Development Chef

Samworth Brothers; Leicester; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company pension scheme

Health and well-being discounts

Employee discount scheme

Annual pay reviews

Profit related pay

Extended leave

Free on-site parking

Training and growth opportunities

Job summary

Samworth Brothers is seeking a Development Chef to lead product innovation across Food To Go and Food For Now. You’ll translate briefs, collaborate with commercial, technical and process teams, and ensure recipes are accurate and compliant while spotting market opportunities to elevate quality.

Join over 10,000 colleagues at a fourth-generation family business with strong brands and a clear path for growth and development in a supportive, collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Hands on experience in food creation, development or culinary innovation.
• Comfortable working with retailers and meeting their expectations.
• Creative approach to food and ability to showcase ideas through demonstrations.
• Clear communication, strong presentation skills, keeping customers at heart.
• Flexible to support the needs of the business and open to new approaches.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of new products from concept through bakery trials.
• Translate customer briefs into standout product ideas and present them confidently.
• Collaborate with commercial, technical and process teams to deliver NPD outcomes.
• Ensure recipes are accurate, compliant and maintained in internal systems.
• Keep ahead of market trends and identify opportunities to innovate and enhance quality.

Skills

Food creation

Product development

Culinary innovation

Retail liaison

Presentation skills

Customer focus

Team player

Flexibility

Job description

Are you a passionate and experienced Development Chef with a strong background in food manufacturing or do you believe that you have what it takes to pivot into the food manufacturing industry? We are seeking a creative, commercially aware, culinary professional to join our team. This is an exciting and influential opportunity to lead innovation and elevate quality - working with high profile retail partners within our category. Management of strategic third-party brands and collaborative partnerships across Food To Go and Food For Now. The Development Chef will play a key role in identifying market opportunities, generating innovative product ideas, developing recipes, and bringing concepts to life. Working closely with the Brand Manager, they will ensure all product developments align with brand objectives, consumer expectations, and commercial targets.

• Lead the development of new products from initial concept through to bakery trials, blending creativity with commercial awareness
• Translate customer briefs into standout product ideas and present these confidently both internally & externally
• Work closely with commercial, technical and process to deliver smooth and successful new product development outcomes
• Ensure recipes are accurate, compliant and maintained through internal systems and processes
• Keep ahead of market trends and identify fresh opportunities to innovate and enhance quality
  We believe success comes from collaboration and diverse perspectives. At Samworth Brothers, we value team players who are driven to achieve great results together. You'll bring the following skills and experience:
• You bring hands on experience in food creation, development or culinary innovation - whether from a kitchen, product development or related food industry background
• You are comfortable working with retailers or have the curiosity and drive to learn how to meet their expectations
• You have a creative approach to food and feel confident showcasing ideas through high quality demonstrations
• You communicate clearly, present well and keep customers at the heart of your work
• You are flexible to support the needs of the business and open minded in your approach
  Samworth Brothers is a fourth-generation family business, trusted by many of the UK's best-known retailers to produce high-quality own-label products. Alongside these, we're proud to craft and deliver our own iconic brands, including Ginsters, Soreen, Higgidy, Dickinson & Morris, Urban Eat, West Cornwall Pasty Company, and Walker & Son.

With over 10,000 talented colleagues working across our modern, well-invested food manufacturing sites nationwide, we're committed to excellence in everything we do-from the food we make to the careers we build. At Samworth Brothers, you're more than just an employee, you are part of our strong family culture. Our collaborative approach and strong team spirit help us support one another and achieve great things together. As part of a well-established group, we offer stability, opportunity, and a place where you can truly thrive.

We're building a workplace where different ways of thinking are not just welcomed but supported, with clear communication, flexible processes, and a commitment to continuous improvement so everyone can thrive.

• Company pension scheme
• Access to health and well-being support, such as healthcare, optical and dental discounts
• Employee discount scheme
• Experience annual pay reviews
• Profit related pay
• Opportunity for extended leave
• Free on-site parking
• Unlock your potential through training and growth opportunities