Development Chef

Hilton Foods; Grimsby; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive holiday allowance

Life assurance

Opportunities for development

Share Save scheme

Free car parking

Enhanced Maternity/Paternity

Job summary

Hilton Foods is seeking a Development Chef in Grimsby to support the creation of innovative, high-quality food concepts. The role involves collaborating within the NPD team to translate food trends into viable products while maintaining exceptional culinary standards.

The ideal candidate has a robust culinary background and experience in food manufacturing. Benefits include a competitive package, life assurance, and opportunities for development and internal promotion.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Development Chef or equivalent in food manufacturing or retail.
• Strong culinary background focused on quality and presentation.
• Awareness of food trends and consumer insights.

Responsibilities

• Support development and delivery of appealing food concepts.
• Collaborate to bring kitchen concepts to market-ready products.
• Prepare and refine recipes for quality and presentation.
• Participate in customer presentations and taste panels.
• Monitor food trends and competitor activities.
• Ensure developments meet manufacturing and customer standards.

Skills

Culinary skills

Communication

Organizational skills

Teamwork

Adaptability

Job description

Purpose Of The Role

To support the creation and delivery of innovative, high-quality food concepts that meet customer and consumer expectations. The Development Chef works collaboratively within the NPD team to translate food trends and insights into commercially viable, delicious products, maintaining high culinary standards and consistency throughout the development process.

About The Role

Role title: Development Chef

Location: Grimsby, Laforey Rd

Salary: Competitive

Responsibilities

• Support the development and delivery of food concepts that respond to customer briefs, category strategies, and emerging food trends.
• Work collaboratively with the Senior Development Chef, NPD Technologists, and Process Teams to bring new ideas from kitchen concept to factory-ready product.
• Prepare, test, and refine recipes to ensure exceptional quality, flavour, and visual presentation.
• Participate in customer presentations, tasting panels, and internal reviews, demonstrating passion for great food and attention to detail.
• Maintain a strong awareness of food trends, competitor activity, and innovation across retail and foodservice sectors.
• Ensure all developments are feasible for manufacture, meeting customer cost, nutritional, and technical standards.
• Support the Senior Development Chef in coaching and sharing best practice within the team.
• Uphold Hilton Foods’ values of quality, innovation, and collaboration, ensuring consistency across all culinary work.
• Assist in maintaining accurate records, samples, and documentation to support seamless product approval and launch.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Development Chef, Junior Development Chef, or Culinary Developer within food manufacturing, foodservice, or retail.
• Strong culinary background with a passion for flavour, quality, and presentation.
• Awareness of food trends, consumer insight, and innovation processes.
• Understanding of factory processes and scalability considerations.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• Effective communication and teamwork abilities.
• Confident in presenting food and ideas to internal teams and customers.
• Enthusiastic, adaptable, and eager to learn from senior team members.

Benefits

• Great package with competitive holiday allowance
• Life assurance of minimum two times yearly salary
• Opportunities for development and internal promotion
• Share Save scheme
• Free car parking on site
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity