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Overview
The department and team

Working with both New Product Development (NPD) and Quality Control teams, you will be part of testing and ensuring safety standards of new dishes and ranges for our customers.

Your role will be focusedon developing and perfecting cooking instructionsto maximise taste and quality of our frozen food ranges. Although there is an aspect of repetition, you'll need to enjoy problem solving and developing new ways of working.

This role might suit someone who is looking for a change in career, or perhaps starting their career, seeking job satisfaction and enjoys a challenge.

A background in catering or food is not essential, as long as you have strong attention to detail, are methodical and can keep accurate notes.

Experience in quality assurance, audit or laboratories would be an advantage.

Passion for great food is also a must!

Who we are

About apetito

apetito is the UK's leading supplier of food to the health and social care sectors. Servicing over 400 hospitals, 450 care homes and thousands more through our work with Local Authorities, we produce delicious, nutritious and sustainable meals for people at home or in care. Through our food we look to make a real differenceto all our customers, up and down the country.

Ethical & Sustainable

As a business which operates within food manufacturing, we believe we have an obligation to make a positive contribution on society. With over 300 products in our range, we ensure our produce is ethically and sustainably sourced, working only with suppliers who share our commitment to making a positive impact.

We're a proud member of the Ethical Trade Initiative (ETI), a leading alliance of companies, trade unions and NGOs, that promote respect for workers rights globally. All our new suppliers now operate under the ETI's guidelines.

We are also a member of The UK's Plastics Pact , an initiative looking to transform the plastic packaging industry in the UK. As part of the initiative, we have committed, along with other ambitious targets, to eliminate unnecessary single-use plastic completely by 2025.

We have also made a commitment to our employees - we're recognised as an accredited Living Wage employer by the Living Wage Foundation . Joining an elite group of FTSE 100 companies and public sector organisations.

In addition to your salary you will receive a comprehensive training program, 25 days annual leave holiday entitlement, the ability to buy additional annual leave, retail discounts, free car parking, subsidised staff restaurant, free turkey (or voucher) at Christmas and much more!

Who we are
apetito is the UK's leading food supplier to the health and social care sectors serving more than 1,300 care homes, health care and education settings.

Our meals are expertly crafted by our dieticians and chefs, and then frozen to lock in the goodness.

Wiltshire Farm Foods, our sister company, is the UK's largest ready meal supplier cooking and delivering over 330 different delicious frozen ready meals across the UK.

Responsibilities
Establish and validate cooking instructions (and other product instructions for use) in compliance with all relevant policies and procedures.
Manage the programme of work to meet agreed project timescales and expectations.
Ensure all test equipment is calibrated and maintained to agreed standards.
Identification and assessment of new cooking equipment and systems to create competitive advantage , deliver best results and improve customer experience.
Conduct indicative assessments (earlier in the product development process) and advise on product design considerations in order to assist in the development of new and improved products.
Accurate recording, reporting and communication of information in compliance with our policies and procedures and ensuring documentation is up-to-date and accessible to relevant stakeholders.
Drive continuous improvement of processes, systems and testing and ensure best practice is applied.
Showcase cooking instructions and results and provide training for the wider team.
Support the NPD team in the presentation of new , improved and existing products, and other product and process development activities as agreed with line Manager.

About you
Essential:
A level, Btec national or equivalent qualification/ experience
Experience following instructions or methods
Experience working autonomously and solving problems
Experience and confidence using a computer in a work setting
Excellent attention to detail
Organised and methodical approachto work
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Confident recording and using numerical data
Good sensory skills (taste, smell etc)
Genuine passion for food Desirable:
Practical experience in Laboratory , food manufacturing or catering
Degree level or equivalent in food or science based subject Company Benefits
Competitive salary - accredited Living Wage employer
25 days holiday per year, plus bank holidays
Option to purchase up to 5 additional days annual leave per year
Discretionary annual bonus scheme
Pension scheme - employer matched contributions up to 4%
Life assurance scheme worth at least 1x annual salary
Subsidised canteen
Free parking
Free turkey or voucher at Christmas
apetito perks scheme including salary sacrifice options and retail discounts Our Values
Our Values

As a family-owned business, we take great pride in being a company that makes a real difference and is dedicated to creating outstanding meals to be proud of.

We develop a range of products designed to enhance health and well-being for all our customers.

We are driven by a passion for service, and dedicated to feeding some of the UK's most vulnerable people.

We proudly support British food and farming, focusing on using the best ethical and sustainable produce in alignment with our goal to reach Net Zero by 2040. Our ethical standards are recognised by the ETI and we are an accredited Living Wage employer.

Learn more about apetito's commitment to a more sustainable future here: (url removed)

We embrace inclusion, empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds. Our commitment to making a real difference extends to customers, communities, and staff and we're on a mission to build an inclusive workplace where everyone reaches their full potential