Food Product Developer
Location: Middlesbrough. Hours: Monday – Thursday 8:30 am–5 pm and Friday 8 am–4 pm, with some travel. Salary: £39,000 per annum.
Job Purpose
To develop new and adapt existing products to meet customer and branded briefs, delivering commercial targets and ensuring successful scale‑up to production.
Responsibilities
* Develop products on time and to budget for the customer.
* Build ideas, support new projects and actively participate in internal and external innovation sessions.
* Act as the first point of contact for customers, building positive pro‑active relationships with their product development teams.
* Work collaboratively with cross‑functional teams to ensure feasibility of products that are developed in line with company and customer strategy.
* Lead product presentations.
* Work with teams to solve issues including scalability and sustainability.
* Ensure product recipes meet appropriate food quality standards alongside commercial targets and within brand standards.
* Create and ensure accurate NPD paperwork.
* Ensure benchmarking is carried out accurately and comprehensively for presentation at internal and external meetings.
* Demonstrate passion for food and a good understanding of market and food trends.
* Travel to UK manufacturing sites and customers when required.
Qualifications & Experience
* Supermarket own‑label and food product development experience.
* Food‑based degree (desirable).
* Passion for food – essential.
* Strong customer‑facing experience.
* Experience in retail or FMCG development role.
* Excellent communication skills.
* Strong planning, organisation and project management skills.
* Good analytic and numeracy skills.
* Attention to detail.
* Presentation skills.
* Microsoft Office skills – Excel, Word, PowerPoint.
* Driving licence – essential.
Benefits
The Compleat Food Group offers a range of benefits to support lifestyle, wellbeing and career growth, including:
* Salary sacrifice schemes (electric vehicles, home & tech, cycle‑to‑work, SMART pension).
* 33 days’ annual leave (including bank holidays) with option to purchase extra.
* Holiday discounts via the online retail platform.
* Enhanced retail discounts online and in‑store.
* Free product samples across sites.
* EV charging points available at selected sites.
* 24/7 access to Grocery Aid for financial and emotional support.
* Physical wellbeing hub – free on‑demand exercise classes, gym discounts.
* Free diet and nutrition advice with thousands of healthy recipes.
* Online wellbeing support – mindfulness to lifestyle resources.
* Financial wellbeing tools – mortgage calculators, budgeting tools, financial aid.
* Personalised online learning platform.
* Formal and informal training opportunities.
* Career development plans and regular conversations.
* Mentoring scheme.
* Recognition through Club Compleat rewards.
* 2 paid volunteering days per year.
* Charity initiatives and fundraising events.
* Team socials.
* Employee networks and support groups – Women @ Compleat, LGBTQIA+, Neurodiversity.
* New baby gift for new parents.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
We are an equal opportunities employer and committed to fairness, equity, inclusivity and respect. Provide reasonable adjustments during recruitment.
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