At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead menu innovation and development to create exciting food experiences.
- Company: Join a nationally recognised hospitality and retail business with a vibrant culture.
- Benefits: Up to £55,000 salary, hybrid working, generous leave, and employee discounts.
- Other info: Opportunity for ongoing professional development and career advancement.
- Why this job: Shape the future of food offerings while driving customer engagement and revenue growth.
- Qualifications: Experience in food development and strong culinary knowledge required.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 55000 £ per year.
Are you passionate about creating food experiences that customers love? We're recruiting for an experienced Menu Innovation & Development Manager to join a nationally recognised hospitality and retail business with a large multi-site restaurant operation across the UK. This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of menu strategy, product development and innovation, shaping a food offer that delights customers while delivering commercial success. You'll play a pivotal role in developing seasonal menus, identifying emerging food trends and ensuring every menu launch is operationally achievable across a diverse estate.
If you're equally comfortable creating inspiring food concepts, analysing margin performance and collaborating with operational teams, this could be the perfect next step in your career.
The OpportunityReporting into senior leadership, you'll lead the end-to-end menu development process, taking concepts from idea through to successful launch. You'll work closely with operations, supply chain, finance and food safety teams to ensure menus are innovative, commercially viable and consistently executed across multiple locations.
Key responsibilities include:- Developing seasonal menus and food concepts that drive customer engagement and revenue growth.
- Leading the menu development process from concept creation through to implementation.
- Monitoring food and beverage trends, customer preferences and competitor activity to keep the offer fresh and relevant.
- Creating scalable recipes and preparation methods that deliver consistency across a multi-site operation.
- Managing menu costings and margin performance, identifying opportunities to improve profitability.
- Working with suppliers to source innovative products, manage substitutions and optimise costs.
- Ensuring recipe specifications, allergen information and menu data are accurately maintained within menu management systems.
- Supporting successful menu launches through training materials, operational guides and stakeholder engagement.
- Building strong relationships across operational, commercial and support teams to drive alignment and execution.
- Coaching and influencing key stakeholders to continuously improve food quality, standards and customer experience.
We're looking for a commercially aware food professional who combines creativity with strong operational understanding. You'll ideally have:
- Experience in food development, menu innovation or product development within hospitality, foodservice or retail.
- Strong culinary knowledge with the ability to develop recipes that are both appealing and operationally practical.
- Experience managing multi-site menu launches and food development projects.
- Excellent commercial awareness with a strong understanding of food costing, margins and profitability.
- Knowledge of food safety, allergen management and compliance requirements.
- Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Experience working cross-functionally with operations, finance, procurement and supply chain teams.
- Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
- A passion for food trends, customer experience and continuous improvement.
Salary up to £55,000. Hybrid working model. Generous annual leave allowance. Enhanced pension scheme. Employee discounts across food, retail and hospitality offerings. Ongoing professional development and funded learning opportunities. Health and wellbeing support programmes. Access to company events and colleague engagement initiatives. The opportunity to shape the future direction of a nationally recognised food operation.
If you're ready to combine creativity, commercial thinking and operational excellence to deliver an outstanding customer food experience, we'd love to hear from you.
Menu Development Manager in Livingston employer: Olympus Recruitment Ltd
Join a nationally recognised hospitality and retail business that values creativity and innovation in menu development. With a hybrid working model, generous benefits, and a strong focus on employee growth, this company fosters a collaborative work culture where your culinary expertise can thrive. You'll have the opportunity to shape exciting food experiences while enjoying professional development and a supportive environment across multiple locations.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Menu Development Manager in Livingston
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts, attend food and hospitality events, and connect with people on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your passion for food! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, share your ideas about menu innovation and trends. Let them see your enthusiasm and creativity – it could set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s current menu and identifying areas for improvement. Bring fresh ideas to the table during your interview to demonstrate your understanding of their brand and your vision for their future.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our brand.
We think you need these skills to ace Menu Development Manager in Livingston
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food:When writing your application, let your love for food shine through! Share specific examples of how you've created memorable food experiences or innovative menu concepts in the past. We want to see your enthusiasm and creativity!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Highlight your relevant experience in menu development and food innovation without rambling. We appreciate clarity, so make it easy for us to see why you're the perfect fit!
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to match our job description. Use keywords from the posting, like 'menu strategy' and 'food trends', to show that you understand what we're looking for. This helps us see how your skills align with our needs!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Olympus Recruitment Ltd
✨Know Your Menu Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the company's current menu offerings and any recent changes they've made. Be prepared to discuss how you would innovate or improve their menu based on your insights into food trends and customer preferences.
✨Showcase Your Culinary Creativity
Bring examples of your previous work in menu development, such as seasonal menus or unique food concepts you've created. This will not only demonstrate your creativity but also your ability to translate ideas into operationally viable dishes.
✨Understand the Numbers
Brush up on your knowledge of food costing and margin performance. Be ready to discuss how you can manage costs while still delivering exciting menu options. Showing that you can balance creativity with commercial awareness will impress the interviewers.
✨Build Relationships in Your Answers
Since collaboration is key in this role, prepare examples of how you've successfully worked with cross-functional teams in the past. Highlight your communication skills and how you've influenced stakeholders to achieve a common goal, especially in multi-site operations.
