New Product Development (NPD) Technologist

We have an exciting opportunity for an NPD Technologist to join our team at Agrial Fresh Produce at our site in Wigan. 

This role is key in the development of new products and updated products for Agrial Fresh Produce, and has the scope to manage and optimise the development of new food ranges, ideas and concepts with adherence to the NPD process. The role will also manage and co-ordinate all internal and external sample requests across the Wigan Site. The successful candidate will innovate and drive development of our products whilst working closely with our Commercial and Marketing teams to continue to create products that our customers across the UK love.

Pay: £DOE plus annual bonus and benefits

Working hours: Mon-Fri - 8.30am to 5.00pm

Main Responsibilities

• Manage projects of product development, following the established procedure within deadlines and the launch plan as defined by key stakeholders or the customer. 
• Responsibility for organising trials, shelf life, samples, and industrial validations for all projects.
• Liaise with all factory departments for the development of new products from feasibility to launch.  
• Manage new product development for the Florette brand following briefs from the marketing department 
• Organise product showcase to bring new food trends and ideas to the wider team. 
• Provide all relevant departments with information to create quality and technical documents regarding launch of products in the factory.
• Research new ideas and trends and communicate those ideas to Commercial, Category and Marketing colleagues.
• Monitor products after launching following the post launch review procedure.
• Report on project progress to the business as required. 

Skills and Experience

• Ideally educated to degree level in a Food Science/Technology or a related discipline.
• Ideally around 2 years’ experience working within an NPD department with work experience in the development of Chilled/Short shelf life products, Shelf life analysis, Product Sampling, Factory Trials, Product Costings.
• Leading role in new product development projects, developing products from concept to launch for both internal and customer briefs.
• Excellent communication and attention to detail skills.
• Confidential and Diplomatic.

What You Will Get In Return  

A competitive salary, inclusion in our annual bonus scheme and a range of employee benefits you’d expect from a market leading business, including:

• Life Assurance - three times your basic salary paid to your nominated beneficiary.
• 33 days holiday inclusive of Bank Holidays, which increases with service as well as additional holiday purchase scheme. 
• On site Occupational Health and free physio service. 
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme: providing a Remote GP service along with a 24/7 helpline for financial, legal, medical and life issues.
• Personalised training and development.
• Employee discount and salary finance schemes. 
• Regular Recognition awards and an annual paid volunteering day.

About Us 

Agrial Fresh Produce is one of three UK food manufacturing factories which is a part of the larger 22,000 employee strong French co-operative group, Agrial. Agrial has operations across 18 regions with 280 farming outlets and it's not just about lettuce! 

Our Wigan site is a well-established business unit that processes and distributes pre-packed, ready to eat, fresh salad bags and bowls to some of the UK's most well-known retailers and restaurants. We are based on Martland Park Industrial Estate, which is ideal for travel on the M61, M6 and M62. 

All UK sites operate under the name of Agrial Fresh Produce Limited and fall under Agrial's vegetable division. The business is more recognisable in the UK by its Florette salad brand and we are now one of the UK’s leading producers in the industry. We have a recipe for success through our EPIC values and working together as one team.

Next Steps 

It’s an exciting time to join our business! We’re looking for positive and innovative people to join our professional team. If you have the skills and experience that we are looking for and want a fresh challenge, we would love for you to join us on our journey!  

Please apply directly or alternatively contact Will Kaye, Recruitment Officer, for a totally confidential discussion.  

Agrial Fresh Produce reserve the right to close this vacancy once we have received sufficient applications. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

We are committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of all of our staff. That’s why we’ve taken the Mental Health at Work Commitment and are currently delivering a programme of activities to ensure that everyone can have open and honest conversations about their wellbeing in the workplace and feel supported. We encourage applications from persons with experience of poor mental health and are committed to supporting our employees to fulfil their potential and perform at their best in work.

Agrial Fresh Produce Ltd is an Equal Opportunities employer. In addition, as part of Responsible Recruitment, Agrial Fresh Produce Ltd believes in the Employer Pay Principle.