Beverage Innovation Lead — Kwench Launch Expert

KFC UK & I - Marketing; Woking; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working from Woking RSC

Up to 11% company pension

25 days’ holiday

5 Live Well Days

Bonus scheme

Private healthcare

Digital GP access & mental health

Enhanced parental leave

Study support

Income protection & life cover

25% off the chicken

Job summary

KFC UK & I - Marketing is seeking a Beverage Innovation Lead for Kwench by KFC. You will own the beverage pipeline, turning cultural insights into drinks, and lead concept to launch across a growing, fast‑pace QSR network.

You will work with suppliers, ops and brand teams to ensure scalable, profitable drinks that resonate with a culture‑conscious audience. This is a hybrid role based in the UK.

Qualifications

• Proven beverage product development experience with hands-on formulation and launches.
• Portfolio of launched drinks with commercial impact and cultural buzz.
• Strong brand thinking with ability to tell stories through drinks.
• Cultural fluency and trend-to-idea translation.
• Experience working with suppliers, supply chain and operations at scale.
• Collaborative, cross-functional mindset.
• Knowledge of UK food and drink regulation including HFSS.

Responsibilities

• Own the Kwench innovation pipeline: 12–24 month roadmap with new drinks, drops and extensions.
• Lead end-to-end development: concept, formulation, sensory, nutrition, HFSS, costing, specs.
• Develop across the Kwench architecture: core refreshers, functional options and seasonal ideas.
• Collaborate in cross-functional squads to drive launches that create buzz and volume.

Skills

Beverage product development

Conceptual brand thinking

Cultural fluency

Cross-functional collaboration

Supplier & operations experience

Regulatory knowledge HFSS

Education

Food science / Nutrition qualification

Job description

KFC UK & I - Marketing is seeking a Beverage Innovation Lead for Kwench by KFC. You will own the beverage pipeline, turning cultural insights into drinks, and lead concept to launch across a growing, fast‑pace QSR network.

You will work with suppliers, ops and brand teams to ensure scalable, profitable drinks that resonate with a culture‑conscious audience. This is a hybrid role based in the UK.