Kepak Group

European meat processor with global reach

Innovation Development Chef

Process EngineeringPosted on Nov 12

Full-timeKirkham, Preston, UKNo salary listedIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

A professional chef qualification or equivalent culinary background is required.
At least 3 years of development experience, ideally within a food manufacturing environment, is required.
A strong understanding of food manufacturing and product development processes is required.
Demonstrated experience in culinary innovation, concept development, or foodservice development is required.
Excellent food presentation, sensory evaluation, and product benchmarking capabilities are required.
Strong knowledge of food trends, consumer behaviour, and market dynamics is required.
Effective stakeholder management and communication skills are required.
Commercial awareness and an understanding of foodservice and retail environments are required.
The ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously is required.

Responsibilities

Identify emerging consumer, customer, category, and market opportunities.
Research global food trends, ingredients, cuisines, technologies, formats, and consumer behaviours.
Conduct food safaris, market visits, competitor benchmarking, trade exhibitions, and trend immersion activities to uncover inspiration.
Translate market insights into actionable recommendations and innovative product concepts.
Build strong partnerships with suppliers to access new ingredients, technologies, and innovation opportunities.
Support the development of strategically aligned innovation concepts that meet consumer, customer, and business needs.
Source ingredients, benchmark products, and evaluate category developments to bring ideas to life.
Produce high-quality culinary prototypes that showcase the potential of new opportunities.
Contribute culinary expertise during concept evaluation, validation, and scoping stages of the innovation process.
Assess concepts for consumer appeal, commercial viability, and operational feasibility.
Champion food quality, authenticity, and culinary credibility throughout the innovation journey.
Ensure all culinary activities meet high standards of food safety, hygiene, and quality.
Support projects through to delivery, balancing creativity with practical execution.
Identify opportunities for ingredient optimisation, value engineering, and operational efficiencies without compromising consumer experience.

Desired Qualifications

A passion for food, curiosity, and a continuous learning mindset.

Innovation Development Chef

Kepak Group · Kirkham, United Kingdom · Full-time · Posted 2026-11-12

Workplace: on_site

Department: NPD

Description

Kepak Foods Division have developed a portfolio of brands that are successful in the chilled convenience, ambient and frozen meat categories in the UK, Ireland and chosen European markets for both Retail and Foodservice Customers. We have 5 Manufacturing Sites supported by shared services, with 1000 people supporting our vision to become a transformed, future proofed, profitable €0.5bn Food Business by 2030.

Are you passionate about food innovation and identifying the next big consumer trend? We're looking for an Innovation Development Chef to help shape the future of our product portfolio through culinary expertise, trend insight, and creative concept development.

Working closely with our Head of Innovation and cross-functional teams, you'll transform consumer insights, market trends, and emerging food opportunities into exciting, commercially viable products that support business growth.

Responsibilities

Discover What's Next

Identify emerging consumer, customer, category, and market opportunities.
Research global food trends, ingredients, cuisines, technologies, formats, and consumer behaviours.
Conduct food safaris, market visits, competitor benchmarking, trade exhibitions, and trend immersion activities to uncover inspiration.
Translate market insights into actionable recommendations and innovative product concepts.
Build strong partnerships with suppliers to access new ingredients, technologies, and innovation opportunities.

Create & Develop Innovative Concepts

Support the development of strategically aligned innovation concepts that meet consumer, customer, and business needs.
Source ingredients, benchmark products, and evaluate category developments to bring ideas to life.
Produce high-quality culinary prototypes that showcase the potential of new opportunities.
Contribute culinary expertise during concept evaluation, validation, and scoping stages of the innovation process.
Assess concepts for consumer appeal, commercial viability, and operational feasibility.

Drive Excellence

Champion food quality, authenticity, and culinary credibility throughout the innovation journey.
Ensure all culinary activities are delivered to the highest standards of food safety, hygiene, and quality.
Support projects through to delivery, balancing creativity with practical execution.
Identify opportunities for ingredient optimisation, value engineering, and operational efficiencies without compromising consumer experience.

Requirements

Professional chef qualification or equivalent culinary background.
3+ years Development experience ideally within a food manufacturing environment
Strong understanding of food manufacturing and product development processes.
Demonstrated experience in culinary innovation, concept development or foodservice development.
Excellent food presentation, sensory evaluation and product benchmarking capabilities.
Strong knowledge of food trends, consumer behaviour and market dynamics.
Effective stakeholder management and communication skills.
Commercial awareness and understanding of foodservice and retail environments.
Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
Passion for food, curiosity and a continuous learning mindset

Benefits

What can we offer you?

Company Pension
Further Education support
Bike to Work Scheme - You can buy a bike and safety equipment through a salary sacrifice scheme which reduces your taxable income – meaning you pay less tax!
Long Service Awards - We recognise, acknowledge and award the dedication and valuable contribution of long serving employees
GroceryAid Employee Assistance Program - help with a wide range of topics including mental health and wellbeing support, family and relationship advice, debt management, back to work support, and counselling for all Kepak colleagues and their families.
Corporate gym membership at Ribby Hall Village
BUPA Cash plan free of charge

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About the Company

Kepak Group

European meat processor with global reach

Kepak Group is a large meat processor based in Ireland with 14 facilities across Ireland and the UK and sales offices worldwide. It produces and markets a wide range of fresh and value-added meat products for international foodservice and retail markets, guided by consumer insight and ongoing R&D. The company combines scale with a family-owned culture, offering a broad portfolio of brands and a strong focus on sustainable production, being a founding member of Origin Green. Its goal is to grow the business and its people, expanding its international footprint while maintaining high quality, sustainability, and value for customers.

Company size: 1,001-5,000
Company stage: Grant
Total funding: $2.2M
Headquarters: Dublin, Ireland
Founded: 1981

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