Product Developer - Outsourced

The Compleat Food Group; Redhill; Hybrid; GBP 34,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food company in Redhill is seeking a Product Developer to join the NPD team. The role focuses on developing new products and adapting existing ones to achieve commercial targets. Candidates should have supermarket own label experience and strong customer-facing skills. Benefits include a flexible four-day workweek, 33 days of annual leave, and a comprehensive pension scheme. The ideal candidate will have a food-based degree, excellent communication skills, and a passion for food.

Benefits

Hybrid working / flexible 4-day week

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

Qualifications

• Experience in retail or FMCG development role is significant for this position.
• Willingness to travel regularly across the UK and abroad is essential.
• Passion for food is fundamental.

Responsibilities

• Develop new and adapt existing products to meet briefs.
• Support new projects and participate in innovation sessions.
• Build relationships with customer product development teams.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure product feasibility.
• Lead product presentations and solve issues.
• Ensure product recipes meet food quality standards.

Skills

Supermarket own label and food product development experience

Strong customer facing experience

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

Education

Food Based Degree

Job description

Job Advert

Product Developer – Outsourced

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 the future of food for the better.

Location: Redhill, RH1 3AS

Hours: Monday – Thursday, 8:30 - 17:00, Friday, 8:30 - 16:00. Hybrid working and flexible 4-day week available.

Salary: Up to £40,000 DOE

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.

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).

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).

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.