Confectioners and pastry cooks make, present and decorate delicious creations like cakes, pastries, biscuits, chocolates and sugar confections.

The confectionery market globally is worth approximately $120 billion (Datamonitor 2009) and demand for handmade, luxury products is growing. Skilled confectioners craft chocolate, flour, sugar, eggs and butter into beautiful and tasty pieces of art.

To succeed in this career, a confectioner and pastry cook needs creativity and initiative. Technical skills, the ability to work economically and an understanding of food and ingredients are also essential in this competitive sector.