From our London kitchen, we cook delicious food from scratch and deliver it to thousands of customers across the UK every week. Since launching from Hilary & Will's kitchen in 2020, we've cooked more than 5 million meals, and we're continuing to grow. We're now looking for an ambitious and proactive Production Supervisor (Kitchen Operations) to join us at an exciting stage of our journey., Our Kitchen team is a crucial part of what makes Planthood different. It's where our chefs prepare the sauces, garnishes and other chef-made components that go into our meal kits and bring our dishes to life. As one of three Production Supervisors in Kitchen Operations, you'll lead our team of chefs and Kitchen Porters while working closely with your fellow Supervisors, other department leaders and our Production Managers. You'll be an important part of a wider management team where we share ideas, solve problems, support each other and get things done together. This is a hands‑on role, combining leadership on the production floor with the opportunity to make a wider impact. As Planthood grows, we want you to bring ideas, spot opportunities and drive improvements, while we support your own development and progression within the business.
What You'll Be Doing
- Run great production days: Work with your fellow Supervisors to organise the team, set priorities and keep food preparation and cooking running smoothly against the production plan.
- Lead and develop the team: Coach, support and motivate our chefs and Kitchen Porters, creating a great working environment with clear expectations and high standards.
- Maintain quality and food safety: Make sure our chef‑made components are consistently delicious and produced safely, accurately and to specification, maintaining high standards of hygiene, allergen controls and HACCP.
- Keep performance on track: Stay on top of production flow, timings and productivity, stepping in to solve problems and keep the day moving.
- Improve how we work: Spot inefficiencies and recurring issues, bring forward practical ideas and turn agreed improvements into action.
- Work as one Production team: Collaborate with other Supervisors, department leaders and Production Managers to solve problems and deliver the wider production plan., Free food: Take home leftover meal kits and products when available. All we ask for is your feedback!
- Team socials: Seasonal parties, celebrations and team events throughout the year.
- Development and progression: We're big believers in internal progression and supporting people to develop as the business grows.
You might already be supervising a production kitchen, or you could be an experienced chef ready to take the next step into a broader leadership role.
Most importantly, you love good food and take real pride in producing it to a high standard. At Planthood, we're all about bringing restaurant‑quality food into people's homes, so we're looking for someone who cares about flavour, consistency and the details that make a dish great.
You'll Bring:
- Strong professional cooking experience at Chef de Partie level or above, with the confidence to be hands‑on in the kitchen when needed
- Experience leading, coaching or motivating others in a professional kitchen or food production environment
- Strong organisation and the ability to stay calm and make decisions during a busy production day
- A good understanding of cooking at volume, including recipe scaling and yields
- High standards for food quality, hygiene and food safety, with a good understanding of allergens and HACCP
- Plenty of initiative, with a natural instinct to solve problems and find better ways of working
- Confidence using digital tools and keeping accurate production records
- A collaborative approach and the ambition to grow with the role and with Planthood
- Experience in a high‑volume commercial kitchen, central production kitchen, catering operation or food manufacturing environment would be particularly valuable.
Planthood is the UK's highest‑rated plant‑based meal kit company, on a mission to enable people to live healthier lives and have a meaningful impact on the planet by eating more plant‑based whole foods.
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Production Supervisor (Kitchen Operations) - Planthood - London employer: Chef & Cook
Join our vibrant café in London, where we pride ourselves on fostering a supportive and dynamic work culture. As a Key Holder & All-Round Café Pro, you'll enjoy flexible shifts, opportunities for personal growth, and the chance to develop your skills in a fast-paced environment while delivering exceptional service to our valued customers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Production Supervisor (Kitchen Operations) - Planthood - London
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Consider participating in workshops or open days at manufacturing companies. It's a great way to show off your hands-on skills in a real-world environment and can sometimes lead to job offers right on the spot. Keep an eye on announcements from local manufacturers for these opportunities!
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Some tips for your application 🫡
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Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Company:Don’t just recycle an old cover letter! Take the time to tailor your cover letter to Chef & Cook specifically. Mention what excites you about their production processes or products, and how your previous experiences can contribute to their goals. We want to see your enthusiasm for the role!
Use Concrete Examples of Your Achievements:When detailing your work experience, include measurable achievements that can demonstrate your impact. Whether it’s improving efficiency by a certain percentage or successfully leading a project, these specifics can make a huge difference. Numbers speak volumes in the manufacturing world!
How to prepare for a job interview at Chef & Cook
✨Know Your Manufacturing Processes
Before you walk into the interview with Chef & Cook, brush up on the specific manufacturing processes relevant to the role. Understanding lean manufacturing principles or quality control techniques could give you a solid edge to discuss how you’d fit into their operations.
✨Technical Questions Are Key
Be prepared for technical questions around machinery, production scheduling, or materials handling. Make sure you can confidently explain how you've dealt with these in past experiences or internships. Knowing industry-specific software could also be a big plus!
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Manufacturing environments often focus on continuous improvement. Be ready to discuss specific instances where you’ve solved a production issue or implemented a process improvement. It’s all about demonstrating your analytical thinking and hands-on approach.
✨Align Your Values with Quality and Safety
In a full-time role, companies like Chef & Cook value commitment to quality and safety. Be prepared to discuss how you prioritise these factors in your work. It’s about showing that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about contributing positively to their production environment.
