Development Chef – Marketplace Belfast
We are recruiting a Development Chef to elevate our food credentials and culinary expertise, delivering an enhanced level of service to our customers, bringing culinary innovation to life. The role focuses on providing innovative food solutions, driving cost efficiencies, and sharing knowledge across key areas of spend. The Development Chef will work closely with the trading team, food service sales teams, and the Key Account team, contributing to strategic growth and customer engagement.
Theatre Kitchen & Demonstrations
* Deliver engaging and informative food demonstrations daily for both Food Service colleagues and Retail customers, showcasing product versatility and culinary innovation.
* Plan and execute seasonal food events, showcasing relevant products and driving seasonal sales.
* Assist in managing the Theatre Kitchen, ensuring it is clean, organised and HACCP compliant.
* Record and manage stock used during demonstrations, following established processes.
* Maintain fridge and freezer hygiene and temperature logs in line with HACCP standards.
* Ensure all cooking activities are properly documented and aligned with food safety protocols.
Food Emporium Customer Events & New Product Development
* Lead and support culinary experiences at Food Emporium events, enhancing customer interaction and brand perception.
* Assist in creating and testing new recipes, product concepts, and product replacements, ensuring offerings meet customer needs and market trends.
* Help prepare samples and prototypes for internal reviews and customer presentations.
* Contribute ideas to improve the existing product range and enhance customer choice.
* Gather feedback from demonstrations and workshops to inform product refinement.
Training & Customer Engagement
* Provide product training and support to foodservice teams, enhancing their product knowledge and customer engagement capabilities.
* Participate in customer workshops, offering practical advice on menu solutions and cost‑effective product usage.
* Provide basis financial breakdowns and portion cost guidance to customers under supervision.
Marketing Initiatives
* Collaborate with the Marketing team to develop and execute food‑led campaigns and initiatives that align with business strategy.
Other Business
* Participate in Retail Council meetings, offering culinary insights and contributing to product development discussions.
* Represent the business in Hospitality Ulster forums, promoting our food solutions and building industry relationships.
* Any other business as directed by your manager.
What we are looking for
* Minimum 2 years experience in a professional kitchen or foodservice environment.
* Full driving licence and access to a car.
* Strong interest in food development and culinary innovation with a good understanding of ingredients, nutrition, and recipe creation.
* Willingness to learn about food manufacturing processes and recipe scalability.
* Excellent communication and presentation skills.
* Strong organisational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks.
* Commercial awareness and basic numeracy skills (e.g., portion costing, profitability).
* A team player with a proactive attitude and a passion for food innovation and customer service.
* Strong understanding of food trends, cost control, and menu development.
* Ability to work cross‑functionally with Sales, Marketing, and Trading teams.
What is nice to have
* Professional culinary qualification or equivalent experience as a Development Chef or similar culinary role.
* Training experience would be advantageous.
* Experience in Food Service or Retail environments.
* Experience in customer‑facing roles and event delivery.
* Familiarity with industry bodies such as Hospitality Ulster.
Musgrave is an equal opportunities employer. We encourage applications from diverse candidates. If we can make any accommodations to enable you to be the best version of yourself during the interview, please let us know.
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