At a Glance
- Tasks: Create innovative sushi dishes and collaborate with clients to refine recipes.
- Company: Join Taiko, the UK's leading sushi manufacturer with a passion for food innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, wellness support, and discounts on dining.
- Other info: Opportunity to contribute to sustainability initiatives and enjoy annual awards celebrations.
- Why this job: Be part of a creative team shaping the future of sushi and Japanese cuisine.
- Qualifications: Experience in Japanese cuisine and product development is essential.
The predicted salary is between 46000 - 51500 £ per year.
Established in 1997 as the first manufacturer of sushi for the UK supermarket industry, Taiko has evolved into the most innovative manufacturer of Sushi, Food To Go, Prepared Meals and Snacking products in the UK, supplying Waitrose, Tesco and Sainsbury’s to name a few. Over the past 25 years Taiko has launched more first to market Sushi and Food to Go products than any other sushi manufacturer in the UK.
About You:
- Must have experience working with Japanese cuisine, ideally in a development role focused on creating new sushi products and recipes
- Strong technical knowledge of sushi preparation, ingredients, and flavour profiles
- A deep understanding of Japanese culture and culinary traditions
- Experience working with product development and manufacturing processes
- Ability to take client feedback and translate it into commercially viable products
- Creative, detail-oriented, and passionate about food innovation
- Confident working directly with clients and presenting concepts
Key Responsibilities:
- This is a hands-on, creative position working from our development kitchen, where you’ll play a key role in shaping and refining our sushi and Japanese food offering. You’ll work closely with a variety of clients to:
- Develop new sushi dishes and recipes from concept through to production
- Tailor and adapt menus to suit different client requirements
- Produce samples and manage the end-to-end development process
- Present dishes to clients, conduct tastings, and gather feedback
- Refine ingredients, flavours, and textures based on client needs
- Work closely with manufacturing teams to ensure successful scale-up
- Continuously test, improve, and relaunch products where needed
We're proud to offer:
- Opportunity to grow your career alongside with us with available apprentice program
- Brilliant support services designed to enhance your physical, mental and financial wellbeing.
- Annual discretionary bonus subject to business and overall performance
- Discretionary Life Assurance
- Discretionary Income Protection
- Group Personal Pension
- Private Medical Cash Plan
- Bespoke reward platform including access to retail, cinema & gym discounts.
- 50% off your food every time you dine with us for you and 3 friends.
- Contribute towards our award-winning sustainability initiatives that delivers progress against 9 UN sustainability goals. We're committed to responsibly sourcing and all our seafood, therefore we only use source sustainable fish. All our packaging is recyclable and 80% of our packaging is already made from recycled plastic.
- Annual Awards ceremony celebrating our success and offering winning Managers free trips to Japan.
About us:
Come roll with us and be part of something big. Celebrate global success across: Over 1500 retail kiosks globally (YO!, Panku, Mai Taiko Snowfox & Bento), Our Taiko manufacturing and distribution centre, 63 YO! restaurants, 50 major retail partners.
Development Chef employer: Taiko
Taiko is an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and innovative work culture, particularly for those passionate about Japanese cuisine. With a commitment to employee growth through apprenticeship programmes and a range of wellbeing benefits, including private medical plans and generous discounts, Taiko not only values its staff but also encourages them to contribute to meaningful sustainability initiatives. Join us in our state-of-the-art development kitchen in Acton, where your creativity will shape the future of sushi and food innovation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Development Chef
✨Tip Number 1
Get your hands dirty! Spend some time in the kitchen experimenting with sushi recipes. The more you know about the ingredients and techniques, the better you'll impress during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Attend food industry events or workshops where you can meet potential employers and showcase your passion for Japanese cuisine. Don't forget to mention that you're keen on joining Taiko!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your presentation skills. You’ll need to present your ideas and dishes to clients, so rehearse how you’d pitch your concepts. Make it engaging and show off your creativity!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in being part of our innovative team at Taiko.
We think you need these skills to ace Development Chef
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Japanese Cuisine:When you're writing your application, let your love for Japanese food shine through! Share any experiences you've had with sushi or other Japanese dishes, and how they inspire your creativity in the kitchen.
Highlight Your Development Experience:Make sure to emphasise your experience in product development. Talk about specific projects where you’ve taken a dish from concept to production, and how you’ve adapted recipes based on client feedback. We want to see your journey!
Be Creative and Detail-Oriented:In your application, don’t hold back on showcasing your creativity! Describe how you approach developing new recipes and what unique ideas you have for sushi dishes. Attention to detail is key, so mention how you ensure every element is perfect.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to see your application and get to know you better. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at Taiko!
How to prepare for a job interview at Taiko
✨Know Your Sushi Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of sushi preparation, ingredients, and flavour profiles. Being able to discuss the nuances of Japanese cuisine will show that you're not just passionate but also well-informed, which is crucial for a Development Chef role.
✨Showcase Your Creativity
Prepare to present some innovative ideas for new sushi dishes or adaptations of existing ones. Bring along a portfolio or examples of your previous work that highlight your creativity and ability to translate client feedback into delicious, commercially viable products.
✨Understand the Client's Needs
Research the types of clients Taiko works with, like Waitrose and Tesco. Be ready to discuss how you would tailor menus to meet their specific requirements and how you can incorporate client feedback into your development process.
✨Demonstrate Team Collaboration
Since this role involves working closely with manufacturing teams, be prepared to talk about your experience in collaborative environments. Share examples of how you've successfully worked with others to bring a product from concept to production, ensuring everyone is on the same page.
