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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead global food strategy and drive innovative product development.
- Company: Join Costa Coffee, a global brand redefining coffee experiences.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, share ownership, discounts, and private medical cover.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment with growth opportunities.
- Qualifications: Expertise in food strategy and strong communication skills required.
- Other info: Flexible working with a vibrant new office opening in 2027.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Define a mid-term vision for our food strategy at a global level aligned with total Costa business strategies. Costa Coffee is a global brand expanding across markets, with food playing a key role in growth. This role is crucial in driving a balanced global food strategy while adapting to local market needs.
Responsibilities
- Define a mid-term vision for our food strategy at a global level aligned with total Costa business strategies.
- Product development - Work in partnership with product development, drive delivery to gate 3 handover of competitively advantaged product solutions using R&D know-how. Test and define how to scale product solutions.
- Pipeline development - work with stakeholders and team to develop a long list of ideas and prioritise into winning concepts that support a short and mid-term balanced portfolio of opportunities.
- Manage food departmental budget.
Qualifications / Who you are
- An expert brimming with knowledge and a history of experience in a similar role.
- A visionary who can see three steps ahead to put bold plans in place.
- A communicator with the passion to share ideas — and make them happen.
Where you’ll work
Right now, our Support Centre teams work flexibly, blending home working with in-person time whenever it matters most — whether that’s a team moment, a creative session, or simply coming together to share ideas. We’re moving into a new home for our brand in St Albans in January 2027 — an inspiring space from which our Support Centre teams will work three days a week to connect and collaborate in-person to bring our bold ambition to life.
About Costa
At Costa Coffee, we are what we craft. We’re reimagining coffee experiences in over 50 countries and counting, as a key part of the Coca-Cola System. Whether you get your coffee in a store, from a machine, at home, or on the go — we’ve got you covered. Costa is rapidly expanding across markets, with food playing a key role in our growth. As the UK market leader with strong brand presence, we’re focused on increasing our food share and expanding globally in partnership with Coca-Cola. This role is crucial in driving a balanced global food strategy, ensuring consistency while adapting to local market needs. Our teams make a difference — from technology for the perfect pour to campaigns and analytics, to developing exciting menu items; together, we stir up success. We’re a global brand with roots in our community through the Costa Foundation and our community agenda. We invite you to grow in your career through experiences, our apprenticeship scheme, and development programmes.
Perks and Benefits
- Own a piece of Costa's success by becoming a share owner in Coca-Cola with our Share Investment Plan (SIP).
- An annual discretionary bonus scheme, based on business results and individual contribution.
- A smart pension that saves you money on tax and national insurance, and matches your contributions up to 10%.
- The Costa Financial Support Fund, supporting team members facing unexpected financial pressure.
- 50% discount in all Costa-owned stores, and 25% off in other participating stores.
- Private medical cover thanks to our Private Healthcare scheme.
Explore even more of our perks here: https://bit.ly/costaperks
What you’ll do
Being a Head of Food is about more than bringing our coffee to the world — it’s your chance to stir up real success by driving impact across the business.
Global Head of Food employer: Costa Limited
Contact Detail:
Costa Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Global Head of Food
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts on LinkedIn or attend food and beverage events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Costa Coffee’s current food strategy and recent innovations. We want to see your passion for the brand and how you can contribute to its growth. Show us you’re ready to bring bold ideas to the table!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to articulate your vision for a global food strategy. We love candidates who can think ahead and share their ideas confidently. Make sure you can explain how your experience aligns with our goals.
✨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 are eager to join our journey at Costa Coffee.
We think you need these skills to ace Global Head of Food
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Vision: When you're writing your application, make sure to highlight your vision for food strategy. We want to see how you can align it with Costa's business goals and adapt to local markets. Be bold and let your ideas shine!
Tailor Your Experience: Don’t just list your past roles; connect them to the responsibilities mentioned in the job description. We’re looking for someone who can drive product development and manage budgets, so show us how your experience fits the bill.
Communicate Passionately: Your application should reflect your passion for food and coffee. Use engaging language that conveys your enthusiasm for the role and the brand. Remember, we love a good story, so share yours!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Let’s get started on this journey together!
How to prepare for a job interview at Costa Limited
✨Know Your Food Strategy
Before the interview, dive deep into Costa Coffee's current food strategy and how it aligns with their overall business goals. Be ready to discuss how you can define a mid-term vision that not only supports growth but also adapts to local market needs.
✨Showcase Your Product Development Skills
Prepare examples of your past experiences in product development. Highlight how you've successfully driven product solutions from concept to delivery, especially using R&D know-how. This will demonstrate your ability to manage the pipeline and deliver competitively advantaged products.
✨Communicate Your Vision
As a visionary, it's crucial to articulate your bold plans clearly. Practice explaining your ideas in a way that excites others. Use storytelling techniques to convey how your strategies can lead to success for Costa Coffee on a global scale.
✨Understand the Budgeting Process
Familiarise yourself with budgeting principles relevant to food departments. Be prepared to discuss how you would manage the food departmental budget effectively while prioritising winning concepts that align with both short and mid-term goals.
