itsu
Product Controller
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About Us
At itsu, we're passionate about making healthy eating exciting, accessible, and affordable. As an Asian-inspired food brand, we’ve grown to over 80 restaurants across the UK and Belgium, while building a thriving grocery business that reaches customers across Europe and beyond. Known for our fresh, high-quality food prepared daily in every shop, we're on an ambitious growth journey. With plans to expand our store estate, accelerate our grocery presence, and continue investing in innovation, technology, and our people, we're shaping the future of healthy fast food.
itsu [grocery], where this role sits, extends the much-loved itsu brand beyond our shops and into supermarkets, health food retailers, online channels, wholesale partners, and international markets. Our growing product range includes customer favourites such as crispy seaweed thins, frozen gyoza and bao, brilliant'broth, rice'noodles, and miso'easy, bringing the taste and quality of itsu into homes around the world.
Joining itsu means becoming part of a fast-paced, innovative business with big ambitions, a strong culture, and a shared mission to help people eat beautifully every day.
About The Role
As a Product Controller [ambient] you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the itsu [grocery] portfolio. Leading a team of product developers, you'll drive our innovation agenda, oversee the successful delivery of NPD and EPD projects, and build strong supplier partnerships that bring exciting, commercially successful products to market.
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- Drive end-to-end delivery of complex product development projects, ensuring on-time and on-budget execution.
- Build and strengthen strategic supplier relationships to support innovation and continuous improvement.
- Manage category budgets, forecasts, and resource planning to maximise commercial returns.
- Champion product quality, value engineering, and cost optimisation across the portfolio.
This is a high-impact role for someone who thrives on innovation, and strategic thinking. Working within the itsu [grocery] Product team, you'll collaborate closely with Commercial, Procurement, Marketing, and Supply Chain to bring our exciting products to consumers.
Key Role Responsibilities
- Oversee the successful delivery of category projects from concept through to launch, proactively managing risks, priorities, resources, and stakeholder expectations.
- Develop and maintain an 18+ month innovation pipeline in partnership with the Product Director, informed by consumer trends, category insights, and competitive analysis.
- Partner closely with Procurement and suppliers to deliver innovative products, drive efficiencies, and ensure successful project execution.
- Own the category NPD budget, ensuring accurate forecasting, strong financial control, and effective resource allocation.
- Monitor product quality standards and implement improvement plans while supporting cost-saving initiatives that maintain product excellence.
This is a highly visible leadership role where you'll have the opportunity to influence category strategy, inspire innovation, and make a lasting impact on a rapidly growing business.
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The Ideal Candidate Will Have
- Significant experience in food product development, innovation, and project leadership within FMCG, grocery, or food manufacturing.
- Strong commercial awareness with experience managing budgets, supplier relationships, and cross-functional stakeholder groups.
- Exceptional project management skills with the ability to oversee multiple complex initiatives simultaneously.
- A strategic mindset with proven experience building innovation pipelines and translating consumer trends into successful product launches.
- Strong problem-solving, communication, and influencing skills, with the confidence to challenge and drive continuous improvement.
What We Offer
- Competitive Salary
- Competitive Bonus Scheme
- 25 days holiday + Bank holidays (two bank holidays are interchangeable for other religious holidays)
- Health Insurance
- Company Pension Scheme
- Hybrid Working model: 4-day onsite/1-day WFH.
- 50% employee discount in itsu shops
- Free itsu lunch every day
- Discounts at major retailers
- Salary sacrifice cycle and electric vehicle schemes
- Development & Growth opportunities
At itsu [grocery], everyone’s taste matters, and so does who’s behind it. We celebrate diversity and are an equal opportunities employer. Applications from all backgrounds are encouraged. If you need support or adjustments to apply, we’ll happily accommodate.
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