Development Chef

Drnewitt; Lurgan; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Avondale Foods, a leading UK food processing company, is seeking an NPD Development Chef to research and develop new products aligned with business plans. The role involves direct customer engagement to identify needs and secure opportunities, showcasing high standards in food safety, innovation and quality.

You will interpret briefs, craft viable recipes, and lead product development projects from concept to production, while collaborating with customers and internal teams to deliver compelling

Qualifications

• Culinary expertise across flavour, ingredients, cooking methods and presentation.
• Proven experience in developing new food products from concept to production.
• Understanding large-scale food production, processes and constraints.
• Ability to create scalable recipes with precise ingredient parameters.
• Experience translating kitchen recipes into factory recipes while maintaining quality.
• Solid knowledge of HACCP, allergens, microbiology and food safety controls.
• Awareness of shelf life, ingredient functionality and packaging requirements.

Responsibilities

• Interpret customer briefs in line with expectations and business plans.
• Develop innovative, commercially viable recipes meeting customer requirements.
• Prepare and cook new products for customer sampling and hospitality during visits.
• Assist with customer presentations and product submissions, using strong communication skills.
• Stay updated on food trends and translate them into viable development opportunities.
• Manage short-term and long-term development projects and deliverables.
• Complete documentation and recipe records accurately using the company system.
• Understand site capabilities and participate in development and production trials.

Skills

Culinary Expertise

Product Development

Manufacturing knowledge

Recipe formulation

Scale-up

Food Safety

Technical awareness

Education

Food technology qualification

Job description

Job Description

Avondale Foods – Development Chef

Avondale Foods

Mission Our mission is to create new products, to develop partnerships with new and existing customers and suppliers to guarantee the long-term sustainability of Avondale Foods as an organisation.

Job Position: NPD Development Chef Department: NPD
Reports to: Head Development Chef Hour: 40 hours per week

Scope of Role

Avondale Foods is a leading food processing company of Fresh and Chilled products supplying leading retail businesses such as Marks & Spencer, and Morrison’s and Waitrose in the UK.

The purpose of this role is to research and explore new food products and opportunities to support the development of sales in line with agreed business plans.

The role involves engaging directly with customers to build strong, professional relationships, identify their needs, and secure new business opportunities. It also plays a key role in promoting the company’s professionalism, innovation, and ability to deliver new and relevant food solutions to both existing and prospective customers.

Key Responsibilities

• Interpret customer development briefs in line with customer expectations and company business plans.
• Apply strong culinary knowledge and practical skills to develop innovative, commercially viable recipes that meet customer requirements.
• Prepare and cook new products for customer sampling, including providing hospitality during customer visits.
• Assist with and deliver customer presentations and product submissions, demonstrating strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of food styles, restaurant and food-industry trends, and competitor activity, translating relevant food trends into commercially viable product development opportunities.
• Take responsibility for both short-term and long-term product development projects as required.
• Complete basic documentation, recipe records, and product information accurately using the company recipe management system.
• Understand site capabilities, equipment, and production processes, and attend development and production trials when required.
• Carry out general kitchen and culinary duties while maintaining high standards of food quality, hygiene, presentation, and organisation.
• To lead by example by adhering to Company general policies, i.e., Food Safety, Health Safety, Absence, etc.
• Undertake other appropriate duties as deemed necessary within the scope of the role.
• Contribute to the development of a culture of Integrity, collaboration ‘do the right thing’ approach in all interactions.
• Ensure Food Safety compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements to remain audit-ready at all times.

Avondale Foods’ Values

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

• Culinary Expertise – Strong chef background with excellent knowledge of flavour, ingredients, cooking methods, textures and presentation
• Product Development – Proven experience developing new food products from initial concept through to factory production
• Manufacturing knowledge – Understanding of large-scale food production, manufacturing processes, equipment, batch cooking and production constraints
• Recipe formulation – Ability to create accurate, scalable recipes and specifications, including ingredient percentages, yields and cooking parameters
• Scale-up – Experience translating a kitchen recipe into a commercially viable factory recipe while maintaining quality and consistency
• Food Safety – Good working knowledge of HACCP, allergen management, microbiological risks, traceability and food safety controls
• Technical awareness – understanding of shelf life, ingredient functionality, processing, preservation, packaging and product specifications.

Desirable Criteria

• Food technology qualification – HNC/HND/Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Nutrition or a related discipline
• Customer-facing NPD – Experience presenting concepts, samples and development work directly to customers
• Experience conducting competitor benchmarking and identifying opportunities for product improvementTrend awareness – good awareness of current food, consumer and culinary trends
• Presentation skills – confidence presenting concepts and products to senior management, customers and cross-functional teams

Avondale Foods

15 Dukestown Lane, Lurgan

Issued 09.12.2022