Development Chef (NPD) in Cornwall

Join Our Team as a Development Chef in our New Product Development Team! Due to continued business growth, we have an exciting opportunity for a Development Chef to join our New Product Development team based in Bodmin. This is a hands‑on, creative role at the heart of our food innovation, ideal for someone passionate about product development, quality food, and working collaboratively in a fast‑paced FMCG environment.

Working closely with the NPD Manager, NPD Assistant Manager and wider cross‑functional teams, you will be involved in developing and launching new products, as well as enhancing our existing range, ensuring everything we produce meets our quality, safety, and customer expectations.

Hours of Work: 08:00 until 16:00

Days of work: Monday to Friday

Salary: TBC depending on qualifications and experience

Closing Date: 08 May 2026. Please note that this vacancy may close early if we receive a high number of applications, so early submission is encouraged.

Why Join Us? By joining our growing NPD team, you will play a key role in shaping products enjoyed by customers across the UK. We are a values‑led business built on Quality, Friendliness, Customer Focus, Honesty, and Passion, and we are proud of our heritage and our people. We offer a supportive working environment where ideas are encouraged, development is supported, and careers can grow alongside the business. If you’re a creative and driven Development Chef looking for your next opportunity in a growing food business, we’d love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities:

• Product Development: Manage new and existing product development projects from concept through to launch. Develop, refine, and trial recipes to deliver high‑quality, innovative products. Ensure products align with company strategy, customer briefs, and market trends.
• Trials and Scale‑Up: Plan and lead kitchen trials, factory trials, and first productions as required. Support product scale‑up, ensuring smooth transition from development to production. Work closely with Operations and Technical teams to ensure manufacturability and consistency.
• Quality, Food Safety and Compliance: Ensure all products comply with food safety, legal, customer and internal quality standards. Maintain accurate NPD documentation, specifications, and trial records. Follow the NPD Quality Assurance system and support audit activity where required.
• Collaboration and Customer Focus: Work cross‑functionally with Technical, Commercial, Operations, Procurement and Supply Chain teams. Support customer presentations, tastings and product reviews when required. Build strong working relationships with customers and suppliers.
• Continuous Improvement: Contribute to improving NPD processes, ways of working and product performance. Support cost control, value engineering and margin awareness throughout development.
• Travel: Willingness and flexibility to travel within the UK and, where required, internationally to support customer visits, supplier meetings, product trials and site‑based project activity.

Essential Requirements:

• Proven experience delivering end‑to‑end product development, from concept through to launch.
• Strong food development capability, including recipe formulation and hands‑on culinary skills.
• Sound knowledge of food manufacturing processes, food safety standards, allergens and HACCP principles.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Full Drivers UK Licence.
• Confidence working cross‑functionally with Technical, Operations and Commercial teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with a proactive, solutions‑focused approach.
• A genuine passion for food, quality and product excellence.

Desirable Requirements:

• Experience developing products within chilled, frozen, bakery, ready meals or protein‑based categories.
• Experience working within an FMCG or food manufacturing environment.
• Experience working with major UK retailers or foodservice customers.
• Practical experience of factory trials, scale‑up or pilot plant activity.
• Formal culinary or food‑related qualifications, with additional food safety training.

Even Better Bits! (PROPER PERKS)

• Free pasties and pastries every day.
• Weekly free fruit.
• Subsidised staff canteen.
• Monthly colleague treats.
• Regular staff BBQs.
• Christmas celebrations and goodies.
• Free use of spa.