Food Product Development Placement Programme

Greencore; Worksop; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

Greencore is seeking a passionate foodie to join its Food Product Development Placement Programme in the United Kingdom. Over 12 months you will gain hands-on experience from idea generation to recipe development, factory trials and product launches, working with seasoned product developers and cross-functional teams.

You will take real responsibility from day one, contributing to live projects and developing a solid understanding of consumer trends, ingredient sourcing and commercial

Qualifications

• Interest in food product development and consumer trends.
• Willingness to learn about ingredient sourcing and supplier engagement.
• Ability to support factory trials and product launches.
• Strong organisational and project coordination skills.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate product samples and manage courier requirements for customer requests.
• Explore food trends and identify new product opportunities.
• Benchmark products and review competitors.
• Support recipe development and product refinement.
• Assist with factory trials and product launches.
• Support critical path management and project coordination.
• Understand ingredient sourcing and supplier engagement.
• Assist with product costings and commercial activities.
• Prepare products and documentation for customer presentations.
• Participate in sensory evaluation sessions.
• Build relationships with Technical, Commercial, Process, Procurement and Operations teams.

Skills

Product development

Trend analysis

Project coordination

Costing

Supplier engagement

Cross-functional teamwork

Job description

Turn Your Passion for Food into Real Products If you're passionate about food, curious about consumer trends and interested in understanding how products make it from ideas to supermarket shelves, our Food Product Development Placement Programme could be for you. This placement has been designed to give you first‑hand experience of Product Development within one of the UK's leading food businesses. Over 12 months, you'll gain exposure to the product development process, from identifying trends and generating ideas through to recipe development, customer presentations, factory trials and product launch. You'll work alongside experienced Product Developers, Chefs and cross‑functional teams, gaining valuable insight into the commercial, technical and operational considerations required to develop successful products. Most importantly, you'll be given real responsibility from day one, allowing you to contribute to live projects and develop your skills in a supportive environment.

What You'll Be Doing

• Coordinating product samples and managing courier requirements to support customer requests and submissions.
• Exploring food trends and identifying new product opportunities
• Product benchmarking and competitor reviews
• Supporting recipe development and product refinement
• Supporting factory trials and product launches
• Assisting with critical path management and project coordination
• Understanding ingredient sourcing and supplier engagement
• Supporting product costings and commercial activities
• Preparing products and supporting documentation for customer presentations
• Participating in sensory evaluation sessions
• Building relationships with Technical, Commercial, Process, Procurement and Operations teams

What You'll Learn

• Product Development processes
• Ingredients and raw materials
• Food trends and consumer insight
• Nutrition and product quality
• Factory manufacturing processes
• Customer requirements and retailer expectations
• Project management
• Commercial awareness and product costings
• Cross-functional working within a food manufacturing environment

The Support You'll Receive

• Line Manager - You'll work closely with an experienced manager who will provide regular feedback, coaching and development support throughout the placement.
• Structured Development - You'll receive on-the-job training and gain exposure to a broad range of Product Development activities and projects.
• Business Exposure - You'll work with colleagues from across Technical, Commercial, Operations, Procurement and Process teams, helping you build a strong understanding of the wider business.
• Future Opportunities - Successful placement students may be considered for future opportunities within Greencore, including direct-entry roles or places on our Graduate Programme.

Where Could It Take You?

This placement is designed to provide a strong foundation for a future career in Product Development. By the end of the placement, you'll have gained valuable experience within a fast-paced food manufacturing environment, developed a deeper understanding of Product Development, and built skills that will support your future career. Whether your next step is returning to university or applying for one of our Graduate Programmes, you'll leave with practical experience and industry knowledge that will help set you apart.

If you're passionate about food and excited by the idea of developing products enjoyed by consumers across the UK, we'd love to hear from you.