The Company:
CRL Foods is the fastest growing RTD coffee manufacturer in the UK. We have unique thermal processing capabilities that underpin our superior quality of product; many of the leading brands in the market choose to work with us for this reason. Our IP opens the door to product manufacture far beyond coffee, including the low/no alcohol, sports nutritional and meal replacement markets, to name a few.
We are looking for an NPD Technologist to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our product portfolio, driving both New Product Development (NPD) and Existing Product Development (EPD) projects that fuel new areas of growth, whilst forging strong partnerships with stakeholders and customers alike.
The Role:
The NPD Technologist's key focus will be to develop and deliver NPD and EPD projects for CRL’s rapidly expanding customer base, and to help develop and implement an NPD service.
Your role will contribute towards overall business growth by developing market leading products, in line with current consumer trends, and you will be a customer focused individual who’s keen to drive innovation in the RTD category, whilst providing best in class customer service.
Key responsibilities:
1. Proactively work on a variety of customer projects, ensuring the full end to end NPD process is followed and kept to strict timelines.
2. Collaborate with key internal personnel to ensure product launches are successful, providing all key information to generate recipes, methods, data sheets and specifications.
3. Ensure raw materials are technically acceptable for current processes; are readily available and are sourced from appropriately accredited suppliers.
4. Develop ‘off the shelf’ recipes and NPD solutions that CRL can take to customers and present as options to open new opportunities in categories we aren’t currently operating in.
5. Present samples at customer meetings and be a key influencer in driving next steps within the development arena.
6. Stay on top of new trends and marketing insights to help develop commercially viable NPD that will drive business & customer growth in new and emerging markets.
7. Help develop and shape an NPD service that CRL can roll out to new customers looking for an end-to-end service from project viability, right through to product testing and launch – this will become a new income stream for the business and is a key deliverable in 2025.
Key skills required:
1. 2+ years NPD experience within the food/beverage industry
2. Proven track record of developing successful NPD, demonstrating strong concept to launch delivery
3. Strong communication skills
4. Experience of previous customer exposure/management
5. Demonstrable Project Manager experience with experience managing multiple projects concurrently
6. Strong technical understanding of food safety, quality and the relevant certifications
7. Degree in science/food science or equivalent - Desirable
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