Job Description
R&D Food Technologist Internship KLN Family Brands/Kenny's Candy & Confections College Juniors and Seniors...We're looking for you! Our Story KLN Family Brands is a 3rd generation family-owned business that started in 1964 with its corporate headquarters located in Perham, MN, in the heart of MN lakes country. Together, our companies manufacture a diverse and expanding range of high-quality human and pet food products.
At KLN Family Brands, our vision is that "We are a proud people-first company. We are successful because of trust-based relationships, and first-rate products for our families and friends. We better the world by caring for others. We challenge. We grow. We inspire."
Some companies have to "fudge the story" a little. Some need the extra "spin" to shine a positive light on themselves. That's not who we are at KLN Family Brands, and that's not what we do. We tell the story of our brand - our
people , the
quality & safety of our products, our
tradition & trust , our
bold innovation , and the way we treat our
community & beyond . We do it in a genuine way because we genuinely believe we're a pretty amazing company.
We're looking for an
R&D Food Technologist Intern for the summer of 2026 that is serious about a career in food manufacturing, specifically within the confectionary industry. If you are willing to learn from the best and have a desire to participate in the growth of some of the fastest growing brands in the confectionary industry, you've stumbled upon the right job.
The Opportunity As an
R&D Food Technologist Intern , you'll work closely with our Director of Product Innovation, other R&D team members, and the entire operations team.
Daily Duties and Responsibilities: - Create new products for our brands and B2B partners
- Improve existing products and optimize formulas
- Interact with customers to develop meaningful insights and translate them into concepts, prototypes, and commercial offerings
- Suggest, build, and apply tools to improve processes and learnings
- Engage external partners to source solutions and identify new capabilities
- Partner cross-functionally to design packaging, develop specifications, and create First Production Run (FPR) expectations
Unique Projects: - Innovative Product Development
- Meet an Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) need
- Participate in strategic planning projects
You Will Learn Things Like: - Innovation and creativity
- Goal setting and KPI measurement
- Analytical and critical thinking
- Problem solving
- Oral and written communication
- Teamwork and leadership
What You'll Need to Be Successful at KLN Family Brands/Kenny's Candy & Confections: - At least a Junior in college pursuing a degree in Food Science or a related field
- The ability to dedicate 10-12 weeks to the internship program for the summer of 2026
- A positive attitude and willingness to learn
- The ability to work in a team atmosphere and be a great co-worker
- The ability to work on-site at our Perham, MN facility for the summer
Interns who demonstrate exceptional performance and a passion for our business may have the opportunity for full-time employment upon graduation.
Pay for this position will be a percentage of industry standards based on typical full-time starting salaries and will depend on your year in school and your timeline to graduation.
Job Tags
Full time, Summer work, Internship,