NPD Development Chef

AVONDALE FOODS (CRAIGAVON) LIMITED; Craigavon; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

AVONDALE FOODS (CRAIGAVON) LIMITED is seeking a Product Development Chef to explore new food products and opportunities that align with business plans. You will engage with customers, translate briefs into viable recipes, and lead development projects to deliver innovative, high-quality products for retail partners.

Role requires strong culinary background, practical manufacturing knowledge, and hands-on experience in scaling recipes from concept to factory production.

Qualifications

• Strong chef background with knowledge of flavours, ingredients and presentation.
• Experience turning concepts into factory-ready recipes and specs.
• Understanding of large-scale food production and process constraints.
• Ability to create precise recipes with ingredients, yields and cooking parameters.
• Proven ability to translate kitchen recipes into scalable factory formats.
• Solid knowledge of HACCP, allergen management and food safety controls.

Responsibilities

• Interpret customer briefs in line with business plans and expectations.
• Develop innovative, commercially viable recipes meeting customer needs.
• Cook and prepare new products for sampling and customer visits.
• Assist with customer presentations and product submissions.
• Stay updated on food trends and translate them into opportunities.
• Lead short- and long-term product development projects.
• Maintain documentation using the company recipe management system.
• Understand site capabilities and attend development and production trials.
• Perform culinary duties while upholding high food quality and hygiene.

Skills

Culinary expertise

Product development

Manufacturing knowledge

Recipe formulation

Scale-up

Food safety

Technical awareness

Job description

Avondale Foods is a leading food processing company of Fresh and Chilled products supplying leading retail businesses such as Marks & Spencer, and Morrison’s and Waitrose in the UK.

The purpose of this role is to research and explore new food products and opportunities to support the development of sales in line with agreed business plans.

The role involves engaging directly with customers to build strong, professional relationships, identify their needs, and secure new business opportunities. It also plays a key role in promoting the company’s professionalism, innovation, and ability to deliver new and relevant food solutions to both existing and prospective customers.

Key Responsibilities

• Interpret customer development briefs in line with customer expectations and company business plans.
• Apply strong culinary knowledge and practical skills to develop innovative, commercially viable recipes that meet customer requirements.
• Prepare and cook new products for customer sampling, including providing hospitality during customer visits.
• Assist with and deliver customer presentations and product submissions, demonstrating strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of food styles, restaurant and food-industry trends, and competitor activity, translating relevant food trends into commercially viable product development opportunities.
• Take responsibility for both short-term and long-term product development projects as required.
• Complete basic documentation, recipe records, and product information accurately using the company recipe management system.
• Understand site capabilities, equipment, and production processes, and attend development and production trials when required.
• Carry out general kitchen and culinary duties while maintaining high standards of food quality, hygiene, presentation, and organisation.
• To lead by example by adhering to Company general policies, i.e., Food Safety, Health Safety, Absence, etc.
• Undertake other appropriate duties as deemed necessary within the scope of the role.
• Contribute to the development of a culture of Integrity, collaboration ‘ do the right thing’ approach in all interactions.
• Culinary Expertise - Strong chef background with excellent knowledge of flavour, ingredients, cooking methods, textures and presentation
• Product Development - Proven experience developing new food products from initial concept through to factory production
• Manufacturing knowledge - Understanding of large-scale food production, manufacturing processes, equipment, batch cooking and production constraints
• Recipe formulation - Ability to create accurate, scalable recipes and specifications, including ingredient percentages, yields and cooking parameters
• Scale-up - Experience translating a kitchen recipe into a commercially viable factory recipe while maintaining quality and consistency
• Food Safety - Good working knowledge of HACCP, allergen management, microbiological risks, traceability and food safety controls
• Technical awareness - understanding of shelf life, ingredient functionality, processing, preservation, packaging and product specifications.