Development Chef: Food Innovation & Brand Lead

Booker Group; Northampton; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Colleague card

Tesco discounts

Save As You Earn share scheme

Pension plan

Health & wellbeing support

Cycle to work scheme

Eye care benefits

Discounted insurance offers

Job summary

Booker Group is recruiting a Development Chef to join our team in Northampton. You will support our Own Brand food innovation programme, turning market insights into viable menu solutions that respond to customer needs and culinary trends.

You will act as a culinary ambassador for Booker Own Brand, leading our perspective on food, drink and hospitality trends and shaping future innovation priorities. This role collaborates with the Product development team to drive quality and innovation across

Qualifications

• Proven Development Chef experience in food manufacturing.
• Outstanding culinary skills and a genuine passion for food and drink innovation.
• Strong knowledge of UK foodservice, hospitality and consumer trends.
• Commercial awareness to balance creativity, quality and cost.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.
• Collaborative approach across functions.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Proactive and inquisitive attitude.
• Resilience, adaptability and solution-focused mindset.

Responsibilities

• Inspire and problem-solve using market insights to guide product development.
• Drive creation of insightful, menu-led solutions.
• Lead stakeholder engagement for brand development across internal and external groups.
• Build relationships with product team, suppliers, chefs, marketing, sales and customers.
• Champion quality, food safety and customer standards throughout development processes.
• Manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-moving environment.
• Elevate customer and colleague exposure to our brands.
• Work with Own Brand, Buying, Marketing and Sales for successful product rollouts.
• Support Booker’s culinary visibility through media campaigns.

Skills

Culinary expertise

Food industry knowledge

Communication skills

Collaborative

Job description

Booker Group is recruiting a Development Chef to join our team in Northampton. You will support our Own Brand food innovation programme, turning market insights into viable menu solutions that respond to customer needs and culinary trends.

You will act as a culinary ambassador for Booker Own Brand, leading our perspective on food, drink and hospitality trends and shaping future innovation priorities. This role collaborates with the Product development team to drive quality and innovation across