DELI LITES IRELAND
Product Development Baker
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The Role
As Product Development Baker, you will lead the creation and development of exciting bakery products that drive growth across the business. The successful candidate will be responsible for introducing and developing premium breads, artisan bakery products and innovative traybakes that delight consumers and win new business across high street coffee chains, wholesalers, independent cafés, and foodservice customers. They will also play a key role in enhancing and modernising our existing bakery range, bringing new skills, techniques, and ideas into the business.
This is a hands-on role that combines bakery craftsmanship, product innovation in line with commercial awareness and people development. The successful candidate will work closely with the Innovation, Sales, Production, Technical, and Purchasing teams to deliver quality products that meet customer expectations, stretch operational capabilities, and commercial targets.
This role supports DELI LITES values by contributing to growth through a passion for people, food, service excellence, and continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities
New Product Development
- Create and develop innovative traybakes, cakes, sweet bakery products, and artisan breads for existing and prospective customers.
- Generate new concepts inspired by emerging consumer trends, market opportunities, and customer briefs.
- Develop products that deliver against agreed cost, margin, and operational requirements.
- Benchmark products against competitors and identify opportunities for improvement and differentiation.
- Present innovative concepts and samples to internal stakeholders and customers.
- Develop seasonal and limited-edition bakery ranges to support customer growth opportunities.
- Assist in building a pipeline of innovative bakery products that strengthen Deli Lites' position in the marketplace.
Artisan Bread Development
- Lead the development and introduction of artisan bread recipes, formats, and production methods.
- Research and implement traditional and modern bread-making techniques.
- Develop breads suitable for retail, foodservice, and café channels.
- Evaluate opportunities to expand Deli Lites' artisan bakery offering while maintaining consistency and scalability.
- Work with Production to ensure recipes can be successfully transferred into commercial manufacture.
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Commercial & Customer Support
- Support the Sales and Commercial teams in securing new business opportunities.
- Translate customer briefs into commercially viable products.
- Create compelling product concepts that meet customer requirements while protecting company margins.
- Participate in customer presentations, product showcases, and sampling sessions as required.
- Monitor food trends, bakery innovations, and competitor activity to identify future opportunities.
Product Trials & Launches
- Conduct kitchen trials, factory trials, and first production runs.
- Ensure products are developed in line with company procedures and food safety requirements.
- Support the creation of recipes, manufacturing instructions, and product specifications.
- Assist with product handovers to Production and ensure launches are completed successfully.
- Monitor product performance post-launch and drive continuous improvement.
Training & Bakery Capability Development
- Be the technical bakery expert within the business.
- Train and mentor bakery operatives in artisan bread production, bakery techniques, and best practice.
- Develop structured training programmes to upskill the current bakery workforce.
- Support succession planning by developing skills and bakery knowledge across the team.
- Promote a culture of continuous improvement, quality, and craftsmanship within the bakery.
Quality & Compliance
- Ensure all products meet food safety, quality, and customer requirements.
- Work closely with Technical and Quality teams to support product approvals and launches.
- Adhere to high standards of hygiene, housekeeping, and food safety.
- Support shelf-life assessments, product evaluations, and quality reviews.
- Ensure all development activities comply with relevant legislation and customer codes of practice.
This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities. The Company reserves the right to amend this document to meet changing business needs.
Essential Criteria
- Professional qualification in Bakery, Artisan Bread Making, Patisserie, Confectionery, or a related discipline.
- Minimum 3 years' experience in a bakery development, artisan bakery, or senior bakery production role.
- Strong practical knowledge of bread fermentation, dough handling, and artisan bakery processes.
- Experience developing cakes, traybakes, sweet bakery, and dessert products.
- Proven ability to create innovative products within cost and margin targets.
- Excellent organizational and project management skills.
- Strong communication and presentation skills.
- Passion for innovation, food trends, and continuous improvement.
- Ability to coach, train, and develop others.
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Desirable Criteria
- Experience working with high street coffee chains, café groups, or foodservice customers.
- Cake decorating and finishing experience.
- Understanding of commercial food manufacturing environments.
- Experience in factory scale-up and product commercialisation.
- Knowledge of frozen bakery production.
Skills and Competencies
- Creative and passionate about bakery innovation.
- Commercially aware and customer-focused.
- Hands-on and willing to lead by example.
- Highly organised with strong attention to detail.
- Influential and capable of developing others.
- Positive, energetic, and proactive.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary that reflects your skills and contribution.
- Generous annual leave: 28 days, including public and statutory holidays, increasing with service up to 33 days.
- Workplace pension scheme.
- Career development: ongoing training and support.
- Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing support when you need it.
- Free onsite parking for added convenience.
- Employee discounts on our award-winning sandwiches, salads, wraps, and traybakes.
- Cycle to Work Scheme to support a healthier lifestyle.
- Tech Scheme to help make eligible technology purchases more affordable.
At DELI LITES IRELAND, we are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all that we do and welcome applications from all sections of the community. DELI LITES IRELAND is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or age.
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