About The Role
Are you a passionate foodie with a flair for innovation and a track record in product development?
We're looking for a dynamic and creative Development Chef to join a fast-paced food business, helping to bring exciting new products to life for leading UK retailers and foodservice customers. If you love spotting trends, developing exceptional recipes, and turning great ideas into commercially successful products, we'd love to hear from you. Experience working with Waitrose would be highly advantageous, although candidates from other retail, branded or food manufacturing backgrounds will also be considered.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop innovative, commercially viable products that delight customers and consumers.
- Stay ahead of market, restaurant and food trends, translating insights into new concepts and product launches.
- Collaborate closely with Commercial, Technical and Production teams throughout the development process.
- Create, refine and communicate recipes, ensuring successful launches and continuous product improvement.
- Prepare customer presentations, tastings and food samples while managing projects to critical path deadlines
About You
We believe success comes from collaboration and diverse perspectives. At Samworth Brothers, we value team players who are driven to achieve great results together. You’ll bring the following skills and experience:
- Proven Development Chef experience within food manufacturing, retail, QSR or branded food environments.
- Strong culinary background with a genuine passion for food and emerging trends.
- Creative mindset with the ability to develop innovative products from concept to launch.
- Excellent presentation and stakeholder management skills.
- Highly organised, proactive and able to thrive in a fast-moving environment
- Retail account experience
- Chilled food manufacturing knowledge.
- Experience presenting concepts directly to retail customers.
- Understanding of product costing and commercial requirements
What We Offer
We’re building a workplace where different ways of thinking are not just welcomed but supported, with clear communication, flexible processes, and a commitment to continuous improvement so everyone can thrive.
- Company pension scheme
- Access to health and well-being support, such as healthcare, optical and dental discounts
- Employee discount scheme
- Experience annual pay reviews
- Profit related pay
- Opportunity for extended leaveFree on-site parking
- Unlock your potential through training and growth opportunities
About Us
Samworth Brothers is a fourth-generation family business, trusted by many of the UK’s best-known retailers to produce high-quality own-label products. Alongside these, we’re proud to craft and deliver our own iconic brands, including Ginsters, Soreen, Higgidy, Dickinson & Morris, Urban Eat, West Cornwall Pasty Company, and Walker & Son.
With over 10,000 talented colleagues working across our modern, well-invested food manufacturing sites nationwide, we’re committed to excellence in everything we do—from the food we make to the careers we build.
At Samworth Brothers, you’re more than just an employee, you are part of our strong family culture. Our collaborative approach and strong team spirit help us support one another and achieve great things together. As part of a well-established group, we offer stability, opportunity, and a place where you can truly thrive.
We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunities employer making diversity and inclusion a core part of everything we do. We also actively welcome applications from neurodivergent individuals and are committed to a recruitment process that’s fair, respectful, and free from bias. If you need any adaptations to the application or interview process, please do let us know.
Samworth Brothers do not engage with unlicensed gangmasters or third parties. Samworth Brothers will NEVER ask you for money in order to provide you with employment. If you are in any doubt, please contact an official Samworth Brothers representative.
New Product Development Chef in Leicester employer: Samworth Brothers Limited
At Samworth Brothers, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that values the well-being and growth of our Maintenance Managers. Located in a vibrant community, we offer a supportive work culture, competitive benefits including an enhanced pension scheme and private health coverage, and numerous opportunities for professional development, ensuring that you can thrive both personally and professionally within our family-oriented team.
