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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Ensure food quality and safety while collaborating on exciting product innovations.
- Company: Join itsu, a leading healthy eating brand with a vibrant culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, health insurance, hybrid working, and 50% discount in shops.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on food safety and quality in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: 3+ years in food safety, degree in food science, and a passion for Asian cuisine.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with opportunities for growth and development.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Overview
Join to apply for the Food Technologist role at itsu.
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.
Responsibilities
- Works with the Category Technical Manager to approve and onboard new suppliers
- Supports the Technical Executive with ongoing monitoring of product quality, safety and authenticity through routine surveillance testing (covering nutritionals, claim validation, micro, chemical and authenticity testing), shelf-life evaluation and organoleptic testing
- Responsible for completing complaint and out of specification test results
- Investigations for low and medium risk issues. Identifies the root cause and puts relevant corrective and preventative actions in place
- Supports the Category Technical Manager on the technical elements of NPD and EPD projects ensuring the gate process is followed and testing completed on time for nutritionals, cooking instructions and shelf life
- Attends production trials and first productions
- Completes the product specifications for new products accurately and on time, ensuring that they capture product safety and quality information
- Maintains specifications for existing products ensuring they are accurate and up to date
- Reviews and approves legal labelling artwork for new and existing products and checks compliance with itsu brand standards and the labelling regulations
Qualifications
- At least 3 years’ experience working in a food safety and technical role with manufacturing and retail/brand experience
- Qualified to degree level in food science or science degree
- Excellent attention to detail
- Ability to work in a small team and individually
- Passion for food and Asian-inspired cuisine
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.
itsu [grocery] takes the itsu brand into supermarkets, health food stores, online, wholesale and internationally with products such as crispy seaweed thins, frozen gyoza & bao, miso soups, and other ready-to-eat offerings.
Diversity & Inclusion
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, university/school, address, email address and any photos from your CV and covering letter. Non-anonymised CVs may not be reviewed.
Scope Of The Role
itsu [grocery] are hiring a Food Technologist who will be responsible for the quality, safety, legality and authenticity of itsu [grocery] products and supplier performance in the relevant category, specifically the delivery of continuous improvement to ensure the highest food safety standards. They will support the Technical team in maintaining AA Grade certification against the BRC Agents & Brokers standard and drive a food safety culture in decision making.
- Collaborates with the Category Technical Manager to approve and onboard new suppliers
- Monitors product quality, safety and authenticity through routine testing and shelf-life evaluation
- Handles complaints and out-of-specification test results
- Investigates issues, identifies root causes and implements corrective and preventive actions
- Supports technical elements of NPD and EPD projects ensuring gate processes and testing timelines are met
- Participates in production trials and first productions
- Prepares and maintains product specifications with key safety and quality information
- Reviews and updates existing product specifications
- Reviews and approves legal labelling artwork for compliance with brand standards and regulations
What We Offer
- Competitive salary
- Competitive bonus scheme
- 25 days holiday + bank holidays
- Health insurance
- Company pension scheme
- Hybrid working (2 days wfh)
- Opportunity to work from abroad
- 50% employee discount in itsu shops
- Free itsu lunch
Seniority level
- Mid-Senior level
Employment type
- Full-time
Job function
- Research, Analyst, and Information Technology
Industries
- Food and Beverage Services
London, United Kingdom – new roles and postings
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Food Technologist employer: itsu
Contact Detail:
itsu Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Food Technologist
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the food tech industry, especially those who work at itsu or similar companies. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info on job openings.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of food safety standards and the latest trends in Asian cuisine. Show us your passion for food and how you can contribute to itsu's mission!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just apply anywhere; focus on itsu! Tailor your application to highlight your relevant experience in food safety and technical roles. We want to see how you fit into our culture and values.
✨Tip Number 4
Follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can leave a lasting impression. It shows us that you're genuinely interested in the role and eager to join the itsu team.
We think you need these skills to ace Food Technologist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Food Technologist role. Highlight your experience in food safety and technical roles, and don’t forget to mention any relevant projects or achievements that showcase your skills.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to express your passion for food and Asian-inspired cuisine, and explain why you’re excited about the opportunity at itsu. Keep it concise but impactful!
Follow the Anonymisation Guidelines: Remember to remove your full name, university/school, address, email address, and any photos from your CV and cover letter. We want to ensure a fair review process, so stick to the guidelines!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of being noticed. It’s super easy, and you’ll be one step closer to joining our itsu family!
How to prepare for a job interview at itsu
✨Know Your Food Safety Basics
Make sure you brush up on your food safety knowledge before the interview. Be ready to discuss key concepts like BRC standards, shelf-life evaluation, and the importance of authenticity testing. This will show that you’re not just passionate about food but also understand the technical side of things.
✨Showcase Your Attention to Detail
Since this role requires excellent attention to detail, prepare examples from your past experience where your meticulousness made a difference. Whether it was in product specifications or during quality checks, having specific anecdotes will help demonstrate your fit for the role.
✨Familiarise Yourself with itsu Products
Take some time to explore itsu’s product range and understand their unique selling points. Being able to discuss specific products and how they align with the brand's commitment to healthy eating will impress the interviewers and show your genuine interest in the company.
✨Prepare Questions About NPD and EPD Projects
Since you'll be supporting new product development (NPD) and existing product development (EPD), think of insightful questions to ask about their processes. This could include inquiries about how they ensure compliance with labelling regulations or how they handle supplier onboarding. It shows you're proactive and engaged!
