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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative food projects and create game-changing products that make a real difference.
- Company: Join apetito, the UK's leading food supplier dedicated to health and social care.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, company car, generous holiday, and a bonus scheme.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of food innovation and impact lives positively.
- Qualifications: Proven track record in food innovation and strong leadership skills required.
- Other info: Embrace a culture of creativity and continuous improvement in a supportive environment.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Make a real difference through game-changing innovation
We are seeking a visionary food professional to join us as Head of Product Innovation.
Innovation has been at the heart of our success in areas such as specialist nutrition and our award winning texture modified ranges. It is critical to our continued growth so we are pleased to invest in this new role.
Head of Product Innovation will be a proven leader with the creativity, resilience and inquisitive mind to unlock the next wave of breakthrough innovations for apetito and Wiltshire Farm Foods.
Your Impact
This is an exciting opportunity to build and deliver an industry-leading innovations pipeline. You\’ll uncover unmet needs, explore cutting-edge technologies, and bring new food and system concepts to life , from first spark to full-scale launch.
You\’ll be at the centre of our New Product Development team
- Shaping strategy – translating insight, trends and ideas into clear product & system innovations.
- Driving delivery – overseeing development of compelling product and system solutions that bring significant value to our customers and business.
- Inspiring your team – leading and growing a high-performing team to think boldly, act fast, and innovate with purpose.
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.
- Build and manage a forward-thinking innovation programme that delivers a robust pipeline of product and system innovation.
- Identify incremental and transformational opportunities that deliver genuine competitive advantage and commercial growth.
- Scout and apply emerging ingredients, products, technologies, and equipment that unlock new possibilities.
- Identify relevant trends and apply anthropological approaches to identify unmet needs and create whitespace opportunities.
- Collaborate across apetito and with external partners including academic, suppliers and startups to accelerate innovation.
- Validate concepts rapidly through agile \”test and learn\” approaches.
- Present compelling business cases to secure stakeholder buy-in.
- Ensure the effective design, development and implementation of concepts and products.
- Lead and develop the Innovation Team, embedding a culture of creativity, experimentation, and continuous improvement.
- Support our Business Development team with concept development , testing and implementation, to deliver opportunities into new workstreams.
Essential
- An accomplished food innovator with a proven track record of delivering commercially successful, high-impact concepts.
- A natural team leader who energises, empowers, and brings others on the innovation journey.
- A big-picture thinker with a Growth mindset, who can also roll up their sleeves and deliver.
- The ability to translate insights and ideas into meaningful growth opportunities.
- A passionate believer in the importance of food making a real difference.
- Commercially aware and tuned into the practicalities of scaling breakthrough ideas.
- Empathetic with the customers and markets apetito serves and our \”making a real difference\” mission
- Degree level qualification, or equivalent experience.
- Competitive salary – accredited Living Wage employer
- Company car
- 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
- Free turkey or voucher at Christmas
- apetito perks scheme including salary sacrifice options and retail discounts
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.
Locations
Head of Product Innovation employer: apetito UK
Contact Detail:
apetito UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Product Innovation
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts, attend relevant events, and engage with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. We can’t stress enough how important it is to make connections that could lead to opportunities.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your creativity! When you get the chance to meet potential employers, bring along a portfolio or examples of your innovative work. We want to see how you think outside the box and tackle challenges head-on.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s recent innovations and trends in the food industry. We love candidates who come in with insights and ideas that align with our mission of making a real difference.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we’re always looking for passionate individuals who share our vision for innovation in food.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Product Innovation
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Innovation: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for food innovation shine through! Share specific examples of how you've driven change in previous roles and how that aligns with our mission at apetito.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the Head of Product Innovation role. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to describe your achievements and ideas, making it easy for us to see your potential impact on our innovation pipeline.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. This ensures that your application gets to the right people and helps us keep track of all the amazing talent interested in joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at apetito UK
✨Know Your Innovation Stuff
Make sure you’re up to speed with the latest trends in food innovation. Research recent breakthroughs in nutrition and technology that could apply to the role. Being able to discuss these topics will show your passion and expertise.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've led teams in the past, especially in innovative projects. Highlight your ability to inspire and empower others, as this is crucial for the Head of Product Innovation role.
✨Understand Their Mission
Familiarise yourself with apetito's mission of making a real difference through food. Be ready to discuss how your values align with theirs and how you can contribute to their goal of enhancing health and well-being.
✨Prepare for Agile Thinking
Since rapid validation of concepts is key, think of examples where you've used agile methodologies in your previous roles. Be prepared to discuss how you approach testing and learning in product development.
