so that our customers have an even bigger choice - from flat screen TVs to wooden train sets just for starters.

Constantly introducing brand new products each season, we are the biggest growth area of the non-food business - but there's plenty of scope for more success. We go to the best suppliers around the world, buying for less so we can pass the savings on to our customers.

Product Technologists take on the vital role of setting and delivering our quality product. Our Graduate Trainee Technologists get involved in the development of new products, researching the latest trends in design and engineering. Even some of our smaller product categories can be worth millions, so your impact on the business will be visible right from the start. You will also have responsibility for our product packaging, taking into account our impact on the environment in everything we do. All of this is carried out while constantly ensuring our suppliers conform to all of our ethical codes. This is a huge and varied role where you will control the specification of an entire product range, from our luxurious state of the art entertainment systems to the very latest design in furniture.

To join us as a Graduate Trainee Technologist we are looking for a minimum 2:2 degree or equivalent (obtained or expected) in a science or industrial design based subject. And 240 UCAS points at A Level/Scottish Highers or other equivalent qualifications (excluding General Studies).

Find out more from one of our graduates.