Interim Development Technologist

Apetito-Wiltshire-Farm-Foods; Trowbridge; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Living Wage employer

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Discretionary bonus

Job summary

apetito is seeking an Interim Development Technologist to help deliver Wiltshire Farm Foods product pipelines across the UK. The role blends creativity with technical expertise in a concept-to-launch path within development and factory kitchens.

You will work with the Senior Developer to plan a rolling 12-month programme, engaging with category teams and stakeholders to ensure timely, cost-effective product improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Food Science/Technology.
• Proven experience in developing food products for manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Support Wiltshire Farm Foods development programmes from concept to launch.
• Lead or assist factory trials and write raw material briefs.
• Costing and nutrition assessment for new concepts.
• Lead stage gate meetings with stakeholders and communicate key product info.

Skills

Food Science

Product Development

Project Management

Culinary/Sensory Evaluation

Stakeholder Management

Time Management

Commercial Awareness

Education

Food Science/Technology degree

Job description

Overview

Can you bring exciting food to life and help create market‑leading meals and desserts?

If you are inspired by all things food, thrive on solving problems, and get excited about turning ideas into reality, our Development Technologist role is for you.

We are seeking an Interim Development Technologist for a period of 3-6 months to cover a period of vacancy following internal promotion.

This is a role where creativity and practicaltiy meets technical expertise in a concept to launch role, you will work in our development and factory kitchens to truly makes a difference to our customers across the UK.

You will help deliver the Wiltshire Farm Foods product pipeline, improving current favourites, and pushing the boundaries of what great food can be.

You will work closely with the Senior Developer to develop a rolling 12 month programme through the stage gate process, working closely with our category development team and engaging stakeholders through the process.

This role is based at our UK Headquarters in Trowbridge Wiltshire.

Who we are

apetito is the UK's leading food supplier to the health and social care sectors serving more than 1,300 care homes, health care and education settings.

Our meals are expertly crafted by our dieticians and chefs, and then frozen to lock in the goodness.

Wiltshire Farm Foods, our sister company, is the UK's leading ready meal supplier cooking and delivering over 330 different delicious frozen ready meals across the UK.

Responsibilities

• Support Wiltshire Farm Foods development programmes at all stages of the development process from concept through to launch by:
  • Making new concepts in the development kitchen
  • Writing raw material briefs to share with procurement colleagues
  • Leading factory trials
  • Completing product regeneration assessment
  • Costing and assessing nutrition of new concepts
  • Leading stage gate meetings with stakeholders
  • Sharing key product information with stakeholders and the factory for production
• Ensure compliance with apetito development processes and company policies.
• Deliver market leading innovative, proactive and responsive product development.
• Deliver product quality, nutrition and cost improvements, taking account of the needs of all stakeholders.
• Proactively identify and propose new opportunities to improve our Wiltshire Farm Foods range.

Qualifications/Personal Qualities

Essential:

• Food Science/ Technology degree or proven experience in a similar role
• Experience in food manufacturing
• Background in prepared meals categories
• Proven track record in food product development
• Strong culinary or sensory evaluation skills
• Real passion for great food
• Experience collaborating across teams to achieve successful outcomes
• Strong project management skills
• Great presentation and communication skills
• Creativity, persistence and resilience
• The ability to influence and motivate stakeholders
• Strong problem‑solving ability
• Ability to self-motivate and time manage own workload to agreed deadlines
• Good commercial awareness

Company Benefits

• Competitive salary – accredited Living Wage employer
• 25 days holiday per year, plus bank holidays
• Option to purchase up to 5 additional days holiday per year
• Discretionary annual bonus scheme
• Pension scheme - employer matched contributions up to 4%
• Life assurance scheme worth at least 1x annual salary
• Subsidised canteen
• Free parking
• Free turkey or voucher at Christmas
• apetito perks scheme including salary sacrifice options and retail discounts

Our Values

As a family-owned business, we take great pride in being a company that makes a real difference and is dedicated to creating outstanding meals to be proud of.

We develop a range of products designed to enhance health and well‑being for all our customers.

We are driven by a passion for service and dedicated to feeding some of the UK’s most vulnerable people.

We proudly support British food and farming, focusing on using the best ethical and sustainable produce in alignment with our goal to reach Net Zero by 2040.

Our ethical standards are recognised by the ETI and we are an accredited Living Wage employer.Learn more about apetito’s commitment to a more sustainable future.

We embrace inclusion, empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Our commitment to making a real difference extends to customers, communities, and staff and we’re on a mission to build an inclusive workplace where everyone reaches their full potential.