Product Technician

Overview:

Working with both New Product Development (NPD) and Quality Control teams, the Product Technician will be part of testing and ensuring safety standards of new dishes and ranges for our customers.

Your role will be focused on developing and perfecting cooking instructions to maximise taste and quality of our frozen food ranges. Although there is an aspect of repetition, you'll need to enjoy problem solving and developing new ways of working.

This role might suit someone who is looking for a change in career, or perhaps starting their career, seeking job satisfaction and enjoys a challenge.

A background in catering or food is not essential, as long as you have strong attention to detail, are methodical and can keep accurate notes.

Experience in quality assurance, audit or laboratories would be an advantage.

Passion for great food is also a must!

Who we are:

apetito is the UK’s leading food supplier to the health and social care sectors serving more than 1,300 care homes, health care and education settings.

Our meals are expertly crafted by our dieticians and chefs, and then frozen to lock in the goodness.

Wiltshire Farm Foods, our sister company, is the UK’s largest ready meal supplier cooking and delivering over 330 different delicious frozen ready meals across the UK.

Responsibilities:

• Establish and validate cooking instructions (and other product instructions for use) in compliance with all relevant policies and procedures.
• Manage the programme of work to meet agreed project timescales and expectations.
• Ensure all test equipment is calibrated and maintained to agreed standards.
• Identification and assessment of new cooking equipment and systems to create competitive advantage , deliver best results and improve customer experience.
• Conduct indicative assessments (earlier in the product development process) and advise on product design considerations in order to assist in the development of new and improved products.
• Accurate recording, reporting and communication of information in compliance with our policies and procedures and ensuring documentation is up-to-date and accessible to relevant stakeholders.
• Drive continuous improvement of processes, systems and testing and ensure best practice is applied.
• Showcase cooking instructions and results and provide training for the wider team.
• Support the NPD team in the presentation of new , improved and existing products, and other product and process development activities as agreed with line Manager.

Qualifications/Personal Qualities:

Essential:

• A level, Btec national or equivalent qualification/ experience
• Experience following instructions or methods
• Experience working autonomously and solving problems
• Experience and confidence using a computer in a work setting
• Excellent attention to detail
• Organised and methodical approach to work
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Confident recording and using numerical data
• Good sensory skills (taste, smell etc)
• Genuine passion for food

Desirable:

• Practical experience in Laboratory , food manufacturing or catering
• Degree level or equivalent in food or science based subject

Company Benefits:

• Competitive salary – accredited Living Wage employer
• 25 days holiday per year, plus bank holidays
• Option to purchase up to 5 additional days annual leave per year
• Discretionary annual bonus scheme
• Pension scheme - employer matched contributions up to 4%
• Life assurance scheme worth at least 1x annual salary
• Subsidised canteen
• Free parking
• Free turkey or voucher at Christmas
• apetito perks scheme including salary sacrifice options and retail discounts

Our Values:

As a family-owned business, we take great pride in being a company that makes a real difference and is dedicated to creating outstanding meals to be proud of.

We develop a range of products designed to enhance health and well-being for all our customers.

We are driven by a passion for service, and dedicated to feeding some of the UK’s most vulnerable people.

We proudly support British food and farming, focusing on using the best ethical and sustainable produce in alignment with our goal to reach Net Zero by 2040.

Learn more about apetito’s commitment to a more sustainable future.

We embrace inclusion, empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Our commitment to making a real difference extends to customers, communities, and staff and we're on a mission to build an inclusive workplace where everyone reaches their full potential.