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- Tasks: Lead food quality and development for a top Asian-inspired brand.
- Company: Join itsu, a leading quick-service retail and grocery brand in the UK and Belgium.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and a chance to innovate in healthy eating.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on food quality and sustainability in a fast-paced environment.
- Qualifications: Degree in food science or related field; experience in food industry preferred.
- Other info: Be part of a passionate team dedicated to exceptional quality and innovation.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
We are the leading Asian-inspired quick-service retail and grocery brand with over 80 restaurants across the UK and Belgium, and a growing wholesale business across Europe and beyond. Our renowned delicious food made fresh in every restaurant, every day, has made itsu a top choice for healthy eating. In addition to our restaurants, itsu grocery offers a range of high-quality Asian-inspired foods available online and in supermarkets. We are excited to be one of the leading brands in this specific group and have ambitious plans for continued growth both domestically and globally. With its best-in-class food, latest technology, innovation, and talented workforce, itsu is the future of fast food.
As the Head of Food at itsu, you will report to the Food Director and will be responsible for overseeing and supporting all aspects of food quality and development with itsu retail including cold & hot menu, drinks, snacks. You will play a pivotal role in maintaining itsu's high standards of food excellence, ensuring that our products meet our customers’ expectations, commercial aspirations, and our mission to make healthy, affordable food accessible to everyone. You will be responsible to deliver and implement our new food ideas, developing control processes, benchmarking itsu against its competitors and current trends. You will collaborate closely with the Procurement, Safety/Technical, Marketing, Finance and Operational teams.
Skill and Responsibility Overview
- Guardian of our product gate process: Fully accountable for the New or Existing Product Gate process, ensuring quality, standards and resilience before any launch.
- Cross functional launch management: Manage a controlled and accurate product launch process, ensuring a shop-led approach and a cross functional engagement.
- Quality control & consistency: Oversee food quality control processes, supplier standards, and validation procedures while working with operations to maintain consistency across all locations.
- Menu management & commercial performance: Structure and maintain the food development calendar, conduct competitor analysis, and ensure menu offerings align with commercial requirements and brand standards.
- Food Development: Assist with the food development, aware of trends and competitors and influence senior stakeholders in new products.
Focus Of Role
- Innovation through NPD & EPD across all food and drink ranges.
- Quality consistency through Quality management Process & simplicity improvement.
- Skills & knowledge enhancement.
- Delivering our healthier strategy.
- Clean ingredients declarations and UPI removal.
- Nutritional reporting.
- Delivering against agreed nutritional targets.
Core Responsibilities
- Food development: Organise & structure the itsu food development meetings. Ensure all food development is aligned to deliver customer, marketing and commercial requirements. Maintain an annual food development calendar to feed into commercial and planning calendar. Implement structured reviews of current menus & offer, considering competitors to identify areas for improvement and ensure adherence to quality standards [taste, texture, presentation]. Ensure all products are validated to allow consistent delivery across all shop formats. Building routes to operational simplicity that will drive simplicity and quality standards. Continually working to simplicity KPI’s. Work within the planning cycles to ensure all projects are delivered on time and on brand. Maintain all recipe information is accurate with Starchef. Validate all food service equipment to be fit for purpose to maintain itsu’s high quality food standards.
- Delivering against our Healthier philosophy: Work with marketing and supply chain to define and deliver standards, working to ensure all ingredients meet itsu sustainable sourcing and clean labelling requirements as agreed. Define & deliver nutritional improvements across all food products to meet nutritional goals. Contribute actively to itsu’s sustainability commitments by promoting and including ethical use of ingredients and driving initiatives to reduce the environmental impact within the food development process. Manage the nutritional data for the business allowing up to date reporting.
- Food Quality & Safety: Collaborate with the supply chain/technical department to ensure the sourcing of high-quality ingredients and their consistency. Oversee the development and implementation of validation, including product testing, sensory evaluation, and shelf-life. Work with Ops to develop and implement food quality control processes across all itsu locations. Building knowledge and empowerment through monthly quality focuses. Work with L&D to embed key quality training within the development pathways for each role. Engage with the safety team to ensure compliance with all relevant regulations. Stay up-to-date with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices related to food safety and quality. Work with technical & supply/procurement teams to ensure an up-to-date risk assessed ingredient review plan is in place. Ensure products are reviewed against the risk assessment alongside technical to ensure supplier quality standards are met. Track all complaints and utilise this to drive quality improvement at suppliers and via restaurants.
This is you
- A bachelor's degree or higher in food science, nutrition, culinary arts, or a related field preferred.
- Proven experience in a similar role within the food industry, preferably in a retail or restaurant setting.
- In-depth knowledge of food quality control processes, regulations, and industry standards.
- Familiarity with cold and hot menu development, drinks, snacks, and desserts.
- Experience in managing and collaborating with cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders.
Skills
- Strong leadership and management abilities to lead a food & quality team.
- Excellent organisational and planning skills to implement control processes and improvements.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with various departments.
- Attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining high-quality standards.
- Ability to stay updated with industry trends and emerging technologies.
Behaviours
- Passion for Asian & healthy food.
- Commitment for delivering exceptional quality to customers.
- Proactive, innovative, and commercial approach to generating new ideas and implementing improvements.
- Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong problem-solving skills to address any issues related to food quality.
- Adaptable and flexible mindset to adjust to changing business needs.
You put people at the heart of everything you do by displaying the 4 itsu qualities: I take pride [in what I do], I genuinely care [for people], I want to grow [myself & others], I build trust [around me].
Head of Food employer: itsu
Contact Detail:
itsu Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Food
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the food industry, especially those connected to itsu. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about asking for informational interviews. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your passion for food! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, share your love for Asian cuisine and healthy eating. Talk about trends you’ve noticed and how you can contribute to itsu’s mission of making healthy food accessible.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by knowing itsu inside out. Familiarise yourself with their menu, values, and recent innovations. This will not only impress your interviewers but also help you articulate how you can enhance their food quality and development.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the itsu family. Let’s make healthy eating the future together!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Food
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food: When writing your application, let your love for food shine through! Share your experiences and what drives you in the culinary world, especially if it relates to Asian cuisine. We want to see that you're as excited about food as we are!
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to fit the Head of Food role. Highlight your relevant experience in food quality control and development, and how you've successfully managed cross-functional teams. This will show us that you understand what we're looking for.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and structure your thoughts logically. We appreciate a well-organised application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications and enthusiasm.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining the itsu family!
How to prepare for a job interview at itsu
✨Know Your Food Inside Out
As the Head of Food, you'll need to demonstrate a deep understanding of food quality and development. Brush up on current trends in Asian cuisine, nutritional standards, and innovative food practices. Be ready to discuss how you can elevate itsu's offerings and maintain high standards.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role requires strong leadership and collaboration with various teams. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led cross-functional projects in the past. Highlight your ability to inspire and manage a team while ensuring quality and consistency across all locations.
✨Be Ready for Practical Scenarios
Expect to face situational questions that assess your problem-solving skills. Think about challenges you've encountered in food development or quality control and how you overcame them. This will show your adaptability and proactive approach to maintaining high standards.
✨Align with itsu's Values
itsu values passion for healthy eating and commitment to quality. Be prepared to discuss how your personal values align with theirs. Share your enthusiasm for Asian cuisine and your vision for making healthy food accessible, which will resonate well with the interviewers.
