Back to internships

R&D Product Development Intern (Northbrook IL) - Summer 2027 - Campus Recruiting

Hormel Foods Family of Companies
Northbrook, Illinois, United StatesPosted Sep 8, 2026
Summer 2027

About the role

About Hormel Foods

Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minnesota, is a global branded food company with over $12 billion in annual revenue. Its brands include PLANTERS®, SKIPPY®, SPAM®, HORMEL® NATURAL CHOICE®, APPLEGATE®, WHOLLY®, HORMEL® BLACK LABEL®, COLUMBUS®, JENNIE-O® and more than 30 other beloved brands. The Company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named one of the best companies to work for by U.S. News & World Report and one of America’s most responsible companies by Newsweek, was recognized by TIME magazine as one of the World’s Best Companies and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. For more information, visit hormelfoods.com [http://hormelfoods.com/].

Job Title

R&D Product Development Intern - Northbrook, IL

Job Purpose

Gain hands-on experience in food product development, process optimization, and commercial manufacturing while working alongside R&D professionals to develop products and solutions that support business growth across Retail and Foodservice channels. This internship provides exposure to the complete product development lifecycle, from concept development and formulation through commercialization and production.

Responsibilities

  • Work closely with product development scientists on a wide variety of

value-added food projects across the Planters®, NUT∙rition® and Skippy® brands (may require travel to other production facilities within the USA)

  • Gain experience and apply knowledge of food science to the product

development process

  • Learn to operate a wide variety of food processing equipment
  • Practice communication skills, use analytical techniques, and apply critical

thinking skills

  • Learn about product formulation and prepare prototypes in the lab/pilot plant

for review by marketing, sales, operations and R&D

  • Gain practical experience applying food science, meat science, and

Similar internships

Apply