New Product Development Manager

We’re delighted to be partnering with Caffè Nero on this exciting Development Manager opportunity! It's a 12 month Fixed Term Contract starting this summer. Caffè Nero Group is Europe’s leading independent coffee house with around 1000 stores in their portfolio and includes Harris+Hoole, Coffee #1, FCB and 200 Degrees Coffee. They pride themselves on their ethical, sustainable sourcing as well as making a positive social and environmental impact. From the beginning, they’ve embraced the values of fairness, decency, warmth and kindness in the pursuit of excellence. Known for delivering handcrafted coffee and exceptional food, they are proud of their vibrant, creative culture and commitment to crafting memorable experiences for their customers.

As they continue to grow and evolve, they are looking for an experienced and innovative Development Manager to join their UK Food & Beverage team on a 12-month fixed term contract. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to our next chapter and help shape the future of their food and drink range. This is a hybrid role - 3 days based at their Head Office in Covent Garden, London.

The Role

Reporting to the Head of Food, as a Development Manager, you’ll lead the development and delivery of new food and beverage products across key categories from initial concept through to successful launch in-store. Your work will directly impact sales growth, category performance, and the overall customer experience.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage the development process from concept stage through to store delivery of all food & beverage products
• Develop relationships with key internal brand partners, acting as a proud ambassador for F&B
• Establish and continuously improve relationships with suppliers to ensure product quality standards and commercial targets are met
• Create and deliver food presentations to a range of stakeholders from board level to store teams
• Communicate clearly with store teams to ensure well executed launches and consistent delivery of products instore
• Work closely with commercial, finance, marketing and operations to optimise the category performance
• Manage product categories against the F&B annual plan and be a significant contributor to building the plan
• Leverage data and customer insight to drive range development and NPD.

The Person

You’ll be an experienced Development Manager with a background in food manufacturing and QSR with a proven track record of developing fabulous, consumer led products as well as implementing future NPD strategies. You’ll be a confident communicator, able to quickly build relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels. A proactive mindset, adaptable style and eye for emerging trends will help you thrive in this fast-paced, collaborative role. You will bring:

• A degree in Food Science or related discipline
• A solid background in a product development gained within food manufacturing and QSR / Casual dining sectors
• A keen eye for the latest trends, good culinary knowledge and the ability to turn customer insights into market leading products
• Highly adept at delivering multiple projects – managing your time effectively and to tight deadlines
• An agile approach to problem solving, with a great “can do” and imaginative attitude to developing solutions.

In Return

Caffè Nero pride themselves on their open, supportive, and inclusive culture. You’ll be working in an environment built on trust, passion, and a shared love for great coffee and food. Benefits include:

• Performance-related bonus scheme
• Private medical insurance via Vitality
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• 50% employee discount on handcrafted drinks
• 40% employee discount on food
• Complimentary hand-crafted drinks during office days
• Barista training in your first week
• Access to a benefits platform offering retail and lifestyle discounts.

If you’re ready to shape the future of food with a values-led brand, send your CV to or call Jodie on 0345 2600 737 for a confidential discussion.

Caffè Nero have made the decision to partner exclusively with Blue Spark Organisation so any direct or 3rd party applications will be forwarded directly to us for review.

Due to the large number of applications our opportunities attract, it sometimes takes us time to thoroughly review and consider them all. We endeavour to respond to every application within 5 working days, however if you have not heard from us within this timeframe, we are sorry to say your application for the role has not been successful.

To support you in showcasing your best self, we make sure that any necessary accommodations, whether physical or non-physical, are provided to assist you throughout the job application and interview process.

At Blue Spark Organisation we believe in authenticity, individuality, and inclusion. We are dedicated to ensuring that all our current and future candidates have equal opportunities and are treated with respect and appreciation, allowing them to bring their genuine selves to the workplace, regardless of background, appearance, sexual orientation, or beliefs.

Also, please note that we are only able to accept and respond to applications from candidates with eligibility to work in the UK and those who hold valid work visas.