Rebecca Edwards

I am an empathetic developer with a passion for FMCG NPD food & drink products. Recently  working as an NPD Concept Technologist at Life Health Foods Ltd, where I am managing key customer accounts, & developing product recipes to meet customer briefs. Previous experience includes working with Rowse Honey & Twinings where I have completed Level 2 HACCP analysis training, led the creation of market & trend analysis, as well as generating communication materials for external & internal teams. I also possess a First-Class degree in BSc Food Marketing and Business Economics. Skills Include: Product Creativity, Interpersonal relationships, Market Research, Presentation Skills & Attention to detail.

NPD Concept Technologist | Life Health Foods

JULY 2025 – SEPTEMBER 2025

Role revolved around managing retailer own branded products branded, Lizi’s & Fruit Bowl Products. Lead the team through the secondary stages of a retailer tender, managing product recipe amends, sourcing Raw Materials, analyzing the Nutritional make up of new products, organizing Sample Deliveries and submitting the necessary Submission, Feasibility & Handover Paperwork as required. In addition to this I also created Quality Assurance Contracts for new products. Here I also analyzed and presented current Market Trends to inspire the team during Fruit Bowl innovation sessions.

Development Assistant | Valeo Foods - Rowse Honey

JANUARY 2025 – JUNE 2025

6 Month Maternity cover FTC working alongside the Natural Sweetness NPD team. This role involved conducting market research & trend analysis to identify relevant product suggestions for innovation work, & coordinating the creation / delivery of sample requests as needed. This role also included setting up Tasting assessment panels, shelf-life studies, & Bostwick testing, in addition to reporting the test results. Here I achieved a HACCP Level 2 Training Certificate for manufacturing production.

International Marketing Administration & Support | Twinings

AUGUST 2023 – AUGUST 2024

12 Month Contract working with the Twinings Middle East team heading the development of Data Analysis & Marketing Insights to track business performance & identify NPD opportunities, with these insights being generated via Nielsen & making me proficient at Microsoft Excel. Here, I communicated with NPD, Cross-Category Teams & External Agencies to enable the progression of product range renovations, by gathering packaging artworks information & directing the creation of POS Materials. 

Marketing Assistant | Symrise

JULY 2021 – AUGUST 2022

12 Month Placement in EAME Snacks using my interpersonal skills to answer B2B client requests & using my creativity to develop internal learning resources via PowerPoint, Canva and SAP. Working Independently on multiple client NPD projects, delivering monthly trend reporting from Mintel & Euromonitor, as well as internally communicating these insights internally via company wide presentations. This role also included copywriting flavour descriptions for client sample requests.

BSc Food Marketing & Business Economics | University of Reading

OCTOBER 2019 – JUNE 2023

Grade Achieved First Class. Conducted during the pandemic, facing the challenges of online learning, while completing the RED Award & RED Award Plus being a Society Secretary, volunteering to be a Wellbeing Champion, & working as a Student Ambassador. 

Relevant modules Include: 

Food Labelling – Provided me with an understanding of EU/UK labelling legislation, and how to edit international food labels to be compliant with EU/UK Labelling laws. 

Independent Research Project – Year long project management, using a combination of existing market data and primary qualitative research to uncover the role nostalgia plays in consumer food choices. 

Global Issues in Nutrition & Health - Introduction into the necessity of nutrients required for healthy living, the emotional connections with food & the challenges of administering effective global nutrition

Regulation of the Food Industry – A module which looks at the current methods of food regulation & what global food issues governments are attempting to solve (e.g Obesity) with prospective legislation.