Food Assistant Internship at Media24

Media24 is inviting enthusiastic, culinary-trained individuals to apply for the prestigious 12-month Food Assistant Internship supporting the Woolworths TASTE team in Cape Town, Western Cape. This entry-level creative role serves as the perfect launchpad for aspiring food stylists, culinary creatives, and food content producers seeking to gain hands-on studio experience. Working directly alongside skilled food stylists, photographers, and art directors, the successful candidate will play an essential role in bringing dynamic editorial, commercial, and advertising culinary concepts to life on camera.

Key Responsibilities

• Food Preparation & Plating: Assist in preparing, cooking, assembling, and plating food according to strict visual and culinary directions, maintaining immaculate presentation for editorial and commercial photography.

• Kitchen & Studio Organisation: Manage and organise culinary equipment, styling tools, surfaces, and ingredients to guarantee a clean, efficient, and seamless studio workflow during shoots.

• Ingredient Sourcing & Procurement: Source, hand-select, and purchase top-tier ingredients, seasonal produce, and required materials matching creative briefs.

• Logistics, Collections & Deliveries: Coordinate the pickup, transport, and delivery of specialized props, backdrops, equipment, and fresh ingredients between vendors and the Cape Town studio.

• Studio Maintenance & Hygiene: Maintain impeccable cleanliness and sanitation standards across all prep stations and active shoot sets to comply with food safety protocols.

• Storage, Labelling & Tracking: Carefully label, organize, and store fresh produce and pantry goods to ensure ingredient continuity and prevent waste across multi-day photo sessions.

• Editorial Support: Assist the editorial team with accurate recipe documentation, testing notes, basic costings, and practical propping arrangements.

Why Join the Company

Media24 is a leading African media company with a portfolio of award-winning lifestyle brands, including Woolworths TASTE. Joining this collaborative creative ecosystem offers unparalleled mentorship from seasoned food media experts, exposure to the complete lifecycle of high-profile commercial and editorial shoots, and the invaluable opportunity to curate a professional portfolio of published creative work. Media24 fosters a supportive, high-energy environment where continuous learning, artistic curiosity, and dedication to excellence are celebrated.

Estimated Salary Range (Market Benchmark)

The hiring employer has not officially specified a salary for this position. Based on South African market data and industry benchmarks for an entry-level creative media and culinary internship role, the estimated remuneration is approximately R7,000 – R11,000 per month. Please note that this is an industry estimate and actual remuneration will be determined by the employer based on qualifications, experience, and internal pay structures.

Application Strategy (Exclusive)

• Showcase Visual Evidence: Include a mini-portfolio, Instagram handle, or PDF attachment featuring your culinary school creations, plating techniques, baking, or personal food styling photography. Visual proof dramatically sets you apart in food media.

• Demonstrate Adaptability and Stamina: Highlight real-world kitchen experience or studio familiarity showing you can handle early starts, tight shoot timelines, and fast-paced operational shifts with calm precision.

• Focus on Detail-Oriented Hygiene: Detail your food safety certifications and keen eye for detail in your cover letter, explaining how your kitchen discipline will keep sets hygienic, organized, and reliable.

Interview Preparation

Candidates shortlisted for this position should prepare to answer common practical food styling questions, such as:

• "Food styling requires dishes to look fresh under hot studio lights for extended periods. How would you handle an ingredient that begins wilting or melting during a shoot?"

• "Can you describe a situation where you had to quickly troubleshoot a recipe or kitchen preparation mistake under strict time pressure?"

You can practice crafting structured, professional responses to these questions using the YouthNextStep Interview Simulator.

How to Apply

Qualified candidates holding culinary training are encouraged to apply by submitting a detailed CV, academic transcripts, and a compelling cover letter explaining their passion for food styling and visual content production. Please apply using the Quick Apply button on this page.

• Completed formal culinary training or relevant diploma/certificate from an accredited culinary institution.

• Genuine passion for food styling, culinary content creation, and studio photography.

• Strong organisational skills with the ability to maintain clean, tidy prep stations under high-pressure shoot conditions.

• Proven ability to follow creative instructions carefully and adapt swiftly to changing requirements on set.

• Proactive attitude with a willingness to learn, collaborate, and tackle tasks of any size.

• Outstanding punctuality and reliability, including flexibility for early call times and occasional weekend shoots.

• Sound foundational understanding of food hygiene, kitchen safety, and temperature control.

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced creative studio environment and on-location shoots across Cape Town.