Development Chef – Sushi Specialist

Pankufood; Acton; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Apprentice programme

Wellbeing support services

Annual discretionary bonus

Life Assurance

Income Protection

Private Medical Cash Plan

Retail, cinema & gym discounts

50% off food

Job summary

Pankufood in Acton is seeking a Sushi-focused Development Chef to lead flavour-driven product development, translating briefs into standout sushi concepts.

You’ll work cross‑functionally with NPD, Commercial, Marketing and Operations to push boundaries, balance taste with cost, and scale ideas into production in a fast‑paced, creative environment. Monday to Friday, with growth opportunities and apprenticeships available.

Qualifications

• Experienced Sushi Chef with strong technical expertise.
• Deep understanding of flavour balance, seasoning, and Sushi composition.
• Confident presenting to customers and bringing ideas to life.
• Commercially aware with ability to scale concepts into production.

Responsibilities

• Create innovative Sushi concepts with a strong focus on flavour development and differentiation.
• Translate customer briefs into unique, trend-led Sushi products.
• Experiment with fusion flavours, global influences, and new ingredient pairings.
• Deliver impactful customer presentations, telling the story behind your flavour concepts.
• Develop recipes that balance flavour, cost, and scalability.
• Prepare samples for tastings, food shows, and key customer meetings.
• Conduct flavour benchmarking and competitor analysis.
• Support factory scale-up, maintaining flavour integrity in production.
• Continuously refine and elevate existing Sushi ranges.

Skills

Sushi chef

Flavour development

Presentation

Production scale-up

Job description

We’re looking for a Sushi-focused Development Chef with a passion for flavour, innovation, and customer‑led development.

This role is all about pushing boundaries—developing standout Sushi products with exciting flavour profiles, blending authenticity with modern, trend‑led influences. You’ll work cross‑functionally with NPD, Commercial, Marketing, and Operations teams to bring new ideas to life at scale.

Working pattern: Monday to Friday – giving you consistency while still working in a fast‑paced, creative environment.

About You:

• Experienced Sushi Chef (essential) with strong technical expertise
• Deep understanding of flavour balance, seasoning, and Sushi composition
• Passionate about innovation and pushing flavour boundaries
• Confident presenting to customers and bringing ideas to life
• Commercially aware with the ability to scale concepts into production
• Hands‑on, organised, and thrives in a creative, fast‑paced environment

Key Responsibilities:

• Create innovative Sushi concepts with a strong focus on flavour development and differentiation
• Translate customer briefs into unique, trend‑led Sushi products
• Experiment with fusion flavours, global influences, and new ingredient pairings
• Deliver impactful customer presentations, telling the story behind your flavour concepts
• Develop recipes that balance flavour, cost, and scalability
• Prepare samples for tastings, food shows, and key customer meetings
• Conduct flavour benchmarking and competitor analysis
• Support factory scale‑up, maintaining flavour integrity in production
• Continuously refine and elevate existing Sushi ranges

We're proud to offer:

• Opportunity to grow your career alongside with us with available apprentice program
• Brilliant support services designed to enhance your physical, mental and financial wellbeing.
• Annual discretionary bonus subject to business and overall performance
• Discretionary Life Assurance
• Discretionary Income Protection
• Private Medical Cash Plan
• Bespoke reward platform including access to retail, cinema & gym discounts.
• 50% off your food every time you dine with us for you and 3 friends.
• Contribute towards our award‑winning sustainability initiatives that delivers progress against 9 UN sustainability goals. We're committed to responsibly sourcing and all our seafood, therefore we only use source sustainable fish. All our packaging is recyclable and 80% of our packaging is already made from recycled plastic.
• Annual Awards ceremony celebrating our success and offering winning Managers free trips to Japan.