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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Create and modify recipes in a dynamic kitchen environment.
- Company: Greencore is a leading UK convenience food manufacturer, supplying major retailers.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous holidays, pension scheme, and exclusive discounts.
- Why this job: Join a vibrant team at Greencore, working with iconic brands like Marks & Spencer.
- Qualifications: Experience in food manufacturing and a strong culinary background are essential.
- Other info: This role offers opportunities for creativity and career growth in food innovation.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Opportunity: Development Chef (Marks & Spencers)
Location: Northampton
Why Greencore
We are a leading manufacturer of convenience food in the UK and our purpose is to make every day taste better. We are a vibrant, fast-paced leading food manufacturer, employing around 13,600 colleagues across 16 manufacturing units and 17 distribution depots across the UK. We supply all the UK's food retailers with everything from sandwiches, soups and sushi to cooking sauces, pickles and ready meals. In FY23, we generated revenues of £1.9bn. Our vast direct-to-store (DTS) distribution network, comprising of 17 depots nationwide, enables us to make over 10,400 daily deliveries of our own chilled and frozen produce and that of third parties. Here at Northampton, we operate one of the most impressive facilities in Europe, based across a campus of 5 manufacturing units, and we have a team of around 2,000 colleagues making high quality premium products every day. We are the sole supplier of sandwiches, wraps, rolls and sushi for Marks & Spencer.
What you'll be doing
As a Development Chef, you will play a crucial role in creating new and modifying existing recipes, ensuring they meet customer expectations, financial targets, and high-quality standards. This is an incredible opportunity to bring your culinary expertise to a dynamic manufacturing setting, working with a leading retailer known for its innovation and excellence in food.
- Develop and refine recipes in our development kitchen, ensuring consistent quality, taste, and adherence to M&S's Great Food agenda.
- Collaborate with the product development team to propose new raw materials and packaging solutions that enhance product appeal and maintain quality during transit.
- Accurately document recipes, methods, reheating instructions, and key measures such as pH, viscosities, and yields to ensure repeatable and scalable production.
- Present products in feasibility meetings, providing insight into their preparation and production processes.
- Set up and deliver professional internal and external product panels for submissions and benchmarking.
- Attend factory trial sign-offs to ensure production quality matches kitchen-developed standards, supporting cook sign-offs where required.
- Work alongside Head Development Chefs and Sushi Specialists to drive innovation and creativity within the team.
- Develop products that contribute to sustainability goals and align with the latest industry trends.
What We're Looking For:
At Greencore, we put our people at the core. We celebrate individuality and help everyone bring their best to work. We are looking for a passionate chef with food manufacturing experience who can translate high-end restaurant standards into scalable, factory-friendly recipes.
- Experience working within a food manufacturing environment, with a clear understanding of what is achievable in large-scale production.
- Hands-on experience in a manufacturing kitchen, developing recipes that can be efficiently produced while maintaining quality and consistency.
- A strong background in a fast-paced restaurant environment, demonstrating creativity and adaptability.
- Commercial awareness, with the ability to cost recipes and work within financial constraints.
- Strong presentation skills, with the confidence to communicate professionally with customers and stakeholders.
What You'll Get in Return:
- Competitive salary and job-related benefits.
- Generous holiday allowance.
- Pension scheme (up to 8% matched contribution).
- Company share save scheme.
- Access to exclusive Greencore employee discounts.
- Greencore Qualifications and ongoing development opportunities.
- Full access to our Wellbeing Centre platform.
This is an excellent opportunity to work with Marks & Spencer, one of the UK's most iconic retailers, while growing your career in food innovation and development. If you have the experience, passion, and creativity to succeed in this role, join us at Greencore and be part of shaping the future of food!
Permanent - Full-Time
Salary: Negotiable
Location: Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN3 6RX
Development Chef - Northampton employer: Greencore Group
Contact Detail:
Greencore Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Development Chef - Northampton
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Marks & Spencer's product range and their Great Food agenda. Understanding their brand values and customer expectations will help you tailor your approach during interviews and discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the food manufacturing industry, especially those who have experience with large-scale production. Attend industry events or join relevant online forums to gain insights and make connections that could benefit your application.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to showcase your culinary creativity by developing a few unique recipe ideas that align with current food trends. Being able to present these concepts during your interview can demonstrate your innovative thinking and passion for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Brush up on your presentation skills, as you'll need to communicate effectively with various stakeholders. Practising how to clearly articulate your ideas and processes will help you stand out during the interview process.
We think you need these skills to ace Development Chef - Northampton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Read the job description thoroughly to grasp the key responsibilities and requirements for the Development Chef position. Tailor your application to highlight how your experience aligns with their needs.
Craft a Compelling CV: Ensure your CV showcases relevant culinary experience, particularly in food manufacturing and recipe development. Highlight any achievements that demonstrate your ability to create scalable recipes while maintaining quality.
Write a Strong Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for food innovation and your understanding of the fast-paced food manufacturing environment. Mention specific examples of how you've successfully developed recipes or collaborated with teams in the past.
Showcase Your Creativity: If possible, include a portfolio or examples of your previous work that demonstrate your creativity and ability to develop appealing recipes. This could be photos of dishes you've created or descriptions of successful projects.
How to prepare for a job interview at Greencore Group
✨Showcase Your Culinary Passion
Make sure to express your enthusiasm for food and cooking during the interview. Share specific examples of your culinary journey, including any unique recipes you've developed or innovative techniques you've used in previous roles.
✨Understand the Brand
Familiarise yourself with Marks & Spencer's Great Food agenda and their product offerings. Being able to discuss how your experience aligns with their values and standards will demonstrate your commitment and understanding of the role.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect questions about recipe development, food safety, and production processes. Brush up on your knowledge of pH levels, viscosities, and yields, as these are crucial in a manufacturing environment.
✨Demonstrate Team Collaboration Skills
Highlight your ability to work within a team, especially in a fast-paced environment. Share examples of how you've collaborated with others in previous roles to drive innovation and achieve common goals.
