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- Tasks: Create innovative recipes and manage kitchen operations for exciting new products.
- Company: Join itsu, a leading Asian-inspired healthy eating brand with global ambitions.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, bonuses, health insurance, and generous employee discounts.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with excellent training and career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team shaping the future of fast food with your culinary creativity.
- Qualifications: Passion for Asian cuisine and experience in a professional kitchen are essential.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
The ideal candidate:
- A passion for Asian food and an obsessed foodie
- Experience working in a professional kitchen, restaurant or development kitchen
- Be able to work in a small team and individually
- Highly organised and self-motivated individual
About us:
itsu is the healthy eating, Asian inspired quick service retail & grocery brand with over 70 stores in the UK and a leading grocery business across Europe and beyond. Renowned for its best-in-class food made fresh in every shop every day, itsu has huge global ambitions with a commitment to continue to open many more stores and intensify the growth of its already thriving grocery arm. With its best-in-class healthy food, latest technology, innovation, and talented workforce, itsu is the future of fast food.
itsu [grocery], which this role falls under, takes the itsu brand into supermarkets, health food stores, online, wholesale and internationally with products such as crispy seaweed thins, frozen gyoza & bao, brilliant broth, rice noodles & miso easy to name a few...
D&I statement: itsu [grocery] is committed to building a diverse, equitable and inclusive organisation. We encourage applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply for all of our opportunities. When applying for a role with us, please remove your: full name, name of University/School, address, email address and any photos of you on your CV and covering letter. Non-anonymised CVs may not be reviewed.
Scope of the role:
Itsu [grocery] are looking for a Kitchen Developer to be responsible for recipe innovation and supporting the Senior NPD Manager on delivering products from ideation to sign off at Gate 2. The successful candidate will have day to day management of the kitchen and ingredient store and be responsible for cooking up the product range and samples as per requests.
Product innovation:
- Makes up recipes to meet the brief from the Senior NPD Manager and pro-actively considers how to approach, providing alternative ideas that are commercially viable and scalable.
- Accurately documents kitchen recipes, methods and briefs out to suppliers.
- Works with the Senior NPD Managers and suppliers to review sample submissions and provides feedback.
- Pro-actively arranges tasting of samples developed or samples requested.
- Keeps up to date with food trends related to the category and new products that emerge within retail and restaurants.
Kitchen management:
- Maintains a tidy, organised and clean kitchen.
- Ensures all ingredients required to produce kitchen samples for live NPD projects are maintained in stock.
- Supports with the general NPD shopping list, keeping the rest of the team pro-actively updated on ability to source required ingredients / samples.
- Cooks up products and dishes as per requests for business meetings.
- Organises and supports products for external customer meetings.
What we offer:
- Competitive salary
- Competitive bonus scheme
- 25 days holiday + bank holidays (two bank holidays are interchangeable for other religious holidays)
- Health insurance
- Company pension scheme
- 50% employee discount in itsu shops
- Free itsu lunch
- Discounts at major retailers
- A sizeable training budget to support your ongoing development
Development Chef - London employer: itsu
Contact Detail:
itsu Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Development Chef - London
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know itsu and what makes us tick! Dive into our brand values, product range, and the latest food trends. This will help you tailor your conversations during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of our team.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current itsu employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events. Building relationships can give you insider info about the role and might even lead to a referral, which is always a bonus!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for practical assessments! As a Development Chef, you might be asked to showcase your cooking skills or creativity. Practice your recipes and think about how you can innovate using our ingredients – this will set you apart from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the itsu family and ready to contribute to our exciting journey.
We think you need these skills to ace Development Chef - London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food: When you're writing your application, let your love for Asian cuisine shine through! Share any personal experiences or inspirations that fuel your passion for food. We want to see that you’re not just a chef, but a true foodie at heart.
Tailor Your CV and Cover Letter: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Development Chef role. Highlight relevant experience in professional kitchens and any innovative recipes you've created. We appreciate candidates who take the time to align their skills with what we’re looking for!
Keep It Clean and Professional: Remember to follow our guidelines by removing your full name, university details, and any personal photos from your CV and cover letter. We want to focus on your skills and experience, so keep it neat and professional to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application reaches us quickly and efficiently. Plus, you’ll get to explore more about our brand and what we stand for while you’re at it!
How to prepare for a job interview at itsu
✨Show Your Passion for Asian Cuisine
Make sure to express your love for Asian food during the interview. Share specific dishes you enjoy cooking or eating, and discuss any experiences you've had with Asian culinary techniques. This will demonstrate your genuine interest in the role and align with itsu's brand.
✨Highlight Your Kitchen Experience
Be ready to talk about your previous roles in professional kitchens or development environments. Share examples of how you've contributed to recipe innovation or kitchen management. This will show that you have the practical skills needed for the Development Chef position.
✨Prepare for Recipe Innovation Questions
Think about how you would approach recipe development and be prepared to discuss your creative process. Consider bringing a few ideas for new products that could fit into itsu's grocery line. This proactive approach will impress the interviewers and show your initiative.
✨Demonstrate Organisational Skills
Since the role requires being highly organised, come prepared with examples of how you've managed multiple tasks or projects in the past. Discuss any systems or tools you use to stay organised, as this will reassure them that you can handle the demands of the kitchen.