At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead culinary innovation and develop exciting retail food concepts at Merville Barracks.
- Company: Join Sodexo, a leader in Defence Retail Catering with a focus on great food experiences.
- Benefits: Up to £38,500 salary, free parking, mental health support, and lifestyle rewards.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal growth and mentoring others.
- Why this job: Combine your culinary creativity with leadership to shape the future of Defence catering.
- Qualifications: Experience in retail food concepts and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 38500 - 38500 £ per year.
Key Information
- 40 hours per week Monday - Friday with some weekend working
- Shifts are between 06:00 - 22:30 depending on work schedule
- Up to £38,500 per annum
- Free Car parking
- Sodexo rewards and benefits
Job Introduction
Lead Innovation. Inspire People. Shape the Future of Defence Retail Catering. Ready to take your culinary career beyond the kitchen? At Sodexo Merville Barracks, Colchester, we believe great food creates great experiences. We're looking for a Contract Retail Development Chef to lead the development of innovative retail and mobile catering concepts across Merville Barracks. This is far more than a traditional chef role. It's an opportunity to combine your culinary creativity with commercial awareness and people leadership, developing exciting food concepts that drive business growth and enhance the customer experience. From launching street food concepts and branded retail offers to mentoring teams and influencing retail strategy, you'll play a key role in shaping the future of Defence catering.
What you’ll do:
- As Contract Retail Development Chef, you'll lead innovation across our retail catering operation while ensuring exceptional standards, commercial success and operational excellence.
- Your responsibilities will include:
- Creating and launching exciting retail food concepts, from street food and grab-and-go offers to branded catering experiences
- Leading the development of our mobile Airstream catering trailer and retail offer
- Developing commercially successful menus that deliver against sales, GP and budget targets
- Using market trends and customer insight to continuously evolve our food offer
- Working collaboratively with operational teams, clients and stakeholders to deliver sustainable business growth
- Mentoring and developing chefs and catering colleagues to support learning and progression
- Driving promotional activity, seasonal campaigns and retail initiatives
- Promoting new concepts through engaging culinary storytelling and social media
- Championing food safety, health & safety and compliance across all operations
- Building long-term client relationships while representing Sodexo professionally at all times
What you bring:
- Experience developing successful retail food concepts, branded offers or contemporary dining experiences
- A strong understanding of menu development, food trends and consumer behaviour
- Commercial awareness with experience delivering sales, gross profit and budget targets
- Excellent leadership skills with the ability to coach, mentor and inspire others
- Strong knowledge of food safety, health & safety and compliance
- Experience building positive client and customer relationships
- Good IT skills and confidence using Microsoft Office and catering systems
- A recognised Food Safety qualification (Level 4 desirable)
- Experience promoting food brands through social media and examples of culinary content or campaigns would be an advantage.
What we offer:
- Mental health & wellbeing support
- Employee Assistance Programme for personal, legal, and financial advice
- 24/7 virtual GP & lifestyle rewards
- Discounts for you & family
- Financial tools & retirement plan
- Cycle to Work & Paid volunteering day
Sodexo reserves the right to close this advert early if we are in receipt of a high number of applications.
