Kitchen Developer

Stansted Airport Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading quick-service retail brand is seeking a Kitchen Developer in London to support the creation and development of Asian-inspired food products. You will assist in driving new product development projects and work collaboratively with various teams to test and launch recipes. Ideal candidates are passionate foodies with hands-on kitchen experience and a keen eye for detail. The role offers a competitive salary and the opportunity to work in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience in a food/kitchen or development environment.
• Good organization and ability to manage multiple tasks.
• Basic understanding of recipe creation and kitchen operations.

Responsibilities

• Support creation and development of new and existing products.
• Assist in driving NPD and EPD projects through the stage-gate process.
• Collaborate with restaurant and academy teams on product testing.

Skills

Passion for Asian inspired food

Creative mindset

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Hands-on experience in a kitchen

Job description

# Kitchen Developer### We are the leading Asian-inspired quick-service retail and grocery brand with over 80 restaurants across the UK and Belgium, and a growing wholesale business across Europe and beyond. Our renowned delicious food made fresh in every restaurant, every day, has made itsu a top choice for healthy eating.In addition to our restaurants, itsu [grocery] offers a range of high-quality Asian-inspired foods available online and in supermarkets. We are excited to be one of the leading brands in this specific group and have ambitious plans for continued growth both domestically and globally.With its best-in-class-food, latest technology, innovation, and talented workforce, itsu is the future of fast food.# this is the jobThe Kitchen Developer supports the creation and development of both new and existing products, bringing creativity and innovation into the kitchen. Working closely with the Product Manager, you will assist in driving NPD and EPD projects through the stage-gate process, helping to turn ideas and market insights into tested recipes and product concepts. Based across our Test Kitchen, academy office, and test restaurants, you will play a hands-on role in recipe creation, trials, and product testing, contributing to the full lifecycle of development from concept to launch.skill and responsibility overview| | || --- | --- || 1. | **Sample Creation & Recipe Development:**create food samples from scratch or from set briefs and support/coordinate testing as part of development process when needed || 2. | **Cross-functional & Launch Support:**work with the restaurant and academy teams on testing new/existing products and support with the launch initiatives across the restaurants || 3. | **Food and drink trend competency:**awareness of trends and taste drivers within our industry and beyond. Use the knowledge to inspire and conceptualise recipes to influence innovation pipelines and strategy. || 4. | **Recipe management & documentation**: manage accurate recipe files and support the stage-gate process by creating and updating supporting documents, including specifications, costings and allergen details. || 5. | **Benchmarking & insight**: lead benchmarking initiatives for the team; gathering and analysing competitor and market products and adjusting communication and briefing style to the audience. |# core responsibilities* Market & trend research* Sample creation & recipe development* Documentation & specification* Benchmarking & insights* Kitchen and ingredient stock management* Cross-functional & launch supportthis is you* A real foodie with a passion for Asian inspired food.* A curious and creative mindset.* Hands-on experience (internship, placement year or kitchen experience) in a food/kitchen or development environment.* Good organisation and attention to detail; ability to manage multiple tasks and maintain accurate records.* Basic understanding of recipe creation, kitchen operations and ingredient functionality.* Good communication skills and ability to work collaboratively across different teams.* Willingness to be hands-on, learn and adapt; comfortable working at pace.you put people at the heart of everything you do by displaying the 4 itsu qualities:* I take pride [in what I do]* I genuinely care [for people]* I want to grow [myself & others]* I build trust [around me]itsu| | || --- | --- || Salary | £31500 - £33000 || Frequency | Annual || Job Reference | itsu/TP/175058/6973 || Contract Type | Permanent || Closing Date | No expiry date || Job Category | Commercial || Division | Academy [Head Office] || Location | Carlisle Place London, United Kingdom || Posted on | 09 December, 2025 || OpenStreetMap contributorsDirections to### Spread the word