Product Development Executive

Brakes Food Shop; Ashford; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading foodservice supplier is seeking a Product Development Executive to join their team in Ashford. This role involves collaborating across product categories, supporting the development process, and managing a small product group. The ideal candidate should have a passion for food and relevant experience in food technology or hospitality. The position offers a hybrid working arrangement with opportunities for career growth.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance

Discounts on food and products

Discounts on cinema tickets and shopping

Incentives and recognition awards

Career progression opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in food technology, manufacturing, or hospitality.
• Ability to work independently and in a team.

Responsibilities

• Support food panels for new product development.
• Manage project timelines and track new product setups.
• Organize sample requests for customers.

Skills

Project Management

Communication

Commercial Awareness

Job description

Brakes, part of Sysco GB, is currently recruiting for a Product Development Executive to join the team on a full-time, permanent basis.

As a Product Development Executive, you will work across several product categories within the merchandising function, collaborating with procurement, technical, category, and supply chain teams to support and achieve the wider business strategy.

Your role involves supporting various elements of the end-to-end development process to expedite project delivery across categories. You will shadow development managers to gain comprehensive insights from brief to launch and will be trained to manage a small product group within a category or a supplier for ongoing development and career growth.

This role offers a hybrid working arrangement, with 3 days per week in our Ashford, Kent office for team collaboration. You must be within a commutable distance and willing to travel regularly within the UK and occasionally to Europe or internationally.

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities:

• Supporting all food panels for existing and new product development.
• Benchmarking product quality.
• Organizing sample requests for external customers.
• Tracking and monitoring the end-to-end process for new product line setup.
• Supporting the implementation of Sysco's product tiering.
• Managing critical project timelines.
• Obtaining food samples internally and externally for panels and benchmarking.

About you:

The ideal candidate will be passionate about food and have previous experience in food technology, manufacturing, or the hospitality industry. You should have some project management experience, commercial awareness, and the ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels. You should be able to work independently and as part of a team to meet targets.

Applicants must hold a valid, clean UK driving license and have access to their own vehicle.

What you’ll receive:

• Generous holiday allowance with the option to purchase five additional days.
• Significant discounts on food and products through our staff shop.
• Discounts on cinema tickets, shopping, and cashback opportunities via Sysco Perks.
• Incentives and recognition awards for exceptional performance and long service.
• Opportunities for career progression within Sysco, a global leader in foodservice.

Additional Information

At Brakes, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone is valued and has opportunities to thrive. We focus on your potential and are happy to accommodate any adjustments needed during the recruitment process. Join us in connecting the world through food and trusted partnerships. We look forward to receiving your application.

About Brakes

Built on a passion for food, Brakes is the UK’s largest foodservice supplier, delivering high-quality fresh and frozen foods across the nation. Our 8,000-strong team is dedicated to serving pubs, restaurants, schools, and care homes, and we are growing every day.