Product Developer - Outsourced

The Compleat Food Group; England; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK food company is seeking a Product Developer to join their NPD team in Redhill. The role involves developing new products and adapting existing ones, ensuring they meet customer standards and commercial targets. Candidates should have experience in supermarket product development, a passion for food, and strong customer-facing skills. The position offers a hybrid working model and competitive benefits including 33 days of annual leave, pension matching, and employee volunteering opportunities.

Benefits

Hybrid working / flexible 4-day week

33 days annual leave

Pension match 4%/4%

Free on-site parking

Employee Volunteering Days

Retail discounts

Employee well-being support

Charity initiatives and team events

Qualifications

• Experience in developing supermarket own label products.
• Passion for food is essential.
• Strong planning, organisation, and project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop products on time and within budget for customers.
• Build ideas and support new projects.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure feasibility.

Skills

Supermarket own label development

Food Based Degree

Passion for food

Customer facing experience

Retail or FMCG development experience

Excellent Communication Skills

Planning and organisation skills

Analytic and numeracy skills

Attention to detail

Presentation skills

Microsoft Office skills

French and/or Spanish

Education

Food Based Degree

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

Purpose: To develop new and adapt existing products to meet customer and branded briefs which deliver commercial targets and are successfully scaled up to production. Your Duties Will Include:

Responsibilities

• Responsible for developing products on time and to budget for the customer.
• Build ideas, support new projects and actively participate in internal and external innovation sessions.
• Be the first point of contact for customers across Europe, building positive pro‑active relationships with customer product development teams.
• Work collaboratively with cross‑functional teams to ensure feasibility of products that are developed in line with company and customer strategy.
• Lead product presentations.
• Work with teams to solve issues including scalability and sustainability.
• Ensure product recipes meet appropriate food quality standards alongside commercial targets and within brand standards.
• Create and ensure accurate NPD paperwork.
• Ensure benchmarking is carried out accurately and comprehensively to present at internal and external presentations.
• Actively demonstrate passion for food and a good understanding of market and food trends.
• Travel to our UK manufacturing sites and abroad as required.

Qualifications

• Supermarket own label and food product development experience.
• Food Based Degree – desirable.
• Passion for food – essential.
• Strong customer facing experience.
• Experience in retail or FMCG development role.
• Excellent Communication Skills.
• Strong planning, organisation and project management skills.
• Good analytic and numeracy skills.
• Attention to detail and Presentation skills.
• Microsoft Office skills – Excel, Word, PowerPoint.
• French and/or Spanish as an additional language – desirable.
• Willingness to travel regularly across the UK and abroad (driving licence essential).

With recent company growth, we have a new opportunity for a Product Developer to join the NPD team based in Redhill!

About The Compleat Food Group

At The Compleat Food Group, we're proud to be a food business built on purpose and passion. Formed in 2021, we're on a mission to create Food to Feel Good – great quality, tasty and affordable food that people love to eat. We're home to some of the UK's most exciting and loved food brands, including Wall's Pastry, Pork Farms, Wrights, The Real Yorkshire Pudding Co., unearthed, Vadasz, Squeaky Bean, Palace Culture, and Harvey & Brockless. Alongside our branded portfolio, we're a leading supplier of delicious own‑label pastry, sweet bakery, party food, olives and antipasti, added‑value egg products, continental meats, dips and sauces and plant‑based food to the UK's major retailers, as well as across foodservice. With over 6,000 talented colleagues across 17 sites, and an annual turnover of £1.3bn, we're united by a shared ambition to shape our future and continuously innovate to meet our stakeholders' needs.

Benefits

• Hybrid working / flexible 4‑day week available.
• 33 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays).
• Pension match 4%/4%.
• Free on‑site parking.
• 2 Employee Volunteering Days per year.
• Online and High‑street retailer discount scheme.
• Employee well‑being and community support groups.
• Charity Initiatives and Team events.
• 24/7 Access to Grocery Aid – Free Financial, Emotional and Practical Support.

Employment Equality

The Compleat Food Group fosters an inclusive, respectful culture where everyone feels safe, supported, and valued. We welcome diverse talent, knowing it drives exceptional results and a better workplace.