Company Description

Valeo Snackfoods is the combination of Kettle Foods, Tangerine, Big Bear and It’s All Good and is one of the UK’s top 100 grocery brands. It is headquartered in Norwich and Pontefract and employs over 2,000 people. Over the past few years, we have strengthened our portfolio to include the Metcalfe’s popcorn brand and Yellow Chips in Emmeloord, Netherlands. The business in the UK and Europe generates revenues of over £280 million.

Our brands include KETTLE® Chips, Metcalfe’s® popcorn, Foxes, Poppets, Barratt (Wham!, Fruit Salads, Black Jacks, Refreshers, Sherbet fountain, Dip Dab).

Job Description

To develop new and existing confectionery concepts and develop into a subject matter expert.

Work in Collaboration with – Brand Managers, International Business Managers, Snr Customer Development Manager, Regulatory & Compliance, Process Development, Operations Technical (all sites), Procurement, Operational Planning & Material Control (all sites), Operations Manufacturing & Engineering (all sites), Packaging Development, Operations Finance (all sites), Engineering & Capability Management and Sensory.

Key Accountabilities

• Develop new and existing confectionery concepts
• Create and input recipes into the Hamilton Grant recipe system
• Support and assist in the Confectionery Academy (CA) with product developments
• Seek opportunities to develop as a confectionery subject matter expert and contribute to increasing technical understanding of the raw materials used in the business and their application in new products
• Engage with Suppliers to identify new opportunities
• Maintain British Retail Consortium audit compliant ‘Development Records’
• Monitor and research the latest trends and innovations in products and raw materials
• Raise new ingredients requests through IDAS (Hamilton Grant)
• Concept test ingredient value optimisation opportunities
• Engage with the sensory department to establish defined product attributes
• Provide a product concept handover to the Process Development Team for factory scale up
• Understand design of experiments approach to deliver projects quickly and efficiently (desired)

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level in a food science discipline with 2+ years, experience in confectionery
• An understanding/ experience of NPD within food manufacturing
• Full driving licence

Personal Attributes

• Curious mind set
• Self-starter
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Calm and organised under pressure
• Knowledge of and passion for food
• Strong attention to detail
• Flexible and organised
• Numerate, commercially aware
• Team player
• Able to prioritise
• Solution focussed
• Positive and resilient
• Desire to learn and develop

Additional Information

What we offer you in return

• Salary: up to £38k (DOE)
• 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays
• Matched pension scheme
• Death in service
• Cycle to work scheme
• Canteen
• Free parking
• Staff discount 
• And plenty more!