New Product Development Chef

About The Role

As an NPD Chef you will create and develop new food products for the business. You will test recipes, explore new ideas and help ensure dishes taste great, look appealing and work well in production. This is a hands on role, creative and highly collaborative. It involves working with the NPD team, operations, technical and commercial colleagues, as well as sometimes presenting concepts to customers. You will need a passion for food, and a keen interest in trends and innovation is essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop new recipes and improve existing products to meet customer and brand expectations
• Test dishes to ensure they keep their flavour, texture and appearance through processing, chilling and reheating
• Research food trends, ingredients and competitor products to inspire new ideas
• Present product concepts to the NPD Manager and support customer meetings when needed
• Work with Operations, Process and Technical teams to scale recipes from the test kitchen to the factory
• Prepare samples, order ingredients and support project tasks within agreed timelines
• Keep high standards of kitchen hygiene, organisation and food safety at all times
• Document work clearly and ensure all development information is shared in full and on time

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:

• A strong passion for food, creativity and innovation
• Experience as a chef or in food development, with basic literacy and numeracy
• Good understanding of food safety practices and kitchen hygiene
• Ability to work well with others, stay organised and manage tasks to deadlines
• Confident communication skills for presenting ideas and working with different teams
• An interest in market trends, ingredients and customer expectations

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 leave

Free 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.

Ready to make a difference? Join us and be part of something special!

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.