Product and Process Development Technologist

About Us:

The Bread Factory is a long-established business that creates award-winning breads, pastries and cakes for GAIL’s Bakeries, retailers and foodservice customers across the UK. We are passionate about quality, innovation and craftsmanship, and we are looking for a talented Product Development Technologist to join our team.

If you are a hands-on foodie with a passion for creating commercially successful products and bringing customer ideas to life, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.

The Role...

As a Product Development Technologist, you will play a key role in transforming customer briefs and creative concepts into exciting products that delight consumers and deliver commercial success.

Working closely with Creative, Procurement, Technical and Operations teams, you will lead product development projects from concept through to launch, ensuring products meet quality, cost and manufacturing requirements while staying ahead of market trends.

This is a highly practical role that combines kitchen-based product development with factory trials, process improvement and cross-functional collaboration.

What You'll Be Doing....

Product Development & Innovation

• Translate customer and Creative Studio briefs into innovative, commercially viable products.
• Develop recipes and product concepts that can be successfully scaled into factory production.
• Source and evaluate ingredients in partnership with Procurement.
• Stay up to date with food trends, ingredients and consumer preferences to inspire new product ideas.
• Adapt and improve existing recipes to enhance quality, consistency, efficiency and cost performance.

Trials & Production Scale-Up:

• Produce high-quality product samples for internal reviews, customer presentations and approvals.
• Plan, organise and support production trials, ensuring all activities are accurately documented.
• Capture detailed trial information including recipes, process settings, adjustments, SPC data and other relevant manufacturing information.
• Collect and analyse product measurements including dimensions, water activity (aw), pH and other quality attributes.
• Ensure packaging trials are completed where required.
• Attend first production runs and provide ongoing support to ensure successful product launches.
• Troubleshoot manufacturing challenges and work collaboratively to resolve issues.

Quality & Process Excellence:

• Arrange microbiological and shelf-life testing and conduct sensory evaluations.
• Create and maintain accurate process specifications for new and existing products.
• Develop Quality Attribute Standards agreed with customers, Technical and Production teams.
• Maintain accurate documentation and project records throughout the development process.
• Support the commissioning and implementation of new production equipment.
• Identify and drive continuous improvement opportunities across products and processes.

Commercial & Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Provide accurate recipe costing and support commercial decision-making.
• Work closely with Production, Technical, Procurement, Finance and Commercial teams to deliver successful launches.
• Coordinate product tastings, approvals and customer sample requests.
• Create production-ready recipes with photography and supporting documentation to ensure smooth handover to manufacturing.

What We're Looking For...

• Several years' experience within a food manufacturing, bakery, restaurant or product development environment.
• Experience launching commercially successful food products.
• Strong recipe development skills and understanding of factory manufacturing processes.
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Good numeracy and IT skills.
• Ability to work independently and make sound decisions.
• A genuine passion for food, ingredients and innovation.
• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.
• Chef, bakery or food-related qualification.
• Experience working within artisan bakery, food manufacturing or FMCG environments.
• Understanding of nutrition and food science principles.
• Experience running your own food business or working in professional kitchens.

Who You'll Work With:

• Creative, Procurement, Technical, Operations, IT, Finance, GAIL's, Grocery and Foodservice teams
• Retailers, suppliers and foodservice customers.

• Additional Information

Monday to Friday, 9:00am–6:00pm.

Flexibility is required to support trials, launches and training across different shifts.

Occasional Sunday working or evening support may be required during key launch periods.

Initial onboarding will include time spent working alongside Production teams to gain a deep understanding of manufacturing processes.

This is a hands-on role requiring regular kitchen, bakery and production-based work.

Regular collaboration with day and night shift teams is essential to ensure smooth sample preparation, trials and product launches.