Senior Product Developer

apetito; Trowbridge; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job description

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Overview

This role could suit a Product Development Technologist looking for their next challenge and an opportunity to work within an NPD team of chefs, technologists and dietitians with a track record of delivering market leading food innovation.

You would work closely with key stakeholders across the business to identify, develop and deliver new products and product improvements.

You would lead and support projects from ideation through to launch and manage them through our stage-gate development process, applying problem solving skills to overcome challenges and delivering food products that create real competitive advantage.

This exciting role will support sales growth through a customer focused, creative and proactive approach to product development and effective project management.

You must have a passion for great food and the drive for continual improvement of existing meals and desserts.

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 largest ready meal supplier cooking and delivering over 330 different delicious frozen ready meals across the UK.

Responsibilities

1. New Product Development - Managing product development projects at all stages of the development process from idea generation stage through to launch whilst ensuring compliance with our development process and company policies.
2. Innovation - Proactively identifying new opportunities and innovations to improve our food offering, 'sell in' ideas to the business teams and manage agreed projects through to launch to create competitive advantage and deliver market leading solutions.
3. Product Improvement - Working closely with our Dietitians, Chefs and Manufacturing, Category management and Purchasing teams to identify and deliver improvement opportunities, taking into consideration the needs of all stakeholders.
4. Cost Reduction - Identifying and assisting in the delivery of cost reduction opportunities whilst ensuring product quality is never compromised.
5. Team Support - Deputising for your line Manager, providing team leadership and project management support as required.

About you

Essential for this role:

• A proven track record of success in food product development
• Experience of working with others to achieve successful project outcomes
• Experience of successful project management
• Good presentation skills
• A passion for great food
• Tenacious with the ability to drive projects forward to successful completion
• Creative and innovative
• Ability to influence others
• Good problem solving skills

Desirable for this role:

• Experience within frozen or chilled food manufacturing
• Experience within prepared meals
• Experience of identifying and delivering cost savings
• Good culinary and sensory skills
• Demonstrate 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 annual leave 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.

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.