Food Development Executive Category Development & QA Attractive Salary & Benefits 36.5 Hour week (Hybrid) Newtownabbey Who are we? At Henderson Group, we are proud to be Northern Irelands leading foodservice provider. Our group encompasses Henderson Wholesale, Henderson Retail, Henderson Foodservice and Henderson Group Property. We employ over 5,000 staff and have been placed 5th in Ulster Business Top 100 Companies 2024. We're a family-owned team that cares about our people and the community in which we live. Our leaders care about employees and our employees succeed together and celebrate the success of others. We are interested in your aspirations, interests and skills and we strive to support and inspire you to do well. A look into the role Henderson Wholesale is a leading Wholesaler in Northern Ireland and supplies goods to over 450 stores across various brands such as SPAR, EUROSPAR and VIVO. We source from local farmers, growers and producers and are proud to contribute to our local economy and environment. We achieved Gold accreditation against the Investors in People standard framework in 2023 in recognition of people management excellence and our commitment to investment in people. The Purpose of the role: A food development executive is responsible for successfully delivering newness & refreshing existing products & ranges, ensuring quality, and meeting market demands in Food To Go. Working as Food Development Executive you will: Creating new products and improving on existing product offerings in line with category range reviews & promotional cycles. Support in creating new products and new concepts to launch. Collaborate with crossfunctional teams to ensure project success. NPD Kitchen Management to the highest standards maintaining a safe, hygienic & food safety compliant kitchen. Development & maintenance of training documentation to include Training Cards, development costers, Product testing. Build & cost recipes whilst meeting gross profit margins. Co-ordinate & prepare products for internal taste sessions and NPD meetings. Conducting quality assessments of product on an ongoing basis to include taste testing, photos, and compliance to specification. Support Development Manager with new concept launches. Train FTG teams on new product builds & support with launches in store. Liaise with equipment suppliers on equipment use & programming. Conduct market research to identify opportunities & trends & benchmarking competitors. Co-ordination of Product Substitutions in conjunction with Trading Manager. Skills for Success Joining us as Food Development Executive the minimum criteria youll need is: A minimum of 5 GCSES including Maths & English or equivalent At least 2 years of experience in food development within the retail or hospitality sector. Genuine passion for food and innovation in the culinary space. Proficient in the use of MS Office Packages Full Valid UK/EU driving license with access to own car The Attributesyoull need include: Excellent Communication Skills: Ability to effectively collaborate with internal teams across various departments and engage with external customers. Sensory Awareness: Able to assess taste, smell, and appearance to maintain high product standards. Organisational skills: Able to juggle multiple projects efficiently and stay on top of details. Independent and Proactive: Confident working on your own, taking initiative when needed, and staying motivated. Strong Problem-Solving Skills: Skilled at tackling challenges in product development, whether it's improving processes, managing costs, or scaling recipes. It is Desirableif you have: A third level Degree or Qualification in food science, nutrition, culinary arts, or a related field. Previous experience working in a Food to Go environment within Convenience Sector. Are we right for you? As part of this role, it will be important that you feel aligned with the values that we live and work by. Ambition We always strive to be better. We seek new challenges and look for ways to do things better. Customer First We provide exceptional service. We put customers at the heart of everything and support our communities. Teamwork We succeed together. We help colleagues to succeed, and we share our knowledge and skills. Integrity We are fair, honest and ethical. We treat everyone with dignity and respect. We are inclusive and champion diversity. The Reward The impact you can make with Henderson Group goes far beyond your day to day. You will be part of a business supporting defibrillator installations and school sports days. In the last year Henderson group staff and retail stores raised over £1 million for charity partners. You will have the balance necessary to enjoy your job and your life. We will help you to feel proud of what you do and achieve. And we will be here to celebrate your success. Our business has been recognised externally for delivering excellence in employment. We value employee development and heavily invest in our people. Benefits include market competitive salary, contributory pension scheme, healthcare, life assurance, employee assistance programme, social club, Perks Offers/Discount scheme throughout UK/Ireland, staff discount (grocery/fuel) at SPAR/EUROSPAR Henderson Group company-owned stores and many more. This is a full-time position working 36.5 hours per week. Working hours will be 8:45am-4:45pm Monday to Thursday and 8:45am-3:45pm Friday. Hybrid and flexible working arrangement available. If you'd like to speak with us before making your application, our Talent Acquisition Specialist - Joanne McClellandwould be happy to have a confidential chat with you about the role on offer. Completed applications must be submitted online by midnight on Sunday 10th November 2024 We are an equal opportunities employer Skills: Product Development product enhancement training documentation Food development Food To go Food Innovation culinary