New Product Development Chef - Ashford, United Kingdom - Evertaste

Description

Job Description

Job Summary:

We are looking for a passionate, confident and dynamic individual who is keen to make an immediate impact within a busy multi-skilled team.Working with the team, you will ensure standardization and consistency, while delivering an exciting and innovative offering in a market where maximum efficiency and excellence will be key to achieving success.

This role focuses on: new product sourcing and new product development with current suppliers and sourcing new suppliers, associated pricing and product specifications; supplier and customer relationship management. The role will assist in both, responding to customer briefs on a wide range of projects, as well as driving market-led culinary product development, using innovative approaches, techniques and trends

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• Develops new product lines in accordance with customer requirements and briefs issued by the category management team
• Oversees all culinary innovation projects from design to delivery and ensures quality throughout the process
• Works with the Executive Chef for Culinary Excellence –Northern and Western Europe and menu development teams, engage customers with the execution of new and innovative menus and products
• Works closely with the culinary development teams on market research and new product lines
• Creates new and innovative internal brands from product sourcing to launching live own brand propositions
• Works closely with menu development and innovation chefs on new in-house brand catalogues
• Creating and developing new innovative solutions based on market research and analysis
• Leads the development of the product directory and refreshing core product range minimum of 4 times per year in line with seasonal changes and trends
• Brief design team to create packaging, labelling, support material as required
• Manage the supply of samples and marketing material
• Provide full and timely feedback to all suppliers when product reviews, client presentations and internal evaluations have been completed
• Be aware of relevant trends and market research to support all sourcing and product development activities, conducting independent market research (e.g. food tours, mystery shopping, flight reports) and trend analysis (from a variety of media)
• Project manage new product development and sourcing initiatives ensuring efficient and timely completion of tasks and ultimate launch of projects according to critical path timelines, ensuring appropriate communication internally and externally.
• Build strong relationships with relevant stakeholders, internal and external suppliers
• Propose recommendations for selection and consolidation (where appropriate) in line with procurement and supplier strategy
• Support the management team with SLAs and defining and monitoring contracts.
• Obtain Technical and Logistics specifications for all new products
• Produce cost calculation documentation for P&L review and consideration
• Provide support for the Commercial team as required.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

• Educated to GCSE or 'O' levels;
• Basic Food hygiene training/certification is desirable
• A recognised City & Guilds qualification or NVQ Level 2 for a Chef is desirable

Work Experience:

• Significant experience in 5* culinary hospitality and or food retail market or similar
• Previous management/supervisory experience
• Previous Project Management experience
• Food brand development experience preferred

Skills & Knowledge:

• Must demonstrate integrity, confidentiality and professionalism at all times
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team using own initiative to resolve issues
• Ability to work under pressure and to tight timescales, prioritising as appropriate
• Knowledge of Project Management Methodologies
• Proactive and flexible attitude
• Effective verbal and written communication skills in English, Ability to flex communication style
• Ability to present and deliver on new product and menu presentations, concepts, brand propositions
• Competency in MS Office

About the Company:

Evertaste is an expert in convenience food, serving customers in the airline, train and convenience-retail industries that need packaged-product solutions around the world. With a full range of ready-to-eat choices (from sandwiches to boxed-meal concepts), Evertaste offers creative solutions of the highest quality in any temperature range. The company's key strength is its flexibility to create and deliver tailored and individual solutions for any customer. Through its expertise in product creation, state-of-the-art manufacturing, supply-chain management, as well as product brokerage and licensing, the company transforms ideas into smart and tasty food offerings.

Evertaste is part of gategroup, the world's leading provider of end-to-end onboard products and services.