Innovative Food Product Developer (Hybrid)

Co-Op Company; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

28 days holiday + bank holidays

Pension with employer contributions

Subsidised onsite gym

30% discount on Co-op products

Cycle-to-work

Virtual healthcare

24/7 colleague support

Training and career progression

Job summary

Co-op is hiring a Product Developer in Manchester to help develop own-brand products that delight customers and offer value. You’ll work in our development kitchens, researching and delivering innovative products while collaborating with internal teams and supplier partners.

You’ll translate insights into product ranges, manage briefs, and ensure products meet high quality and taste standards. This role offers hybrid working with time split between home, office, and supplier visits and

Qualifications

• Prior experience of working in a food product or process development role within the wider industry, such as in retail or manufacturing.
• A passion for food and innovation with strong sensory skills to taste and analyse food.
• Good communication skills with the ability to build strong stakeholder relationships.
• Good organisational skills, with the confidence to manage workload & projects autonomously.
• A customer focused approach, whilst being commercially aware, with the ability to analyse and interpret insights and data.

Responsibilities

• Work as part of our food product development teams, to create innovative, high quality, customer-centric products.
• Use your food expertise and passion to create clear product development briefs.
• Interpret internal and external sources of data, insights, and trends to create product ranges and innovation appropriate to the Co-op customer and ensure we’re focusing on the biggest opportunities.
• Build strong relationships and influence a range of key partners within our supplier base, trading teams, and technical teams.
• Attend factory visits to monitor quality standards, attend product trials, understand manufacturing capabilities and future opportunities.
• Keep up to date with the wider retail landscape, keeping in tune with market trends and competitor performance with a focus on delivering efficiencies.
• Monitor and keep track of products throughout the critical path up to launch, supporting the communication of key product information and launch activity.
• Consider commercial implication throughout the development process, making sure the products you develop taste great and deliver against our high-quality standards.
• Be a brand ambassador for the Co-op brand range.

Skills

Food product development

Sensory analysis

Stakeholder management

Project management

Commercial awareness

Job description

Co-op is hiring a Product Developer in Manchester to help develop own-brand products that delight customers and offer value. You’ll work in our development kitchens, researching and delivering innovative products while collaborating with internal teams and supplier partners.

You’ll translate insights into product ranges, manage briefs, and ensure products meet high quality and taste standards. This role offers hybrid working with time split between home, office, and supplier visits and