R&D Technician

Valeo Foods Group; York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 25,000 - GBP 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK food manufacturer is looking for an R&D Technician to join their sweets Innovation team based in York. This role involves supporting the R&D team to launch new products and maintain documentation as required. Ideal candidates should have strong communication skills, attention to detail, and a passion for food innovation. The position offers competitive salary and excellent career opportunities, along with benefits such as a pension scheme and employee discounts.

Benefits

Matched pension scheme up to 10%

Death in service

Cycle to work scheme

Retailer discount platform

Staff discount

Qualifications

• Experience in food manufacturing, ideally in R&D.
• Familiarity with food process technologies is a plus.
• Full, clean driving license needed.

Responsibilities

• Support R&D trials and ensure efficient operations.
• Manage ingredient inventory and prepare for trials.
• Conduct market product benchmarking.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Able to interact across all business levels

Attention to detail

Team player

Proficiency in Excel, Word, PowerPoint

Passion for food

Education

Experience in food manufacturing or R&D environment

Tools

IT applications

Job description

Company Description

At Valeo Foods UK we bring together a family of much-loved UK food brands supported by the scale and ambition of a global investment partner. From Kettle’s bold crunch to Rowse’s natural sweetness, through to Matthew Walker and Barratt Sweets, our portfolio blends heritage, craft and category‑leading innovation. Alongside our branded portfolio, we are also one of the UK’s largest suppliers of private label products, partnering with major retailers to deliver quality and category expertise that meets the needs of millions of households every week. As a business, we’re on a journey of transformation. We’re strengthening our operations, driving quality and investing in our people. It’s an exciting, fast‑moving environment where heritage meets new thinking, and where every colleague contributes to shaping the future of food across the UK. Join us and play your part in building the next chapter of some of Britain’s most loved brands.

Job Description

R&D (Research and Development) Technician

Location: York Based With Occasional Travel To Other Valeo Sites

Working Hours: Monday to Friday 8am – 4pm

Salary: £25,000 – £28,000 depending on skills and experience

Are you curious, hands‑on, and passionate about food? We’re looking for someone to step into a key role as R&D Technician in our sweets Innovation team, based at our York site, with occasional travel and overnight stays at our other sites.

The R&D Technician is responsible for supporting the R&D Team to achieve successful launch of new products for both brand and ROB, adhering to all customer requirements (for both our internal Branded products and external retailer own brand (ROB) as the product briefs dictate). Additionally, this role will support the assessment of products over shelf life and record product attributes through a shelf‑life testing regime for new or existing product launches on the database as well as the maintenance of all internal documentation as appropriate to adhere to our R&D procedures.

Responsibilities

• Support R&D Academy by ensuring trials run smoothly, ingredients are managed efficiently, and high‑quality samples are produced.
• Prepare for R&D Academy trials, including ingredient information gathering, approval processes, and loading data into internal systems.
• Manage ingredient inventory: ordering, labelling, logging in the R&D database, replenishing stock, and organising disposal.
• Order and track new raw materials for trials.
• Gather raw materials from inventory and factory areas, including weighing and preparing ingredients.
• Support the execution of Academy trials and operate Academy equipment as required.
• Produce samples for R&D projects and ensure full clean‑down after trials.
• Pack and label samples for internal and external stakeholders.
• Organise physical and chemical product testing and characterisation.
• Ship samples to customers and internal teams.
• Organise and run tastings, shelf‑life testing, and through‑life evaluations, documenting results and preparing reports.
• Arrange nutritional testing, ship samples, and record results.
• Benchmark market products, maintaining detailed records, photographs, and data.
• Support the R&D team with preparation and setup for customer visits.
• Assist with planning, preparation, and execution of factory trials across any of our six confectionery sites.
• Carry out post‑trial activities including sample packing, labelling, testing coordination, and reporting.
• Support tastings, shelf‑life testing, and nutritional testing following factory trials.
• Conduct store checks for research purposes and purchase raw materials or competitor products for benchmarking.
• Maintain high hygiene standards and housekeeping across the R&D kitchen and storage areas.
• Provide general administrative support to the R&D team and assist with ad‑hoc duties as required.

Qualifications

• Experience in food manufacturing, ideally within new product development or R&D environment (desired but not essential).
• Familiarity with food process technologies and their application (desired but not essential).
• Strong communication skills — written, verbal, and presentation.
• Ability to interact successfully across all levels of the business.
• Proficiency in key IT applications including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Full, clean driving licence.
• Passion for food and a genuine interest in food‑related innovation.
• Strong attention to detail with excellent organisational skills.
• Flexible, forward‑thinking, and able to adapt in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment.
• Positive, willing attitude with a desire to learn and develop, demonstrating a \"Personal Best\" mindset.
• Good team player with adaptability to operate at all levels of the organisation.
• Numerate and commercially aware.
• Ability to embrace change and contribute to continuous improvement.

What we offer you in return

• Salary of £25,000-28,000 depending on skills and experience.
• Monday to Friday 8-4.
• Excellent Career Opportunities.
• Matched pension scheme up to 10%.
• Death in service.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Retailer discount platform.
• Staff discount.
• And plenty more!

If you're ready to make your mark in the snack world, apply now! We're excited to meet you and welcome you to the Valeo Foods UK family.

Come taste success with us at Valeo Foods UK!