Job title: Gummy Formulation Specialist Location: Knowsley, Merseyside (L36), on site Reports to: Technical Director Contract: Full time, permanent
Chalice Supplements is a BRC AA-accredited, pectin-first gummy CDMO and one of only a handful of UK domestic gummy manufacturers. We develop and manufacture gelatine-free gummies for leading sports nutrition and wellness brands, with capacity scaling from 8 to 16 tonnes a day.
We need a hands-on formulation expert to own gummy development from client brief to commercial production. You will turn customer concepts into stable, great-tasting, manufacturable pectin gummies, and make sure they run right first time on our lines.
Key responsibilities
- Develop new gummy formulations from client briefs, covering pectin selection (HM, LM, amidated), sugar and sugar-free syrup systems, acids, buffers, flavours and colours.
- Incorporate vitamins, minerals, botanicals and functional actives (including creatine and high-load actives), managing overages, stability and taste masking.
- Run lab and pilot-scale trials, then lead scale-up to commercial production on depositing lines.
- Set and control critical parameters: pH, Brix, gel strength, setting time, water activity and texture.
- Define and optimise cooking, depositing, curing/drying, oiling/sanding and demoulding processes.
- Troubleshoot production issues such as stickiness, sweating, air entrapment, crystallisation, poor setting and texture variation.
- Design and manage shelf-life and stability studies, and support label claims with data.
- Write and maintain product specifications, BMRs, SOPs and technical files to BRC and GMP standards.
- Benchmark competitor products and present formulation options and costings to customers alongside the sales team.
- Evaluate new raw materials and suppliers, and support cost-down projects on existing products.
- Work closely with Production, QA/QC, Compliance, Procurement and Sales, and train operators on new products.
Skills, experience and qualifications
- 3+ years in gummy or confectionery formulation, with hands-on R&D and production experience.
- Proven track record taking gummy products from lab to commercial scale.
- Strong working knowledge of hydrocolloids, especially pectin, plus sweetener systems, acids and active ingredients.
- Confident with pH, Brix, water activity and texture testing, and using the data to fix problems.
- Experience writing BMRs, SOPs and specifications in a GMP environment.
- Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, Pharmacy or a related subject.
- Experience with vegan, sugar-free or low-sugar gummy formats.
- Knowledge of mogul and starchless depositing.
- Experience in a CDMO or contract manufacturing environment working to customer briefs.
- Familiarity with BRC Global Standards and UK/EU food supplement regulations.
- Design of Experiments (DOE) and sensory evaluation experience.
What we offer
- Competitive salary (open question: salary band to confirm).
- Pension and holiday package.
- Real ownership of formulation at a fast-growing UK manufacturer, with new lines and capacity coming online.
- Direct access to leadership and the chance to shape our R&D function as it grows.
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Gummy formulation specialist in Liverpool employer: Chalice Supplements
Join a dynamic and fast-growing UK supplements brand in Liverpool, where creativity meets data-driven marketing. As a Marketing Executive, you'll thrive in a vibrant work culture that values innovation and agility, with ample opportunities for personal and professional growth. Enjoy the excitement of shaping our new office space while working on impactful projects that drive real results, all within a supportive team that appreciates a good sense of humour.
