Development Chef

Musgrave Group Plc; Belfast; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food brand provider in Belfast is seeking a Development Chef to enhance their culinary expertise and deliver innovative food solutions. The ideal candidate will drive cost efficiencies and contribute to trainings that elevate service standards. Responsibilities include conducting engaging food demonstrations, testing new recipes and collaborating with marketing for food-led initiatives. Minimum of 2 years in a professional kitchen is required. This role is perfect for someone passionate about food and eager to impact positively.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years experience in a professional kitchen or foodservice environment.
• Strong interest in food development and culinary innovation with a good understanding of ingredients.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Deliver engaging food demonstrations for Retail customers.
• Assist in creating and testing new recipes and product concepts.
• Participate in Retail Council meetings with culinary insights.

Skills

Food development

Culinary innovation

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Commercial awareness

Education

Professional culinary qualification or equivalent

Job description

Musgrave is one of Europe’s most successful family-owned businesses, with a rich 150-year legacy in food and brand innovation. We're proud to serve communities across Ireland and Spain, feeding one in three people every day through 18 iconic brands like SuperValu, Centra, Mace, Frank and Honest, and Musgrave Market Place.

By supporting thousands of retail and foodservice family businesses, we make a positive impact on the communities they serve. We're committed to becoming the most trusted and sustainable business in Ireland, and we're looking for dynamic, forward-thinking individuals to join us on this journey.

We are recruiting a Development Chef to elevate our food credentials and culinary expertise, delivering an enhanced level of service to our customers, bringing culinary innovation to life. This role will focus on providing innovative food solutions, driving cost efficiencies, and sharing knowledge across key areas of spend. The Development Chef will work closely with the trading team, food service sales teams and the Key Account team, contributing to strategic growth and customer engagement.

The successful candidate will assist in the development of own brand and exclusive products, instrumental in recipe testing and demonstrations, and support training initiatives that elevate our food credentials. This role is ideal for someone passionate about food, eager to learn and ready to contribute to a dynamic kitchen environment focused on innovation and excellence.

Theatre Kitchen & Demonstrations:

• Deliver engaging and informative food demonstrations daily for both Food Service colleagues and Retail customers, showcasing product versatility and culinary innovation.
• Plan and execute seasonal food events, showcasing relevant products and driving seasonal sales.
• Assist in managing the Theatre Kitchen and ensuring its clean, organised and HACCP compliant.
• Record and manage stock used during demonstrations, following established processes.
• Maintain fridge and freezer hygiene and temperature logs in line with HACCP standards
• Ensure all cooking activities are properly documented and aligned with food safety protocols.

Food Emporium Customer Events & New Product Development:

• Lead and support culinary experiences at Food Emporium events, enhancing customer interaction and brand perception.
• Assist in creating and testing new recipes, product concepts and product replacement, ensuring offerings meet customer needs and market trends.
• Help prepare samples and prototypes for internal reviews and customer presentations.
• Contribute ideas to improve existing product range and enhancing customer choice.
• Assist in gathering feedback from demonstrations and workshops to inform product refinement.
• Provide product training and support to foodservice teams, enhancing their product knowledge and customer engagement capabilities.
• Participate in customer workshops, offering practical advice on menu solutions and cost effective product usage.
• Provide basis financial breakdownsand portion cost guidance to customers under supervision.

Marketing Initiatives:

• Collaborate with the Marketing team to develop and execute food-led campaigns and initiatives that align with business strategy.

Other business:

• Participate in Retail Council meetings, offering culinary insights and contributing to product development discussions.
• Represent the business in Hospitality Ulster forums, promoting our food solutions and building industry relationships.
• Any other business as directed by your manager.

What we are looking for:

• Minimum 2 years experience in a professional kitchen or foodservice environment.
• Full Driving licence and access to a car.
• Strong interest in food development and culinary innovation with a good understanding of ingredients, nutrition, and recipe creation.
• Willingness to learn about food manufacturing processes and recipe scalability.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks.
• Commercial awareness and basic numeracy skills (e.g., portion costing, profitability).
• A team player with a proactive attitude and a passion for food innovation and customer service.
• Strong understanding of food trends, cost control, and menu development.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, and Trading teams.

What is nice to have:

• Professional culinary qualification or equivalent experience as a Development Chef or similar culinary role
• Training experience would be advantageous.
• Experience in Food Service or Retail environments
• Experience in customer-facing roles and event delivery.
• Familiarity with industry bodies such as Hospitality Ulster etc

Musgrave is an equal opportunities employer. We encourage applications from diverse candidates. If we can make any accommodations to enable you to be the best version of yourself during the interview, please let us know.