Food & Beverage Product Development Manager

Aquent; London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company is seeking an experienced professional in food and beverage product development to join their EMEA team. This role involves driving innovative product development, collaborating with brand partnerships, and overseeing creative projects. The ideal candidate will have over 8 years of experience and a strong understanding of the European retail landscape.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in creative direction for food and beverage product development.
• Prior experience in the EMEA region required.

Responsibilities

• Drive food and beverage product development across local markets.
• Collaborate with Brand Partnerships on F&B initiatives.
• Manage product approvals through the internal system.

Skills

Creativity

Communication

Project Management

Multilingual Skills

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Photoshop

Job description

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced professional with a strong background in food and beverage product development—ideally within a licensing environment—and a keen understanding of brand partnerships. This role is an exciting opportunity to shape innovative F&B products in collaboration with some of the world’s most recognizable brands.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a key member of the EMEA Product Development & Creative (PDC) team, driving all aspects of food and beverage product development across local markets within the Consumer Products (CP) business.
• Collaborate closely with the Brand Partnerships team on cross-functional F&B initiatives.
• Oversee freelancers and external agencies in the creation of visual tools such as mood boards, product mock-ups, and concept presentations to support product storytelling and creative direction across all age ranges—from Infant to Adult.
• Partner with licensees to foster innovation and provide feedback throughout the product lifecycle, ensuring alignment with brand vision, design standards, and product quality.
• Manage product approvals efficiently through the internal approval system to ensure timely delivery and compliance.
• Build strong cross-functional relationships with Licensing, Market Strategy & Development (MSD), and Retail Marketing teams to support the broader brand objectives.
• Coordinate with key stakeholders—including Content, Brand Partnerships, Business & Legal Affairs (BLA), Creative Marketing, and Regional Marketing—to amplify the impact of strategic initiatives.

What We’re Looking For

• 8+ years of experience in creative direction for food and beverage product development, ideally within entertainment licensing, brand partnerships, or retail.
• Demonstrated creativity and innovation in product development, with a passion for storytelling and delivering joyful consumer experiences.
• In-depth knowledge of F&B trends and new product development (NPD), with the ability to translate insights into commercially viable and brand-aligned products.
• Solid understanding of the European retail landscape and competitive brand positioning.
• Strong communication skills to effectively manage agency relationships and creative project workflows.
• Excellent project management and organizational abilities.
• Multilingual skills are a plus.
• Prior experience in the EMEA region required.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop is essential.