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- Tasks: Lead the development of delicious meals for older consumers and the care sector.
- Company: Join Pilgrim's Europe, a fast-growing food business focused on quality and innovation.
- Benefits: Career growth opportunities, supportive team culture, and impactful work.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on ownership and determination.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives through high-quality food products.
- Qualifications: Experience in food product development and a passion for nutrition and quality.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
About the role
We're looking for a Food Development Specialist to take ownership of our growing Oakhouse Foods range — creating high-quality, great-tasting meals that truly make a difference to our customers. This is a unique opportunity to shape products designed for older consumers, the care sector, and NHS settings, where food quality, nutrition, and consistency really matter. You'll lead both New Product Development (NPD) and Existing Product Development (EPD) — bringing ideas to life from concept through to launch, while ensuring every product delivers commercially and meets the highest standards.
Location: Chippenham | Oakhouse Foods (part of Pilgrim's Europe)
Working Hours: Monday to Friday (office-based role)
What you'll be doing:
- Own the end-to-end product development process from concept to launch
- Create and deliver seasonal and insight-led product ranges
- Champion food quality, taste, texture and nutritional integrity
- Use data, customer feedback and performance insights to shape decisions
- Balance commercial targets (cost, margin) with product excellence
- Develop and refine recipes with a strong understanding of ingredients and functionality
- Lead tastings, benchmarking, and continuous product improvements
- Manage multiple projects and critical paths to ensure timely delivery
- Collaborate cross-functionally with brand, commercial, supply chain and technical teams
- Work closely with suppliers and support factory trials to ensure scalability
What we're looking for:
- Experience in food product development, ideally within frozen or ready meals
- Strong understanding of food quality, flavour, ingredients and nutrition
- Commercial awareness with the ability to balance cost, margin and customer value
- Ability to turn data and insight into actionable product decisions
- Strong project management skills with the ability to handle multiple workstreams
- Knowledge of food safety and quality standards (HACCP, BRC)
- Confident communicator who can influence stakeholders and partners
Qualifications:
- Degree (or equivalent experience) in Food Science, Nutrition, Food Technology or Culinary Arts
- HACCP / Food Safety certifications (desirable)
- Experience with specialist diets (e.g. texture-modified foods) is a plus
Why join Pilgrim's Europe?
- At Pilgrim's Europe, we offer more than just a role — we offer the chance to build a career in a fast-paced, growing food business.
- Be part of a company where quality and innovation drive everything
- Work on products that have a real impact on people's lives
- Join a collaborative, supportive team with strong values
- Opportunities for career development and progression
- A culture built on Ownership, Simplicity and Determination
Ready to apply? If you're passionate about food, driven by quality, and excited by the challenge of creating products that truly matter — we'd love to hear from you. Apply now and help shape the future of Oakhouse Foods at Pilgrim's Europe!
Food Development Specialist in Alderton employer: Pilgrims Europe
Contact Detail:
Pilgrims Europe Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Food Development Specialist in Alderton
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the food industry, especially those who work with product development. Attend events or join online groups where you can chat about trends and share ideas — it’s all about making connections that could lead to your next opportunity.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your passion for food! When you get the chance to meet potential employers, whether at interviews or casual meet-ups, talk about your love for creating delicious meals and how you’ve made an impact in previous roles. Let your enthusiasm shine through!
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready to discuss your projects! Prepare to share specific examples of your work in food development, especially any successful launches or improvements you've led. This will show that you not only have the skills but also the experience to back them up.
✨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 take the initiative to connect directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Food Development Specialist in Alderton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food: When writing your application, let your love for food shine through! Share any personal experiences or projects that highlight your enthusiasm for creating delicious meals, especially for older consumers and the care sector.
Highlight Relevant Experience: Make sure to showcase your experience in food product development, particularly with frozen or ready meals. We want to see how your background aligns with our needs, so don’t hold back on those details!
Be Data-Driven: Since we value data and insights, include examples of how you've used customer feedback or performance metrics to shape product decisions in your previous roles. This will show us you can balance commercial targets with product excellence.
Tailor Your Application: Take a moment to tailor your application specifically for the Food Development Specialist role. Mention how your skills in project management and collaboration can help us deliver high-quality products that make a difference. And remember, apply through our website for the best chance!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pilgrims Europe
✨Know Your Ingredients
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of food quality, flavour, and nutrition. Be ready to discuss how different ingredients work together and how they can impact the final product. This will show that you understand the core of what the role entails.
✨Showcase Your Project Management Skills
Prepare examples of how you've managed multiple projects in the past. Highlight your ability to balance commercial targets with product excellence. This is crucial for a Food Development Specialist, so be ready to impress with your organisational skills.
✨Bring Data to the Table
Familiarise yourself with how to turn data and customer feedback into actionable insights. Be prepared to discuss specific instances where you've used data to shape product decisions. This will demonstrate your analytical skills and commercial awareness.
✨Communicate Confidently
Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. You'll need to influence stakeholders and collaborate with various teams, so being a confident communicator is key. Consider doing mock interviews to refine your delivery.