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Company Description
Solent Group work with a diverse portfolio of Retailers and supply bespoke products within various categories, including Health & Beauty, Household Impulse Snacking and Reusable Bags. We are proud to be best-in-class when it comes to own-label product innovation. Our Categories are fast-paced with ever-evolving trends and a host of ground-breaking products coming to market on a regular basis – we add value to retailers by leading and owning each category.
Here at Solent we want people to be extraordinary. We pride ourselves on creating and producing amazing products and brands for our Global Customers. You will be joining a company with offices globally across South Africa, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Vietnam, and the UK.
Position
DIVISION/DEPT: Product
REPORT TO: Senior Product Manager
LOCATION: Christchurch (hybrid - flexibility required)
TRAVEL: Travel to European manufacturers, trade shows and customer meetings
We have an exciting new role in our Product Development team in the food division. This role focuses on supporting the foods team in all aspects of product development, from ideation, recipe development, production trials and through to launch. The successful candidate will develop new and existing relationships with the manufacturing partners and retail customers, and have a passion for research and staying ahead of trends
Requirements
Duties and Responsibilities Include:
- Supporting the foods team in all aspects of product development, from ideation, recipe development, production trials and through to launch
- Build strong relationships with our manufacturing partners and retail customers
- Ability to create clear briefs and communicate these efficiently with our suppliers
- Speak and present with confidence on project status updates
- Ability to understand ingredient lists, tastes and flavours
- Support with exceptional presentations for our customers
- Trend and Competitive shop analysis
- Day to day management of the Foods team critical paths
Key Responsibilities
- Management of all samples; reviewing/tasting, posting to customers/suppliers
- Lead tasting and benchmarking sessions internally and for our customers
- Keep up to date with trend and insights, incorporating into presentations and feeding back to the team; frequently visiting our retailers
- Responsible for completing the project work in line with the NPD pipeline
- Manage the product development from concept stage to finished goods including briefing our suppliers, reviewing quote sheets, sample submission forms to customers, assisting factory trials, reviewing samples, quality contracts etc
- Updating the project tracker - setting deadlines, communicating/creating critical paths and delegating tasks to the wider team e.g. commercial/technical
- Contribute to category plans for the financial year with quarterly reviews
- Manage our project management tool, ensuring it’s accurate
- Reviewing emails and project requirements, conducting meetings with teams and stakeholders, solving any problems along the way
About You
- Passionate about food/snacking and the latest foodie trends
- 1-2 years’ experience in role with demonstratable examples of food product development
- Can confidently understand and run a critical path
- Food related degree (Food science or nutrition based)
- Food manufacturing knowledge, knowledge of regulations /HFSS
- Project management across multiple SKU’s and categories
- Examples of cross-functional working across multiple teams
- Market and trend understanding to overlay onto product plans
- Strong supplier relationships with a commercial mindset
- Trade Show and supplier visit experience
- Examples of problem solving and solutions to previous projects
- Strong communication skills, detail orientated, excellent time management
- Ability to review trends and pull into a development calendar
- Relationship building with suppliers and customers
- Please note: This role involves regular tasting/handling of food products, including dairy, nuts and other allergens. Please consider this when applying if you have severe food allergies.
Other information
What We Offer
- Competitive salary with annual salary reviews
- 25 days holiday per annum, increasing to 27 days after 3 years’ service and 30 days after 5 years’ service
- Extensive benefits programme including buying additional holiday, medical cash plan, access to mental health support and many other benefits
- Flexible hours and work from home available to all staff
- Great learning and development and progression opportunities
- Yearly bonus structure (based on company targets)
- Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Leave
- Generous Company Sick Pay
- Pension Scheme Contribution
- Solent social events run by our inhouse Social Team
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Dress down Fridays
- Free parking on Christchurch Quay
