Development Chef

Overview

We are looking for an exceptional chef to join our Product & Process Development team to create compelling and scalable new and improved food products for all of our business sectors including Education, Healthcare, Care homes and Wiltshire Farm Foods. You will work closely with product developers, category management, dietitians and other key stakeholders to deliver new and improved products that meet commercial, nutritional and operational goals.

You will translate development briefs into incredible food products that create competitive advantage, improve quality, elevate our offering and enhance customer enjoyment. You will also propose completely new ideas and concepts to help shape our Development programmes and food strategy. You will provide support throughout the Development process to ensure we design and deliver great food to be proud of. This will include supporting production trials, delivering presentations, training colleagues and undertaking product reviews. You will deliver exceptional food presentations that engage internal stakeholders and excite customers.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a creative Head Chef with a strong foundation of classical cookery that underpins their creativity and innovation.

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 dietitians and chefs, and then frozen to lock in the goodness. Wiltshire Farm Foods is the UK\\\’s largest ready meal supplier cooking and delivering over 330 different delicious frozen ready meals across the UK.

Responsibilities

• Deliver compelling and scalable new product concepts (including meals, desserts and specialist nutrition products) that meet agreed standards for nutrition, cost and product attributes.
• Improve the design, quality, value and nutrition of existing products to enrich the customer experience and meet business needs.
• Provide support to the Head Development chef and other key stakeholders to deliver project and business objectives.
• Conduct and support taste panels and presentations.
• Promote food values across the organisation, inspiring a shared passion for exceptional food and quality standards.
• Assess new ingredients.
• Support our PR and marketing teams with promotional activities (e.g. photography, food articles, filming).
• Maintain kitchen standards, ensuring compliance with all relevant standards and policies.
• Support ideation sessions and creative workshops.
• Responsibility for ensuring good working practice is maintained within the Development kitchen.
• Analyse food trends and apply learnings in the development of new and improved products.
• Experience as a Head Chef, successfully leading kitchen brigades within top-tier hospitality venues (e.g. Michelin-starred or 3-rosette establishments).
• Exceptional culinary skills.
• Wide knowledge of global foods and cuisines.
• Motivated by working in a creative customer-focused environment.
• Excellent presentation sensory skills.
• Commercially aware.
• The ability to ‘sell’ ideas and inspire others.
• Team player.

Qualifications & Skills

• Chef background with strong classical training and proven creativity in product development.
• Experience leading kitchen teams in demanding environments.

Benefits

• Competitive salary – accredited Living Wage employer
• 25 days holiday per year, plus bank holidays
• Option to purchase up to 5 additional days holiday 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
• apetito perks scheme including salary sacrifice options and retail discounts

About apetito

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. Learn more about apetito’s commitment to a more sustainable future. 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.