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CULINARY CHEF - FMCG
Hybrid, ideally Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire
Competitive basic, bonus, car allowance & range of benefits
The Company
Our client is a highly successful 100+ year European food group, producing market-leading ingredients sold across Grocery Retail, Foodservice and to Food Manufacturers. As a family business, they’ve grown into a global leader through continuous investment in agriculture, innovation, and a passion for delivering great-tasting products.
Recognised as a Great Place to Work™, this purpose-driven organisation is built on strong values, sustainability, and care — for people, the planet, and the food we enjoy.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a company where tradition meets innovation, and where your contribution can truly make a difference. As part of their continued investment for growth in the UK market they are now looking to appoint a Culinary Chef, who has the potential to grow and develop within the company.
The Role
Reporting to the Category & Commercial Manager, this is an exciting and highly creative role that combines culinary expertise with commercial insight to support the continued growth of the company's added-value ingredient portfolio. Working across the Industrial, Retail and Foodservice sectors, you will help transform market trends and consumer insight into commercially successful food solutions.
- Working closely with Development, Marketing and Commercial teams across both the UK and France, you will develop, test and refine inspiring food applications that showcase ingredient functionality across a wide range of categories, including chilled, ready meals, bakery and plant-based products.
- From initial concept through to customer application, you'll ensure ideas are both technically feasible and commercially viable.
- As the company's culinary ambassador, this position requires you to wear more than just your chef’s hat. ‘Front of house’ you will lead engaging customer presentations, tasting sessions and application workshops, tailoring concepts to individual customer requirements and market opportunities and represent the business at trade events and with industry bodies, while building strong relationships with customer NPD teams and culinary professionals.
- The role also plays an important part in supporting the wider commercial strategy. Working alongside the Category & Commercial Manager, you'll contribute to presentations, trend reports, photography and other customer-facing materials, while continually monitoring food trends, competitor activity and emerging consumer insights to identify opportunities for innovation and category growth.
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This is a really exciting role, with the platform to make a big difference by driving profitable sales growth and implementing high standards of commercially driven, innovative food solutions.
About You
Most importantly, you are a dedicated foodie with a wide-reaching, fun, engaging and dynamic personality (show us with the first interview Q&A!)
- On the food solution development front, you have at least 3 years’ food sector experience working as a Development Manager or Culinary Development Chef, within either an added value food manufacturer, grocery retailer or major food distributor ie Brakes/Bidfood, or alternatively, within a national pub group, hotel group or one of the leading high street QSR players.
- You love working with suppliers and/or customers developing food solution ideas, taking food concepts to the next level and you are never happier than being ‘in the kitchen’, making the next food magic happen – this is what we want you to bring to the table within this exciting role.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
We’re keen to learn more about your success stories – especially those innovative culinary product solutions currently thriving in major grocery retail or foodservice channels.
We hope this opportunity gives you a clear picture of our client: a global food producer with a well invested, growing UK business. This is a strategically important role, and we are seeking a uniquely talented commercially-minded Culinary Chef to help shape its future.
If this sounds like you, please forward your CV, along with your current benefits package details, quoting reference MS/2927 to: mark@fmcgtalent.co.uk. Or simply call Mark Smith for an initial, confidential discussion on 07747 847214.
While we aim to respond to all applicants, there may be times where this is not possible due to a high volume of applications. If you have not heard from us within 10 working days, please assume that on this occasion you have been unsuccessful.
All third-party applications or approaches about this role will be rejected.
Closing Date for applications: 20th August 2026
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