Starting Salary: £31,000 + £1,000 welcome bonus once settled in the?business.?An? additional ?uplift is also provided for employees based at a London site.?
Benefits:
Relocation financial assistance - Any relocation payments made will be paid back in? October?2027 ! A dditional holiday purchase scheme, pension scheme and access to employee benefits
Location:
Greencore site TBC, with multiple locations during the 3 -year Graduate Programme . Could be London, Lincolnshire, Boness, (Scotland) ,? Newark N orthampton?or? Worksop Ways of Working: Site based
Start Date: 1 st September 2027 Contract Type: FTC for duration of the Graduate Programme , we will make every effort to find successful learners a permanent role following completion
In order to make an application, simply read through the following job description and make sure to attach relevant documents.
Assessment Centre Date/Location: Tuesday 2 nd February 2027 at our Newark site
Why Greencore?
Following the combination with Bakkavor in January 2026, we're one of the UK's leading creators of convenience food, driven by a simple purpose: to make every day taste better.
With more than 28,000 colleagues across 36 manufacturing sites and 21 distribution depots in the UK and US, we create food for every meal occasion, from breakfast and lunch through to dinner, desserts and snacking.
Our scale means you'll have the opportunity to work across multiple food categories, customers and manufacturing environments, gaining experiences that few organisations in the food industry can offer. From concept creation to product launch, you'll help develop products enjoyed by millions of consumers every day.
Turn Your Passion for Food into Products People Love
If you're curious about food, excited by new ideas and want to understand how great products make it from an initial concept onto supermarket shelves, our Product Development Graduate Programme is designed for you.
This programme is designed to develop the next generation of Product Developers, equipping you with the technical, culinary, consumer and commercial skills needed to succeed in the food industry.
Over three years, you'll build the skills and experience needed for a successful career in Product Development.
You'll learn how to take a product through the complete development journey, from food trends, insight and idea generation through recipe development, customer presentation, factory trials and ultimately launch .
You'll work as part of customer and product-focused teams alongside experienced Product Developers, Chefs and colleagues from across our wider business.
Most importantly, you'll gain hands-on experience. You'll be encouraged to bring your own ideas, challenge thinking and develop your creativity as your knowledge and confidence grow.
Your Three-Year Journey
The programme consists of three 12-month placements across different Greencore locations throughout the UK. This will provide exposure to a variety of customers and product categories, helping you build broad category knowledge, customer understanding and a well-rounded view of the business.
Year 1
Build the Foundations
You'll learn how our development process works, build your knowledge of ingredients and manufacturing, and support products through the development cycle.
Working alongside experienced colleagues, you'll start to develop your technical, culinary, sensory and commercial understanding while gaining valuable hands-on experience.
Year 2
Take Ownership
With the foundations in place, you'll start to take greater ownership.
You'll become more involved in developing recipes and concepts, working with customers and suppliers, supporting factory trials and supporting products towards launch.
You'll continue to build your understanding of what makes a product not only delicious, but commercially and operationally viable at scale.
Year 3
Operate as a Product Developer
Your final year is about preparing you for the next stage of your career.
You'll take ownership of development projects, working with increasing autonomy while collaborating with customers and cross-functional teams. You'll leverage consumer trends, market insight and Greencore's manufacturing capabilities to develop commercially successful products.
By the end of the programme, you'll have the experience, confidence and capability to progress into a Product Development role within Greencore.
More Than On-the-Job Experience
Alongside your placements, you'll take part in a structured development programme designed to broaden your knowledge of both food and business.
This will include specialist development and learning opportunities in areas such as:
Culinary skills and food inspiration
Sensory evaluation
Category management and consumer insight
Commercial awareness and costing
Leadership and personal development
Ingredient and supplier workshops
Manufacturing processes and capabilities
You'll also have opportunities to visit other Greencore sites, helping you understand different product categories, manufacturing processes and capabilities across the business.
What You'll Experience
During the programme, you could be involved in:
Exploring food trends and identifying new product opportunities
Generating and developing new product concepts
Creating and refining recipes
Collaborating with chefs, suppliers and ingredient partners to create and refine products
Preparing products and supporting documentation for customer presentations
Supporting customer presentations, innovation sessions and product submissions
Participating in sensory evaluation and product benchmarking
Working cross-functionally with Technical, Operations, Commercial, Process, Purchasing and other teams
Supporting products through to launch
Seeing products, you've helped develop reach supermarket shelves
It's an opportunity to understand the entire product development journey while building a strong network across Greencore.
What We're Looking For
We're looking for graduates who are genuinely excited by food, ingredients, innovation and creating products consumers will love.
Degree
Achieved, or expected to achieve, a minimum 2: 2 honours degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Nutrition, Culinary Innovation or a related discipline.
Candidates with a Master's degree will be considered, provided their undergraduate degree is in Food Science, Food Technology, Nutrition, Culinary Innovation, or another relevant food-related discipline.
Experience
At least three months' relevant work experience.
Passion for Food
A genuine curiosity about food, trends, ingredients and how products are created. xohmjla
Motivation
A clear commitment to developing a career within the food industry and Product Development.
Flexibility
A willingness to complete three 12-month placements at different Greencore locations across the UK.
Right to Work
Product Development Graduate Programme 2027 employer: Greencore Group plc
Greencore Group plc is an excellent employer for those seeking a dynamic role in accounts payable within the UK. With a strong emphasis on employee development, you will benefit from structured training and a supportive work culture that values accuracy and communication. Join us to thrive in a fast-paced environment where your contributions are recognised and rewarded.
